Limestone, ME to Auburn, ME is 276.8 miles and takes about 5h 20m via I 95 and US 202, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within the Northeast region, entirely within Maine. It's a straightforward drive that's mostly highway, making it a solid choice if you need to get from point A to B efficiently. Given its manageable length and relatively short duration, it's well-suited for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
138.4 miles from Limestone, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
191.4 mi
3h 19m
US 202
12.8 mi
14m
Houlton Road
12 mi
17m
Route 1
9.1 mi
14m
East Limestone Road
8.4 mi
12m
Main Road
6.7 mi
10m
Route 202
6.6 mi
7m
Main Street
6.1 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 191.4 mi, about 3h 19m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 64 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,113 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,508
Quietest
1 AM
~41 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
27.1×
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 Limestone, ME and Auburn, ME.
1
Start on Trafton Avenue
73 ft·5 sec·Trafton Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 1A
0.6 mi·54 sec·Main Street
3
Continue on US 1A
1.2 mi·1 min·Fort Fairfield Road
4
Continue on US 1A
8.4 mi·12 min·East Limestone Road
5
Continue on US 1A
0.2 mi·18 sec·Bridge Street
6
Continue on US 1A; 167
1.0 mi·1 min·Presque Isle Street
7
Continue on US 1A
12 mi·17 min·Houlton Road
8
Continue on US 1A
5.8 mi·8 min·Fort Road
9
Continue on US 1A
0.1 mi·9 sec·Bridge Street
10
Continue on US 1A
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
11
Continue on US 1
0.3 mi·40 sec·Military Road
12
Continue on US 1
2.7 mi·4 min·Route 1
13
Continue on US 1
6.7 mi·10 min·Main Road
14
Continue on US 1
6.4 mi·10 min·Route 1
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Continue on US 1
0.7 mi·54 sec·US Highway 1
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Continue on US 1
5.8 mi·8 min·North Road
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 1
3.1 mi·5 min·North Street
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
19
Merge onto I 95
191 mi·3 hr 19 min·I 95
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 109BToward US 202 West, ME 11 West, ME 17 West, ME 100 West: Winthrop
21
Turn right onto US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 100
2.8 mi·3 min·Western Avenue
22
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
13 mi·14 min·US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.9 mi·1 min·US Route 202
24
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
2.7 mi·3 min·Route 202
25
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.6 mi·42 sec·US Route 202
26
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
3.8 mi·4 min·Route 202
27
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
4.9 mi·5 min·Main Street
28
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.4 mi·39 sec·Court Street
29
Turn left onto US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
0.1 mi·42 sec·Minot Avenue
30
Continue on US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
456 ft·5 sec·Minot Avenue
31
Arrive at destination
US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
Trip Plan
For this drive, leaving early in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid potential traffic. With a total duration of around 5 hours and 20 minutes, you could technically do it in one go, but consider one stop for fuel and a break. The longest continuous stretch is nearly 200 miles on I 95, so planning a leg-stretching opportunity before or during that segment is wise. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you move from I 95 onto US 202 and Houlton Road, where services might be less frequent.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 138.4 miles from Limestone, ME, or about 2h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 191.4 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 61 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.4 miles or 2h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Limestone, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Limestone, ME
This is one driving day of about 276.8 miles and 5h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Limestone, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 191.4 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 247.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 1A / Main Street
Turn right onto US 1A / Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
55.7 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
3
56 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
247.4 mi into trip|~4h 45m in
Take the exit toward US 202 West, ME 11 West, ME 17 West, ME 100 West: Winthrop
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 109B
Toward US 202 West, ME 11 West, ME 17 West, ME...
3
247.6 mi into trip|~4h 46m in|US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 100 / Western Avenue
Turn right onto US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 100 / Western Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.11 one way
$92.22 round trip
$4.23/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.70
$51.16
$102.33
premium
$5.07
$55.21
$110.41
diesel
$5.60
$61.02
$122.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83
1
$29.06
$13.29
Efficient EV
69.2
0
$24.22
$11.07
EV Truck/SUV
110.7
1
$38.75
$17.72
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Aug 26, 2026
Origin
Limestone, ME
Late night
in Limestone on Wednesday
Local time
4:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 2 to 7 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Auburn, ME
Late night
in Auburn on Wednesday
Local time
4:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Patchy Fog then Sunny
W 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
51°F
Schoodic, ME
138 mi in
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
3 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
5h 20m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to spend about 80% of your time on highways, with the bulk of that on I 95. You'll have a solid 191.4-mile stretch on I 95 before transitioning to other roads. The highway driving means you'll encounter a good number of exits and potential merges, especially as you get closer to your destination. The shift from highway to surface roads will likely be noticeable as you progress through the latter part of the trip.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 191.4 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and US 202. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 1A / Main Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 20m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 1A / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 55.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 56 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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
•Auburn Public Library — library in Auburn, Maine
•Androscoggin County Courthouse and Jail — Historic building in Auburn, Maine
The longest stretch is about 191.4 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 (US 1A / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 55.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 56 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Auburn, ME before the return drive.
