Auburn (and Lewiston)

Lewiston City Hall

Lewiston-Auburn is a city in Androscoggin County, in the central Maine region of Maine. The Androscoggin River divides the city into two separate municipalities: the east bank is Lewiston, with a population of about 39,000 (2016), and the west bank is Auburn, with about 23,000 people (2016). They are known locally as the "Twin Cities" or "L–A".

Get in

By car

• Maine Turnpike (Interstate 95), Exit 80.

By bus

• 1 Greyhound, 111 Bates St, ☏ +1 207-782-0311. 

By plane

• Portland International Jetport (Portland), ☏ +1 207-878-6757. 

• 2 Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport (LEW  ^IATA), 80 Airport Dr, ☏ +1 207-786-0631.  

Shuttle companies serve Lewiston:

• Maine Limousine Service, ☏ +1 207-883-0222, toll-free: +1 800-646-0068. 

Get around

• Purple Bus (Citylink), ☏ +1 207 777-4563. M-Sa. 9 routes. Citylink connects Lewiston, Auburn and Lisbon. The downtown shuttle is free. It runs through the downtowns of Lewiston and Auburn. $1.50. (updated May 2019)

See

• 1 Androscoggin Historical Society & Museum. 
• 2 Bates College, 23 Campus Av, ☏ +1 207-786-6000. Museum of Arts and Olin Arts center may provide some diversions.  
• 3 Museum L-A, 35 Canal St, ☏ +1 207-517-9424. (updated Oct 2019)

Do

• Lost Valley, 200 Lost Valley Rd, ☏ +1 207 784-1561, info@lostvalleyski.com. Ski resort. 
• Franco Center, 46 Cedar St, ☏ +1 207-783-1585 (admin), +1 207-689-2000 (box office), fax: +1 207-689-2355. Performing arts and museum in old St. Mary's church. 
• 1 Great Falls Balloon Festival, Simard-Payne Memorial Park and Festival Park. Annual hot air balloon festival; one of the largest tourist draws to the area. Normally the 3rd weekend in August.  

• Switzerland Road. It's one of the more hidden pleasures of living in Lewiston. Switzerland Road is between the local fire station and a local furniture store and across from Harley Davidson's. Walking down this road is a quiet delight. Switzerland is a dead end road, approximately one mile in length. It parallels the Androscoggin River, offering waterfront access (but no swimming) after the initial 100 yards of residences. About halfway down the road is St Peter's Cemetery, which is a local landmark. You can see the cultural heritage of Lewiston in the Quebecois names and Catholic practices in this quiet, beautifully maintained place of rest. Switzerland Road ends in a power plant that uses the water power from the river to provide electricity to Lewiston locals, and while the power plant is not public, it is easily accessible if you call in advance for a tour. The tour is very worthwhile, because they show how water is transformed into electricity. 
• 2 Androscoggin Bank Colisée. A multi-purpose sports Colosseum. (updated Oct 2019)

Buy

• 1 Auburn Mall. (updated Oct 2019)

Eat

Lewiston

• Fish Bones, 70 Lincoln St, ☏ +1 207-333-3663. Seafood. 
• Governor's Restaurant & Bakery, 1185 Lisbon St, ☏ +1 207-753-0173. Family place. Oh my, try the pie. 
• Mother India, 114 Lisbon St, ☏ +1 207-333-6777. 
• Golden City Chinese food, 20 east Ave, ☏ +1 207-777-7037. Chinese food to eat in or take out. Very authentic 
• Sam's Italian Foods, 268 Main St, ☏ +1 207 782-9145. 
• Davinci's Eatery, 150 Mill St, ☏ +1 207-782-2088. In the old Bates Mill, great lasagna and bread, did that part of the mill over very nicely. Brick oven. North Italian cuisine. (updated Jul 2023)

Auburn

• Garden Grille & Bar, 14 Great Falls Plaza (at the Hilton), ☏ +1 207-514-2222. 
• Mac's Grill, 1052 Minot Ave, ☏ +1 207 783-6885. Angus beef and more. 
• 1 The Munroe Inn, 123 Pleasant St, ☏ +1 207 782-4984. Fine dining in a bed and breakfast setting. 
• Margaritas Mexican Restaurant & Watering Hole, 180 Center St, ☏ +1 207 782-6036. 4PM - Various. Great Mexican food; dinner until 10PM on weeknights, 11PM on weekends, lounge open until 1AM. Now opening for lunch at 11:30AM Friday through Sunday. 

Drink

• Gritty McDuff's, 68 Main St., Auburn, ☏ +1 207-376-2739. Daily 11AM-midnight. A Maine brew pub overlooking the Androscoggin River. Great food, micro brews, atmosphere and live entertainment. 

Sleep

• 1 Hilton Garden Inn Auburn Riverwatch, 14 Great Falls Plaza, ☏ +1-207-784-4433, fax: +1-207-777-7328. 
• Maine Motel & Cabins, 1101 Maine St., Lewiston, ☏ +1 207-784-7925. They have motel room, but the cabins are so cozy, bring a fan for the summer. Great place if you're taking in the Moxie Festival. Nice young couple run it. 
• SureStay by Best Western Lewiston, 516 Pleasant St., Lewiston, ☏ +1 207-705-2040, fax: +1 207 783-5270. 
• 2 Ramada Conference Center Lewiston/Auburn, 490 Pleasant St., Lewiston, ☏ +1 207-784-2331. 
• Super 8 Motel Lewiston/Auburn, 1440 Lisbon St., Lewiston, ☏ +1 207-784-8882. 

Connect

• 1 Lewiston Public Library, 200 Lisbon St, ☏ +1-207-513-3004. (updated Oct 2019)
• 2 Lewistown Post Office. (updated Oct 2019)
• 3 Auburn Public Library. (updated Oct 2019)

Go next

Routes through Lewiston–Auburn

Augusta ← Gardiner ←	N  S	→ Gray → Portland
Rochester/Portland ← New Gloucester ←	W/S  E/N	→ Monmouth → Augusta
END ←	W  E	→ Jct E → Monmouth → Gardiner
END ←	W  E	→ Lisbon → Brunswick