Traveling from Washburn to Auburn covers a substantial 274.3-mile journey through the heart of Maine. You can expect to spend about 5 hours and 22 minutes behind the wheel, making this a manageable but long day trip for most drivers. With a fuel budget of approximately $44, it is an efficient way to traverse the state. The path primarily utilizes I-95, US-202, and Houlton Road to bridge the distance between these two northeastern points. Since the route is straightforward and heavily focused on major highways, you likely won't need an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. It is a practical, no-nonsense trek that connects the northern regions of the state down toward the more populated areas in the south.
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
137.1 miles from Washburn, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
191.4 mi
3h 19m
US 202
12.8 mi
14m
Houlton Road
10.3 mi
14m
Washburn Road
9.5 mi
16m
Route 1
9.1 mi
14m
Main Street
7.8 mi
13m
Main Road
6.7 mi
10m
Route 202
6.6 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 191.4 mi, about 3h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Washburn, ME and Auburn, ME.
1
Start on Gould Street
154 ft·8 sec·Gould Street
2
Turn right onto ME 228
141 ft·4 sec·Hines Street
3
Turn right onto ME 164
0.9 mi·1 min·Main Street
4
Continue on Washburn Road
9.5 mi·16 min·Washburn Road
5
Turn right onto US 1
0.3 mi·47 sec·Main Street
6
Turn right onto ME 163
0.7 mi·1 min·Connector Road
7
Continue on ME 163
0.2 mi·18 sec·State Road
8
Continue on ME 163; ME 227
0.8 mi·1 min·Parsons Street
9
Turn left onto ME 227
0.2 mi·21 sec·State Street
10
Turn right onto US 1
1.3 mi·3 min·Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Continue on US 1
10 mi·14 min·Houlton Road
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 1
2.0 mi·3 min·Presque Isle Road
13
Continue on US 1
0.7 mi·2 min·Benjamin Street
14
At end of road, turn right onto US 1
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
15
Continue on US 1
0.3 mi·40 sec·Military Road
16
Continue on US 1
2.7 mi·4 min·Route 1
17
Continue on US 1
6.7 mi·10 min·Main Road
18
Continue on US 1
6.4 mi·10 min·Route 1
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Continue on US 1
0.7 mi·54 sec·US Highway 1
Use the straight / left lanes.
20
Continue on US 1
5.8 mi·8 min·North Road
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on US 1
3.1 mi·5 min·North Street
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
23
Merge onto I 95
191 mi·3 hr 19 min·I 95
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 109BToward US 202 West, ME 11 West, ME 17 West, ME 100 West: Winthrop
25
Turn right onto US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 100
2.8 mi·3 min·Western Avenue
26
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
13 mi·14 min·US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.9 mi·1 min·US Route 202
28
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
2.7 mi·3 min·Route 202
29
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.6 mi·42 sec·US Route 202
30
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
3.8 mi·4 min·Route 202
31
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
4.9 mi·5 min·Main Street
32
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.4 mi·39 sec·Court Street
33
Turn left onto US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
0.1 mi·42 sec·Minot Avenue
34
Continue on US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
456 ft·5 sec·Minot Avenue
35
Arrive at destination
US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
Trip Plan
Planning for this 5-hour and 22-minute drive is best done by leaving early to avoid potential fatigue during the final leg. With only one recommended stop, you should aim to time your break to coincide with your transition off the longest 191.4-mile stretch of I-95. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $44 estimate can fluctuate based on local pricing along the highway corridor. Since the route is quite linear, take advantage of the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on traffic patterns near Auburn. A helpful tip is to ensure you have your favorite audio content queued up before you merge onto the interstate, as the long, straight highway segments offer plenty of time for listening.
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 137.1 miles from Washburn, ME, or about 2h 54m 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 60 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.1 miles or 2h 54m 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 26m
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 Washburn, 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 Washburn, ME
This is one driving day of about 274.3 miles and 5h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Washburn, 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 244.9 — 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|ME 228 / Hines Street
Turn right onto ME 228 / Hines Street
Navigation decision point
6
12.6 mi into trip|~22m in|US 1 / Main Street
Turn right onto US 1 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
26.9 mi into trip|~45m in|US 1 / Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 1 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
53.2 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
244.9 mi into trip|~4h 47m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.16 one way
$88.32 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$48.59
$97.17
premium
$4.86
$52.53
$105.05
diesel
$5.61
$60.56
$121.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.3
1
$28.80
$13.17
Efficient EV
68.6
0
$24.00
$10.97
EV Truck/SUV
109.7
1
$38.40
$17.56
Gas CO2
96 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Washburn, ME
Night
in Washburn on Saturday
Local time
9:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Auburn, ME
Night
in Auburn on Saturday
Local time
9:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
N 5 mph15% chanceLive forecast
32°F
Lincoln, ME
137 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
18 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 22m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
National Monument
Spread across a wild landscape offering spectacular views of Katahdin, Katahdin Woods and Waters invites discovery of its rivers, streams, woods, flora, fauna, geology, and the night skies that have a...
16 mi from route
~41 min detour
Free
near mile 94.6
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...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 245.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 81% of this drive takes place on high-speed thoroughfares. The most significant portion of your trip involves a 191.4-mile stretch along I-95, which demands steady focus and consistency. While the interstate provides a fast and efficient corridor for the majority of the trip, the character of the road shifts slightly as you transition onto US-202. You will find that the rhythm of the drive changes from the monotonous, high-speed pace of the interstate to the more varied feel of local roads. It is a utilitarian drive designed for covering ground quickly rather than wandering through backroads.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 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?
4/10
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 ME 228 / Hines Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 22m drive. You will face about 10 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 (ME 228 / Hines Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.6 miles (US 1 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.9 miles (US 1 / Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 22m. Total distance: 274.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
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 (ME 228 / Hines Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.6 miles (US 1 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.9 miles (US 1 / Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and Frances Perkins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 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.
