Origin
Auburn, ME
Morning in Auburn on Wednesday
Local time
7:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Auburn, ME to Bowdoinham, ME
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
36m
Distance
24.9 mi
40 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburn, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Bowdoinham, ME
Ali Kazal
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion through the Northeast, this 24.9-mile connection between Auburn and Bowdoinham is a straightforward option. You can comfortably complete the journey in about 36 minutes, making it a perfect one-day trip that requires no overnight stay. Budgeting roughly $4 for fuel will cover your transit across these Maine communities. You will primarily navigate via Lisbon Street, I-295, and Lewiston Road to bridge the gap between these two locations. Because the trip is short and efficient, it offers plenty of flexibility for your schedule, whether you are heading out for a morning errand or an afternoon change of scenery.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
12.4 miles from Auburn, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that transitions from urban streets to a more open highway environment. Roughly 23 miles of your trip, or 92% of the distance, is spent on highways, providing a significant contrast to the initial local navigation. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 10.9 miles you will spend on Lisbon Street. As you move away from the city center and merge onto I-295, the character of the road shifts from stop-and-go local traffic to a more consistent pace. This mix of technical local roads and faster highway segments keeps the drive engaging without becoming overly monotonous.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lisbon Street is the longest continuous segment at about 10.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 202; ME 11; ME 100 / Court Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 24.9 miles you will encounter 8 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 (US 202; ME 11; ME 100 / Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (ME 196 / Canal Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 17.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 202; ME 11; ME 100 / Court Street
Turn right onto US 202; ME 11; ME 100 / Court Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
ME 196 / Canal Street
Turn sharp right onto ME 196 / Canal Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
17.5 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Turn left toward I 295 North: Augusta
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 295 North: Augusta
6
23.4 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward ME 125, ME 138: Bowdoinham, Bowdoin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 37
Toward ME 125, ME 138: Bowdoinham, Bowdoin
4
23.7 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
State Route 138
Turn right onto State Route 138
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Auburn, ME to Bowdoinham, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Bowdoin along the way.
Bowdoin
23.4 mi in
|
~32m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lisbon Street | 10.9 mi | 14m |
| I 295 | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| Lewiston Road | 5.2 mi | 8m |
| Main Street | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| Canal Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Court Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| State Route 138 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Center Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Lisbon Street
— 10.9 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, ME and Bowdoinham, ME.
1
Start on US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
40 ft
·
4 sec
·
Minot Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Court Street
3
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Main Street
4
Turn sharp right onto ME 196
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Canal Street
5
Merge onto ME 196
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Lisbon Street
6
Continue on ME 196
5.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Lewiston Road
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 295 North: Augusta
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 295
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
I 295
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 37
Toward ME 125, ME 138: Bowdoinham, Bowdoin
10
Turn right onto State Route 138
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
State Route 138
11
Continue on ME 125
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
12
Turn left onto Center Street
76 ft
·
2 sec
·
Center Street
13
Arrive at destination
Center Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 36-minute sprint, you have the advantage of total departure flexibility; you won't need to worry about complex rest stops or meal planning along the way. Because there are zero formal stops scheduled on this route, make sure to fuel up before you leave Auburn to ensure a smooth, uninterrupted run. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition between Lisbon Street and the interstate to avoid missing your merges. Given the high percentage of highway usage, maintain steady focus once you hit I-295. Use this short travel time to your advantage by planning your arrival in Bowdoinham exactly when you need to be there, as the route is predictable and easy to time.
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 12.4 miles from Auburn, ME, or about 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10.9 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 24.9 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 12.4 miles or 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bowdoinham, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Auburn, 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 Auburn, ME
This is one driving day of about 24.9 miles and 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Auburn, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Lisbon Street for about 10.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 12.4 mi from Auburn, ME · 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
12 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 24.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 12.4 miles from Auburn, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bowdoinham, ME
The final approach into Bowdoinham, ME usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Bowdoinham, ME.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.01 one way
$8.02 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $4.41 | $8.82 |
| premium | $4.86 | $4.77 | $9.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.50 | $11.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.61 | $1.20 |
| Efficient EV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.18 | $1.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10 | 0 | $3.49 | $1.59 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Bowdoinham, ME
Morning in Bowdoinham on Wednesday
Local time
7:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live 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
8 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
36m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Auburn, ME to Bowdoinham, ME covers 24.9 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lisbon Street, I 295, Lewiston Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.4 miles from Auburn, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.01 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 24.9 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 202; ME 11; ME 100 / Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (ME 196 / Canal Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 17.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Auburn, ME to Bowdoinham, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Bowdoin along the way.
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