Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
38.3 mi
62 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
City of Portland, ME
Brett Sayles
Auburn, ME
Wikimedia Commons
This 38.3-mile drive from Portland, ME, to Auburn, ME, is a manageable trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 11 minutes. It's a straightforward journey, making it an ideal day trip within the Northeast region. With an estimated fuel cost of $6, this route is quite budget-friendly. The main roads you'll encounter include the Maine Turnpike and Washington Street, with a brief mention of Portland - Peaks Island, though its relevance to the direct drive is unclear from the data. Given its short distance and duration, this trip doesn't require an overnight stay and offers plenty of flexibility for exploration at your destination.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Turnpike | 22.2 mi | 23m |
| Washington Street | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| Portland - Peaks Island | 2.5 mi | 20m |
| Forest Avenue | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Auburn Street | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| Allen Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Seashore Avenue | 0.8 mi | 3m |
| Franklin Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between City of Portland, ME and Auburn, ME.
Start on Seashore Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Seashore Avenue
Continue on Whitehead Street
Continue on Oakland Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Welch Street
Continue on Portland - Peaks Island
Continue
Turn right onto Maine State Pier
Continue on Maine State Pier
Continue on US 1A
Turn left onto Marginal Way
Turn right onto ME 100
Take the exit
Turn slight right onto ME 100
Turn left onto ME 26; ME 100
Continue on ME 26; ME 100
Continue on ME 26; ME 100
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Take the exit
At end of road, turn left onto US 202; ME 4
Merge onto US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 19.2 miles from City of Portland, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 33.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto Welch Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Turn left onto ME 26; ME 100 / Washington Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 North: Lewiston, Augusta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 202, ME 4, ME 100: Auburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$6.17 one way
$12.33 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.78 | $13.57 |
| premium | $4.86 | $7.33 | $14.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.46 | $16.91 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.34
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.02 | $1.84 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.35 | $1.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.36 | $2.45 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in City of Portland on Sunday
Local time
12:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Partly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
Destination
Late night in Auburn on Sunday
Local time
12:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
51°F
Portland, ME
19 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
The drive features a mixed profile, with 58% of the journey on highways, primarily the Maine Turnpike. You'll experience a longest stretch of 22.2 miles on the Maine Turnpike, offering a consistent pace. Beyond the highway segments, the route transitions to Washington Street, suggesting a shift to more local driving conditions. This blend means you'll get both open-road cruising and more typical town-to-town travel, keeping the driving experience varied without becoming overly demanding. The road's personality evolves from faster highway speeds to a more connected, ground-level feel as you approach Auburn.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near Welch Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 38.3 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (Welch Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 8.4 miles (ME 26; ME 100 / Washington Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
450 ft
Total Descent
279 ft
Highest Point
372 ft
~19.2 mi in
Elevation Range
377 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from City of Portland, ME to Auburn, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Augusta along the way.
Augusta
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 38.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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