Origin
Gardiner, ME
Night in Gardiner on Sunday
Local time
9:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gardiner, ME to Auburn, ME
Drive Time
34m
Distance
28.5 mi
46 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gardiner, ME
Diana ✨
Auburn, ME
Chermiti Mohamed
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick connection between Gardiner and Auburn, this 28.5-mile trip is an efficient way to traverse this part of the Northeast. You can easily complete the drive in about 34 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day journey. Because of the short duration, there is no need to worry about overnight lodging. Budgeting roughly $5 for fuel should cover your needs for the entire trip. Since both towns are located within Maine, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout your travel.
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
14.2 miles from Gardiner, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 73% of your travel time spent on faster thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Maine Turnpike, which features a 20.6-mile stretch that serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the route. After transitioning off the turnpike, you will navigate via Lisbon Street and Lewiston Road to reach your final destination. Expect a straightforward, functional drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours. It is an ideal route if you prefer a steady, predictable pace behind the wheel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Maine Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 20.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and Lisbon Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Water Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 28.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Water Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles (ME 9; ME 126 / Lewiston Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3.6 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 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
|
Water Street
Turn right onto Water Street
Navigation decision point
4
3.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
ME 9; ME 126 / Lewiston Road
Enter roundabout onto ME 9; ME 126 / Lewiston Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
3.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I-95
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Exit 102
Toward I-95
4
4.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 95 / Maine Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Maine Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
24.6 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Turnpike | 20.6 mi | 22m |
| Lisbon Street | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Lewiston Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Water Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Cobbossee Avenue | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Court Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Minot Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Maine Turnpike
— 20.6 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gardiner, ME and Auburn, ME.
1
Start on Arcade Street
40 ft
·
4 sec
·
Arcade Street
2
Turn right onto Water Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Water Street
3
Continue on Central Street
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Central Street
4
Continue on Lewiston Road
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Lewiston Road
5
Continue on Cobbossee Avenue
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
·
Cobbossee Avenue
6
Continue on Lewiston Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Lewiston Road
7
Enter roundabout onto ME 9; ME 126
120 ft
·
2 sec
·
Lewiston Road
8
Continue on ME 9; ME 126
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Lewiston Road
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 102
Toward I-95
10
Merge onto I 95
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Maine Turnpike
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
20 mi
·
20 min
·
Maine Turnpike
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
14
Turn straight onto Alfred A Plourde Parkway
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Alfred A Plourde Parkway
15
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
16
Merge onto ME 196
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Lisbon Street
17
Turn left onto US 202
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Main Street
18
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Court Street
19
Turn left onto US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
0.1 mi
·
42 sec
·
Minot Avenue
20
Continue on US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
456 ft
·
5 sec
·
Minot Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
Trip Plan
Since the total drive time is under 40 minutes, you have maximum flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to plan for any scheduled stops, as the distance is short enough to handle in one go. Keep in mind that the route relies on a mix of high-speed turnpikes and local roads, so stay alert for changing speed limits as you exit the highway. It is a good idea to check your fuel gauge before leaving Gardiner, even though the $5 estimated cost is quite manageable. Taking advantage of the route’s brevity allows you to spend more time at your destination rather than on the road.
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 14.2 miles from Gardiner, ME, or about 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.6 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 28.5 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 14.2 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 27m
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 Gardiner, 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 Gardiner, ME
This is one driving day of about 28.5 miles and 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Gardiner, 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 Maine Turnpike for about 20.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 14.2 mi from Gardiner, ME · 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
14 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 28.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 14.2 miles from Gardiner, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Auburn, ME
The final approach into Auburn, 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 Auburn, 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
$4.56 one way
$9.12 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $5.00 | $10.00 |
| premium | $4.83 | $5.42 | $10.83 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.33 | $12.66 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.23
Maine Turnpike
(20.6 mi)
$1.23
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.99 | $1.37 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Auburn, ME
Night in Auburn on Sunday
Local time
9:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
34m 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 Gardiner, ME to Auburn, ME covers 28.5 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Maine Turnpike, Lisbon Street, Lewiston Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.2 miles from Gardiner, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.56 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 is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 28.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Water Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles (ME 9; ME 126 / Lewiston Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3.6 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
The route from Gardiner, ME to Auburn, ME does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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