Drive or Fly: Cape Elizabeth, ME to Auburn, ME?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for PWM–AUG. At 41 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 2m

Distance

41.8 mi

Total Cost

$44

CO2

17 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$9

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

2h 56m

4m in the air

Air Distance

37 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

9 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Cape Elizabeth, ME → PWM 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 4m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AUG → Auburn, ME 40m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Cape Elizabeth, ME PWM — Portland International Jetport 8 mi, ~12m drive

Auburn, ME AUG — Augusta State Airport 26 mi, ~40m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PWM and AUG. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

1h 49m

30m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Downeaster

Door-to-Door Timeline

Cape Elizabeth, ME → Portland 12m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 30m

Arrival 10m

Freeport Amtrak Station → Auburn, ME 27m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Portland 8 mi, ~12m drive

To Freeport Amtrak Station 18 mi, ~27m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~90/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 41m

55m on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Greyhound US0265s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Cape Elizabeth, ME → City of Portland (PVT6) 11m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 55m

Arrival 10m

Lewiston Bus Stop (LEW6) → Auburn, ME 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From PVT6 — City of Portland 7 mi, ~11m drive

To LEW6 — Lewiston Bus Stop 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	1h 2m	2h 56m	1h 49m	1h 41m
Total cost (1 person)	$44	$121	$3	$3
Carbon footprint	17 kg CO₂	9 kg CO₂	1 kg CO₂	2 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS, FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

41.8 mi 1h 2m

via I 95, US 202; ME 4, ME 77

Alternative (+11 min)

44.7 mi 1h 13m

via I 295; US 1, Royalsborough Road, ME 136

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Cape Elizabeth, ME to Auburn, ME with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.