Lewiston to South Eliot is 81.9 miles and takes about 1h 35m via Maine Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Maine, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's a straightforward trip, mostly on the highway, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a quick connection between these two locations. The route is designed for efficiency, so expect a relatively seamless experience from start to finish.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.9 miles from Lewiston, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Maine Turnpike
72.3 mi
1h 19m
Washington Street
4.1 mi
5m
Bolt Hill Road
1.3 mi
3m
Route 236
1.3 mi
2m
Minot Avenue
0.7 mi
<1m
Main Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Court Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Sabattus Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Maine Turnpike
— 72.3 mi, about 1h 19m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,075 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,401
Quietest
2 AM
~172 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lewiston, ME and South Eliot, ME.
1
Start on this road
70 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn sharp left onto ME 126
123 ft·4 sec·Sabattus Street
3
Turn left onto US 202
0.5 mi·54 sec·Main Street
4
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.4 mi·39 sec·Court Street
5
Turn left onto US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
0.7 mi·59 sec·Minot Avenue
6
Turn slight left onto US 202; ME 4; ME 100
4.1 mi·5 min·Washington Street
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
9
Merge onto I 95
7.7 mi·8 min·Maine Turnpike
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
65 mi·1 hr 10 min·Maine Turnpike
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·37 sec
Exit 2Toward ME 236: Kittery, South Berwick
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 2Toward US 1, ME 236, US 1 Bypass: Kittery, South Berwick
13
Keep slight left at fork
230 ft·7 sec
14
Turn left onto ME 236
1.3 mi·2 min·Route 236
15
Turn left onto Bolt Hill Road
1.3 mi·3 min·Bolt Hill Road
16
Turn left onto Leach Road
74 ft·2 sec·Leach Road
17
Arrive at destination
Leach Road
Trip Plan
Given the 1h 35m duration, you can easily complete this trip in one day. Aim to depart in the morning to take advantage of lighter traffic, especially if you're traveling on a weekday. With only 81.9 miles, you have the flexibility to make spontaneous stops, though no specific points of interest are noted. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $14, so a full tank before you leave Lewiston should be sufficient. Pay attention to your GPS as you transition off the Maine Turnpike onto local roads near South Eliot.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.9 miles from Lewiston, ME, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 18 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.9 miles or 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Eliot, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lewiston, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lewiston, ME
This is one driving day of about 81.9 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Lewiston, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Maine Turnpike for about 72.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 79.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|ME 126 / Sabattus Street
Turn sharp left onto ME 126 / Sabattus Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
5.9 mi into trip|~8m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
78.7 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward ME 236: Kittery, South Berwick
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 2
Toward ME 236: Kittery, South Berwick
7
79 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 1, ME 236, US 1 Bypass: Kittery, South Berwick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 2
Toward US 1, ME 236, US 1 Bypass: Kittery, Sout...
5
79.3 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.12 one way
$22.25 round trip
$3.45/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.85
$12.41
$24.83
premium
$4.15
$13.38
$26.76
diesel
$3.75
$12.09
$24.18
Estimated Tolls: $4.34
Maine Turnpike
(72.3 mi)$4.34
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.6
0
$8.60
$3.93
Efficient EV
20.5
0
$7.17
$3.28
EV Truck/SUV
32.8
0
$11.47
$5.24
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Lewiston, ME
Evening
in Lewiston on Monday
Local time
8:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Sunny
S 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
South Eliot, ME
Evening
in South Eliot on Monday
Local time
8:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Sunny
S 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 35m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 90% of this 81.9-mile trip on the highway, primarily the Maine Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch on this highway is 72.3 miles. After leaving the Maine Turnpike, you'll transition to surface roads like Washington Street and Bolt Hill Road for the final section of the drive. Expect a significant change in pace and traffic flow as you exit the main interstate.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.3 mi on Maine Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and Washington Street. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near ME 126 / Sabattus Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.9 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (ME 126 / Sabattus Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 78.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Lewiston-Auburn is a city in Androscoggin County, in the central Maine region of Maine. The Androscoggin River divides the city into two separate municipalities: the east bank is Lewiston, with a population of about 39,000 (2016), and the west bank is Auburn, with about 23,000 people (2016). They are known locally as the "Twin Cities" or "L–A".
Top landmarks
•Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul — cathedral
•Kora Temple — masonic temple in Lewiston, United States of America
•Lewiston City Hall — city hall building in Lewiston, Maine, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 81.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 72.3 miles on Maine Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.34 in tolls one way, starting with Maine Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 7 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at South Eliot, ME before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through ME can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (ME 126 / Sabattus Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 78.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at South Eliot, ME before heading back.
