Skip to main content

Trip from Eliot, ME to Augusta, ME

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 9m

Distance

108.2 mi

174 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 0m ★
6 AM
2h 9m
8 AM
2h 28m
10 AM
2h 16m
12 PM
2h 14m
3 PM
2h 17m
5 PM
2h 27m
8 PM
2h 4m

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

Downtown Eliot, ME, ME

Eliot, ME

PhotoShoot Studio | Candid, Birthday Pre Wedding, Baby, Maternity & Child Photographer in Pune Ps Studio

county seat in Kennebec County, Maine, USA and Maine federated state capital city

Augusta, ME

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 108.2-mile drive from Eliot to Augusta, Maine, is a straightforward 2-hour and 9-minute journey. Designed as a single-day trip, it's an efficient way to travel within the Northeast region of the US. The route is primarily highway-focused, utilizing I-295 and the Maine Turnpike. With an estimated fuel cost of $17, it's an economical option for a quick excursion. You'll find this drive to be a practical and direct connection between these two Maine locations, making it ideal for those prioritizing speed and simplicity.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

54.1 miles from Eliot, ME

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 295 52.5 mi 1h 1m
Maine Turnpike 47.7 mi 51m
Harold L Dow Highway 3 mi 5m
Route 236 1.6 mi 3m
Capitol Street 0.8 mi 1m
Western Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
State Road 0.3 mi <1m
State Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 295 — 52.5 mi, about 1h 1m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Eliot, ME and Augusta, ME.

1

Start on this road

272 ft · 21 sec · this road
2

Turn left

75 ft · 11 sec
3

Turn left onto Depot Road

254 ft · 11 sec · Depot Road
4

Turn right onto ME 236

3.0 mi · 5 min · Harold L Dow Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
5

Continue on ME 236

1.6 mi · 3 min · Route 236
6

Enter roundabout onto US 1

0.1 mi · 21 sec · State Road
7

Continue on US 1

0.2 mi · 34 sec · State Road
8

Continue on US 1

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Route 1
9

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min
10

Merge onto I 95

41 mi · 44 min · Maine Turnpike
11

Keep slight right at fork onto I 295

52 mi · 1 hr 1 min · I 295
Exit 44 Toward Downtown Portland Use the slight right lane.
12

Merge onto I 95

6.3 mi · 6 min · Maine Turnpike
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Exit 109 Toward US 202, ME 11, ME 17, ME 100: Augusta, Winthrop
14

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 20 sec
Toward US 202, ME 11, ME 17, ME 100: Augusta
15

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

0.6 mi · 1 min · Western Avenue
16

Turn right onto Armory Street

0.2 mi · 18 sec · Armory Street
17

Continue on Capitol Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · Capitol Street
18

Turn left onto US 201; ME 27

0.2 mi · 18 sec · State Street
19

Enter roundabout onto US 201; US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 27; ME 100

466 ft · 8 sec · Memorial Circle
20

Arrive at destination

US 201; ME 27

Trip Plan

Given its 2-hour duration and highway focus, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your time in Augusta, or depart later if you prefer a more relaxed start. With minimal stops recommended, plan your fuel needs in advance, noting the $17 estimated cost. The longest uninterrupted stretch is over 50 miles on I-295, so ensure you're comfortable with extended highway driving. A good tip for this route is to check Maine Turnpike tolls beforehand, as they can add to your overall travel expense.

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 54.1 miles from Eliot, ME, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.5 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 miles or 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 54.1 miles or 1h 4m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 44m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Eliot, 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 Eliot, ME

This is one driving day of about 108.2 miles and 2h 9m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Eliot, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 295 for about 52.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

seat of Cumberland County, and largest city in State of Maine, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Portland, ME

54 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.

Popular next leg

Portland, ME to Augusta, ME

55.9 mi · 1h 6m

Pacing Suggestions

York Beach, ME

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

South Portland Gardens, ME

Meal break

The midpoint is around 54.1 miles from Eliot, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · home stretch

Thai With Us

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Augusta, Maine

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 0min to go 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour Moderately

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+12074801121

Visit website

Nom Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Portland, Maine

1.7 mi

Thai With Us

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour Moderately

Augusta, Maine

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+12074801121

Visit website

Nom Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Portland, Maine

Hours: 9 am–2 pm

+12076139332

Visit website

Freeport Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

Halfway reset 3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20

Freeport, Maine

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+12078695113

Visit website

Old Fort Western

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Augusta, Maine

+12076262385

Visit website

Portland Observatory

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Portland, Maine

+12072531800

Visit website

Maine Day Ventures/ formerly Maine Foodie Tours

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Portland, Maine

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+12072337485

Visit website

The Escape Room

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Portland, Maine

Hours: 12–8:15 pm

+12076193775

Visit website

Maine Escape Games

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

South Portland, Maine

Hours: 1–7 pm

+12072746007

Visit website

Maine Historical Society and the Wadsworth-Longfellow House

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Portland, Maine

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+12077741822

Visit website

Old Port Historic Tours

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Portland, Maine

Hours: 8:30 am–5:30 pm

+12078070009

Visit website

Mount Agamenticus Conservation Region

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

York, Maine

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+12073611102

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 106.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Depot Road

Turn left onto Depot Road

Navigation decision point

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | ME 236 / Harold L Dow Highway

Turn right onto ME 236 / Harold L Dow Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
8
47.2 mi into trip | ~56m in | I 295

Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 toward Downtown Portland

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 44 Toward Downtown Portland
6
106 mi into trip | ~2h 4m in

Take the exit toward US 202, ME 11, ME 17, ME 100: Augusta, Winthrop

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 109 Toward US 202, ME 11, ME 17, ME 100: Augusta, W...
7
106.3 mi into trip | ~2h 5m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 202, ME 11, ME 17, ME 100: Augusta

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 202, ME 11, ME 17, ME 100: Augusta

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.42 one way

$34.84 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 38 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $19.17 $38.33
premium $4.86 $20.72 $41.44
diesel $5.61 $23.89 $47.78

Estimated Tolls: $2.87

Maine Turnpike (47.7 mi) $2.87

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

$17

Tolls

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 37.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 32.5 0 $11.36 $5.19
Efficient EV 27.1 0 $9.47 $4.33
EV Truck/SUV 43.3 0 $15.15 $6.92

Gas CO2

38 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 21, 2026

Origin

Eliot, ME

Morning in Eliot on Tuesday

Local time

8:21 AM

EDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Augusta, ME

Morning in Augusta on Tuesday

Local time

8:21 AM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

50°F

Portland, ME

54 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

1 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

2h 9m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused experience for 94% of this trip. The majority of your travel will be on major arteries like I-295 and the Maine Turnpike, offering a consistent pace. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 52.5 miles on I-295 without needing to exit, which contributes to the efficient travel time. While largely a freeway drive, the Harold L Dow Highway section offers a slightly different feel before merging back onto the main thoroughfares. This route prioritizes getting you to your destination with minimal fuss.

94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.5 mi on I 295.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and Maine Turnpike. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Depot Road.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 108.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (Depot Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (ME 236 / Harold L Dow Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 47.2 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

220 ft 27 ft

Total Climb

423 ft

Total Descent

328 ft

Highest Point

220 ft

~92.8 mi in

Elevation Range

193 ft

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 Eliot, ME to Augusta, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Portland along the way.

Portland

47.2 mi in | ~56m | via I 295

About the Cities

Arriving in Augusta, ME

Full guide →

Augusta is the capital of Maine, but at 19,000 (2020), it is one of the least populous state capitals in the United States. Top attractions include the historic Old Fort Western (the oldest surviving wooden fort in New England (built 1754)), tours of the Maine State House, the Maine State Museum, and outdoor recreation at Viles Arboretum or the Kennebec River Rail Trail.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 108.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 52.5 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $2.87 in tolls one way, starting with Maine Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Augusta, ME before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through ME can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Depot Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (ME 236 / Harold L Dow Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 47.2 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Augusta, ME before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Eliot, ME or browse trips ending in Augusta, ME.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse ME road trips.