The drive from Penobscot, ME to Auburn, ME covers 106.9 miles and takes about 2h 18m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Belfast Augusta Road, Route 1, US 202 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.6 miles on Belfast Augusta Road.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.81 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.5 miles from Penobscot, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Belfast Augusta Road
17.6 mi
21m
Route 1
15.2 mi
18m
US 202
12.8 mi
14m
North Belfast Avenue
9.1 mi
13m
Acadia Highway
7.3 mi
8m
Route 202
6.6 mi
7m
North Penobscot Road
5 mi
8m
Main Street
4.9 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Belfast Augusta Road
— 17.6 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Penobscot, ME and Auburn, ME.
1
Start on ME 199
5.0 mi·8 min·North Penobscot Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto ME 15
3.7 mi·5 min·Front Ridge Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 1; ME 3; ME 15
3.4 mi·3 min·Acadia Highway
4
Continue on US 1; ME 3; ME 15
1.0 mi·1 min·Route 1
5
Continue on US 1; ME 3; ME 15
135 ft·9 sec·Main Street
Use the left lane.
6
Turn left onto US 1; ME 3
0.1 mi·16 sec·Route 1
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on US 1; ME 3
1.2 mi·2 min·US Highway 1
8
Continue on US 1; ME 3
13 mi·15 min·Route 1
9
Continue on US 1; ME 3
2.7 mi·4 min·Searsport Avenue
10
Continue on US 1; ME 3
0.7 mi·1 min·Route 1
11
Take the exit onto ME 3
0.3 mi·38 sec·ME 3
12
Keep slight right at fork onto ME 3
373 ft·12 sec·ME 3
13
Merge onto ME 3
3.9 mi·4 min·Belmont Avenue
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on ME 3
4.8 mi·5 min·Augusta Road
15
Continue on ME 3
3.4 mi·3 min·Belfast Augusta Road East
16
Continue on ME 3
4.0 mi·4 min·Acadia Highway
17
Continue on ME 3
18 mi·21 min·Belfast Augusta Road
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
0.2 mi·16 sec·Belfast Road
19
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
8.1 mi·11 min·North Belfast Avenue
20
Turn left onto US 202; ME 9
1.0 mi·1 min·North Belfast Avenue
Use the left lane.
21
At end of road, turn left onto US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100
0.6 mi·52 sec·Bangor Street
22
Enter roundabout onto US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100
159 ft·3 sec·Memorial Drive
23
Continue on US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100
0.7 mi·1 min·Memorial Drive
24
Enter roundabout onto US 201; ME 27
401 ft·7 sec·State Street
25
Continue on US 201; ME 27
0.2 mi·19 sec·State Street
26
Turn right onto Capitol Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Capitol Street
27
Turn straight onto Armory Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·Armory Street
28
Turn left onto US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 100
3.7 mi·4 min·Western Avenue
29
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
13 mi·14 min·US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Use the straight lane.
30
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.9 mi·1 min·US Route 202
31
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
2.7 mi·3 min·Route 202
32
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.6 mi·42 sec·US Route 202
33
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
3.8 mi·4 min·Route 202
34
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
4.9 mi·5 min·Main Street
35
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.4 mi·39 sec·Court Street
36
Turn left onto US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
0.1 mi·42 sec·Minot Avenue
37
Continue on US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
456 ft·5 sec·Minot Avenue
38
Arrive at destination
US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
Trip Plan
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 53.5 miles from Penobscot, ME, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.6 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 24 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.5 miles or 1h 10m 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 55m
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 Penobscot, 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 Penobscot, ME
This is one driving day of about 106.9 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Penobscot, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Belfast Augusta Road for about 17.6 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 5 and 73.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
5 mi into trip|~8m in|ME 15 / Front Ridge Road
At end of road, turn left onto ME 15 / Front Ridge Road
Navigation decision point
7
13 mi into trip|~19m in|US 1; ME 3 / Route 1
Turn left onto US 1; ME 3 / Route 1
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
31.4 mi into trip|~44m in|ME 3
Keep slight right at fork onto ME 3
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
31.5 mi into trip|~45m in|ME 3 / Belmont Avenue
Merge onto ME 3 / Belmont Avenue
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
73.4 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|US 202; ME 9 / North Belfast Avenue
Turn left onto US 202; ME 9 / North Belfast Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.81 one way
$35.61 round trip
$4.23/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.70
$19.76
$39.52
premium
$5.07
$21.32
$42.64
diesel
$5.60
$23.56
$47.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.1
0
$11.22
$5.13
Efficient EV
26.7
0
$9.35
$4.28
EV Truck/SUV
42.8
0
$14.97
$6.84
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (65% 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 Sep 2, 2026
Origin
Penobscot, ME
Late night
in Penobscot on Friday
Local time
4:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Auburn, ME
Late night
in Auburn on Friday
Local time
4:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Areas Of Fog
0 mph6% 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
6 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
2h 18m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Acadia National Park
National Park
Acadia National Park protects the natural beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the United States, an abundance of habitats, and a rich cultural heritage. At 4 million...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
$6
near mile 3.7
Park Closure: Southern Section of Ocean Path Closed for Repairs
Park Closure: Schoodic Mountain Road Closed for Repairs
Known as the first woman to hold a presidential cabinet position and the “Woman behind the New Deal,” Frances Perkins championed many labor rights that Americans enjoy today, including safety standard...
24 mi from route
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 70.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
106.9 mi in 2h 18m — 35% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Belfast Augusta Road.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.6 mi on Belfast Augusta Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5 miles in near ME 15 / Front Ridge Road.
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 106.9 miles you will encounter 13 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 5 miles (ME 15 / Front Ridge Road): Navigation decision point; at 13 miles (US 1; ME 3 / Route 1): Lane positioning matters here; at 31.4 miles (ME 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 18m. Total distance: 106.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (35%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.6 miles on Belfast Augusta Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Auburn, ME before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. 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: at 5 miles (ME 15 / Front Ridge Road): Navigation decision point; at 13 miles (US 1; ME 3 / Route 1): Lane positioning matters here; at 31.4 miles (ME 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Acadia National Park and Frances Perkins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Auburn, ME before heading back.
