Thai With Us
Near the end, right off the route
Augusta, Maine
Hours: 11 am–3 pm
+12074801121
Visit websiteCompiled 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
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eliot, ME
PhotoShoot Studio | Candid, Birthday Pre Wedding, Baby, Maternity & Child Photographer in Pune Ps Studio
Augusta, ME
Wikimedia Commons
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 .
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Eliot, ME and Augusta, ME.
Start on this road
Turn left
Turn left onto Depot Road
Turn right onto ME 236
Continue on ME 236
Enter roundabout onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 100
Turn right onto Armory Street
Continue on Capitol Street
Turn left onto US 201; ME 27
Enter roundabout onto US 201; US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 27; ME 100
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Best meal stop · home stretch
Augusta, Maine
Near the end, right off the route
Hours: 11 am–3 pm
+12074801121
Nom Cafe
Portland, Maine
Near the end, right off the route
Augusta, Maine
Hours: 11 am–3 pm
+12074801121
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 9 am–2 pm
+12076139332
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Freeport, Maine
Hours: 7 am–2 pm
+12078695113
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Augusta, Maine
+12076262385
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Portland, Maine
+12072531800
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+12072337485
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 12–8:15 pm
+12076193775
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
South Portland, Maine
Hours: 1–7 pm
+12072746007
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+12077741822
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 8:30 am–5:30 pm
+12078070009
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
York, Maine
Hours: 6 am–8 pm
+12073611102
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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.
Turn left onto Depot Road
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto ME 236 / Harold L Dow Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 toward Downtown Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
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
Regular Gas
$17.42 one way
$34.84 round trip
| 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
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Eliot on Tuesday
Local time
8:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Augusta on Tuesday
Local time
8:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
423 ft
Total Descent
328 ft
Highest Point
220 ft
~92.8 mi in
Elevation Range
193 ft
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
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).
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.
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.
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