Getting to Auburn Maine: Directions from Portland, Boston, and I-95

Auburn, Maine is easier to reach than the map makes it look. We are halfway up Maine’s coastal corridor, fifteen miles inland from the I-95 corridor, with reliable highway access and a regional airport thirty-five miles south. Most of our guests are driving — from southern Maine, from Boston, from the Portland Jetport — and the trip is a smooth two- or three-hour version of the classic New England road trip.

This is everything we know about getting to 170 Center Street, Auburn, from the four directions visitors most often come from.

From Portland, Maine (35 miles · 45 minutes)

If you are landing at Portland International Jetport (PWM) or driving from Portland city, the trip to Auburn is straightforward:

1. From PWM, exit the airport and follow signs for I-95 North (Maine Turnpike).
2. Take I-95 North for approximately 30 miles.
3. Take Exit 75 (Auburn / Lewiston).
4. Pay the toll if applicable (the Maine Turnpike north of Portland is a toll road).
5. From the exit ramp, head west on Washington Street.
6. Continue on Washington Street for approximately 1.5 miles.
7. Right on Center Street. Saffron Inn is at 170 Center Street, on the right side, less than half a mile from the turn.

Total drive: ~45 minutes from PWM, slightly less from Portland downtown.

Things to know:

• The Maine Turnpike is a toll road. Cash and EZ-Pass both accepted; lanes are clearly marked.
• The drive is mostly highway — no surprise turns or confusing interchanges.
• Two rest stops (Gray and Lewiston-Auburn) along the way if you need a break.
• Cell signal is reliable on this stretch.

From Boston, Massachusetts (140 miles · 2.5 hours)

The classic Boston-to-Maine drive. Two and a half hours of New England highway, mostly on I-95:

1. From Boston, take I-93 North to I-95 North (the Maine Turnpike).
2. Continue on I-95 North through New Hampshire and into Maine.
3. Pass Portland (do not exit; stay on I-95 North).
4. About 30 miles past Portland, take Exit 75 (Auburn / Lewiston).
5. From the exit ramp, head west on Washington Street.
6. Continue ~1.5 miles, then right on Center Street.
7. Saffron Inn is at 170 Center Street.

Total drive: ~2.5 hours in normal traffic, 3+ hours during summer weekends or holiday traffic.

Things to know:

• Plan for traffic. Boston-to-Maine on a Friday afternoon in summer can add an hour. Monday-through-Thursday mornings are smoothest.
• The New Hampshire stretch of I-95 includes a single toll booth ($3-4).
• Maine Turnpike north of Portland has variable tolls, mostly $1-3 per segment.
• From Boston Logan, add 30-45 minutes for airport exit traffic. Logan to Saffron Inn is realistically 3 hours door to door.
• Several rest stops along the way; the Kennebunk service plaza is the largest and most useful for a real meal.

From Bangor, Maine (80 miles · 90 minutes)

Coming from northern or eastern Maine via Bangor:

1. From Bangor, take I-95 South (Maine Turnpike).
2. Continue south for approximately 75 miles.
3. Take Exit 75 (Auburn / Lewiston).
4. Head west on Washington Street.
5. Right on Center Street. Saffron Inn at 170 Center.

Total drive: ~90 minutes from Bangor city, slightly less from Bangor International Airport.

Things to know:

• This stretch of I-95 is quieter than the Boston-Portland corridor — fewer rest stops, fewer cars, beautiful in fall foliage season.
• Cell signal can drop in a few stretches; download maps offline if you are arriving late.
• One toll plaza north of Auburn ($2-3).

From Montreal, Quebec (250 miles · 4-5 hours)

A cross-border drive that is more common than people expect. Many Lewiston-Auburn families have Quebec roots and visit family across the border regularly.

The most reliable route:

1. From Montreal, take Autoroute 10 East to Sherbrooke.
2. Continue on Autoroute 55 / 91 South to the U.S. border at Coburn Gore (or Stanstead, depending on your route).
3. From the border, follow U.S. routes south. The Coburn Gore route lands you on Maine Route 27, which runs south through Eustis and Kingfield to Farmington.
4. From Farmington, take Route 4 east to Lewiston-Auburn.
5. Or, alternatively: cross at Stanstead, drop south to I-93 in New Hampshire, east to I-95 in Maine, then north to Exit 75.

Total drive: 4-5 hours including border crossing time.

Things to know:

• Bring your passport. The border requires it for U.S. entry.
• The Coburn Gore crossing is small and rural. It is sometimes faster than the busier crossings in the summer; sometimes slower if there is staffing.
• The Maine Route 27 stretch is genuinely beautiful — through the western Maine mountains. In fall, it is one of the best foliage drives in the eastern U.S.
• Plan a Sherbrooke or Farmington meal stop. Both have decent food and good places to stretch.

Airport options

Portland International Jetport (PWM). The default for visitors flying to Lewiston-Auburn. 35 miles south, 45-minute drive. Major carriers (Delta, United, American, JetBlue, Southwest), good rental-car desks. PWM is a small, manageable airport — easy in, easy out.

Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport (LEW). Three miles from Saffron Inn. General aviation only — no commercial flights. Useful if you fly private or charter; otherwise irrelevant.

Boston Logan (BOS). 140 miles south. Usually only worth it if you are flying internationally or a route that does not connect through Portland. The drive is real and adds 2.5+ hours either side of the flight.

Bangor International (BGR). 80 miles north. A reasonable alternative if your routing makes BGR cheaper or more direct than Portland. Smaller airport, often quieter.

I-95 Exit 75 — what to know

Exit 75 is the main highway exit for both Auburn and Lewiston. From the exit ramp:

• West on Washington Street takes you toward Auburn (toward Saffron Inn).
• East on Washington Street takes you toward downtown Lewiston, Bates College, and CMMC.

The exit itself has gas stations (Mobil, Shell, Cumberland Farms), a few fast-food options, and a small shopping plaza if you need to grab something quickly. We tell guests arriving late at night that it is fine to fuel up at the exit and then come the rest of the way.

If you are arriving after dark for the first time, the Washington Street → Center Street turn is well-lit and signed. Saffron Inn’s sign is on the right side of Center Street. Free, well-lit parking immediately upon arrival; office is open 24 hours.

What to expect from Maine driving

A few things that surprise out-of-state visitors:

Maine is bigger than it looks on a map. Travel times across the state are real. From the southern coast to the northern border is six hours of driving.

The roads are good but two-lane. Outside I-95 and a few state routes, most of Maine is two-lane country roads. They are well-maintained but require attention, especially in winter.

Wildlife matters. Deer, moose, and the occasional bear cross roads, especially at dawn and dusk. Drive deliberately on rural routes after dark.

Winter driving is real. From late November through early April, snow and ice are routine. Maine plows are good but not instantaneous. If you are driving in winter, allow extra time and consider winter tires.

Cell signal varies. Major highways are fine; rural routes drop. Download offline maps before a long Maine drive.

Speed limits are enforced. Maine state troopers patrol I-95 actively. The posted limits are the limits.

Public transit and rideshares

Concord Coach Lines. Operates a daily bus service between Boston and Bangor that stops in Lewiston. The Lewiston bus stop is approximately 2.5 miles from Saffron Inn; rideshare or local taxi covers the last mile.

Amtrak. No direct service to Lewiston-Auburn. The nearest Amtrak stop is Brunswick, Maine, 30 miles south.

Uber and Lyft. Both operate in Lewiston-Auburn but driver availability is thinner than in major cities. Plan ahead for late-night airport rides.

Local taxi. Several local taxi companies run in L/A. The front desk can recommend a few that are reliable.

Plan your drive, plan your stay

We are at I-95 Exit 75, about ten minutes from the highway. Free on-site parking, 24-hour front desk, person-on-the-phone if you need help on the drive in.

See our rooms · See our directions · Call (207) 784-1331