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Trip from Madawaska, ME to Lewiston, ME

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

5h 25m

Distance

277.7 mi

447 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$45

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 12m ★
6 AM
5h 25m
8 AM
5h 52m
10 AM
5h 34m
12 PM
5h 32m
3 PM
5h 36m
5 PM
5h 51m
8 PM
5h 17m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Madawaska, ME, ME

Madawaska, ME

Merve Tuncay

city in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States

Lewiston, ME

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Madawaska, ME to Lewiston, ME covers 277.7 miles and takes about 5h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 95, US 202, Houlton Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 191.4 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.71 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

138.8 miles from Madawaska, ME

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 56m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 25m. Total distance: 277.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 5h 25m highway drive covering 277.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 95 and US 202. The longest continuous stretch is about 191.4 miles on I 95.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 191.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and US 202. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near ME 89 / Access Highway.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 277.7 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.2 miles (ME 89 / Access Highway): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (US 1; ME 89; ME 161 / Presque Isle Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles (US 1 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | ME 89 / Access Highway

At end of road, turn left onto ME 89 / Access Highway

Navigation decision point

5
3.1 mi into trip | ~5m in | US 1; ME 89; ME 161 / Presque Isle Road

Merge onto US 1; ME 89; ME 161 / Presque Isle Road

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
6
16.8 mi into trip | ~26m in | US 1 / Main Street

Turn right onto US 1 / Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
4
31.1 mi into trip | ~49m in | US 1 / Main Street

At end of road, turn right onto US 1 / Main Street

Navigation decision point

6
249.1 mi into trip | ~4h 51m 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...

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 191.4 mi 3h 19m
US 202 12.8 mi 14m
Houlton Road 10.3 mi 14m
Route 1 9.1 mi 14m
Presque Isle Road 8.7 mi 13m
Main Road 6.7 mi 10m
Main Street 6.7 mi 11m
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 Madawaska, ME and Lewiston, ME.

1

Start on ME 223

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Noyes Road
2

At end of road, turn left onto ME 89

2.6 mi · 4 min · Access Highway
3

Continue on ME 89

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Presque Isle Road
4

Take the ramp onto US 1; ME 89

236 ft · 5 sec · US 1; ME 89
5

Merge onto US 1; ME 89; ME 161

6.5 mi · 9 min · Presque Isle Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
6

Continue on US 1

5.1 mi · 7 min · Caribou Road
7

Continue on US 1

0.3 mi · 48 sec · Main Street
8

Turn right onto ME 163

0.7 mi · 1 min · Connector Road
9

Continue on ME 163

0.2 mi · 18 sec · State Road
10

Continue on ME 163; ME 227

0.8 mi · 1 min · Parsons Street
11

Turn left onto ME 227

0.2 mi · 21 sec · State Street
12

Turn right onto US 1

1.3 mi · 3 min · Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
13

Continue on US 1

10 mi · 14 min · Houlton Road
Use the straight lane.
14

Continue on US 1

2.0 mi · 3 min · Presque Isle Road
15

Continue on US 1

0.7 mi · 2 min · Benjamin Street
16

At end of road, turn right onto US 1

0.5 mi · 1 min · Main Street
17

Continue on US 1

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Military Road
18

Continue on US 1

2.7 mi · 4 min · Route 1
19

Continue on US 1

6.7 mi · 10 min · Main Road
20

Continue on US 1

6.4 mi · 10 min · Route 1
Use the straight / left lanes.
21

Continue on US 1

0.7 mi · 54 sec · US Highway 1
Use the straight / left lanes.
22

Continue on US 1

5.8 mi · 8 min · North Road
Use the straight lane.
23

Continue on US 1

3.1 mi · 5 min · North Street
24

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
25

Merge onto I 95

191 mi · 3 hr 19 min · I 95
26

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Exit 109B Toward US 202 West, ME 11 West, ME 17 West, ME 100 West: Winthrop
27

Turn right onto US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 100

2.8 mi · 3 min · Western Avenue
28

Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100

13 mi · 14 min · US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Use the straight lane.
29

Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100

0.9 mi · 1 min · US Route 202
30

Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100

2.7 mi · 3 min · Route 202
31

Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100

0.6 mi · 42 sec · US Route 202
32

Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100

3.8 mi · 4 min · Route 202
33

Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100

4.5 mi · 5 min · Main Street
34

Continue on US 202

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Main Street
35

Turn slight right

157 ft · 5 sec
36

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

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 138.8 miles from Madawaska, ME, or about 2h 56m 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 61 miles or 1h 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 138.8 miles or 2h 56m 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 29m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lewiston, ME than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Madawaska, 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 Madawaska, ME

This is one driving day of about 277.7 miles and 5h 25m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Madawaska, 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.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 138.8 mi from Madawaska, ME · 2h 56m into the drive

Downtown Lincoln, ME, ME

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lincoln, ME

139 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

Houlton, ME

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Greenbush, ME

Meal break

The midpoint is around 138.8 miles from Madawaska, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 191.4 miles.

Arriving in Lewiston, ME

The final approach into Lewiston, 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 Lewiston, ME.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument

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...

15 mi from route ~39 min detour Free near mile 95.8
View on nps.gov
Frances Perkins National Monument

Frances Perkins National Monument

National Monument

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...

25 mi from route ~63 min detour Free near mile 249
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$44.71 one way

$89.41 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 97 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $49.19 $98.38
premium $4.86 $53.18 $106.36
diesel $5.61 $61.31 $122.63

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$45

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$70–$95

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 97.2 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 83.3 1 $29.16 $13.33
Efficient EV 69.4 0 $24.30 $11.11
EV Truck/SUV 111.1 1 $38.88 $17.77

Gas CO2

97 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 16, 2026

Origin

Madawaska, ME

Afternoon in Madawaska on Thursday

Local time

4:55 PM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lewiston, ME

Afternoon in Lewiston on Thursday

Local time

4:55 PM

EDT

Current temp

58°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers

SE 5 mph 23% chance Live forecast

32°F

Lincoln, ME

139 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

11 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 25m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Madawaska, ME to Lewiston, ME covers 277.7 miles and takes about 5h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, US 202, Houlton 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 138.8 miles from Madawaska, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.71 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 277.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 0.2 miles (ME 89 / Access Highway): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (US 1; ME 89; ME 161 / Presque Isle Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles (US 1 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Madawaska, ME to Lewiston, ME does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and Frances Perkins National Monument.

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Return Trip

Lewiston, ME to Madawaska, ME

Plan the drive back the other way.

278.8 mi 5h 27m

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