Fort Kent to Lewiston is 288.1 miles and takes about 5h 54m via I 95 and Aroostook Road, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Northeast region, specifically Maine, making it a straightforward trip. With over half of the driving on highways, expect a relatively efficient journey. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to cover significant ground without needing an overnight stop.
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
144.1 miles from Fort Kent, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
153.7 mi
2h 42m
Aroostook Road
30.6 mi
45m
Aroostook Scenic Highway
30.2 mi
44m
Portage Road
15.3 mi
22m
US 202
12.8 mi
14m
Masardis Road
11.7 mi
17m
Route 202
6.6 mi
7m
Main Street
6.3 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 153.7 mi, about 2h 42m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 64 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,113 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,508
Quietest
1 AM
~41 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
27.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Kent, ME and Lewiston, ME.
1
Start on Highland Avenue
88 ft·8 sec·Highland Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 1
301 ft·14 sec·East Main Street
3
Turn left onto ME 161
1.3 mi·1 min·Market Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto Bridge Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·Bridge Street
5
Turn left onto ME 11
0.6 mi·1 min·Pleasant Street
6
Continue on ME 11
31 mi·45 min·Aroostook Road
7
Continue on ME 11
15 mi·22 min·Portage Road
8
Turn left onto ME 11
0.8 mi·1 min·Station Street
9
Turn right onto ME 11
0.4 mi·37 sec·Main Street
10
Continue on ME 11
12 mi·17 min·Masardis Road
11
Continue on ME 11
30 mi·44 min·Aroostook Scenic Highway
12
Continue on ME 11
4.4 mi·6 min·North Road
13
Continue on ME 11
1.1 mi·2 min·Main Street
14
Continue on ME 11
3.2 mi·4 min·South Patten Road
15
Continue on ME 11
3.5 mi·5 min·Station Road
16
Continue on Route 11
0.2 mi·15 sec·Route 11
17
Continue on Station Road
1.7 mi·2 min·Station Road
18
Continue on Main Street
0.2 mi·21 sec·Main Street
19
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
20
Merge onto I 95
154 mi·2 hr 42 min·I 95
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 109BToward US 202 West, ME 11 West, ME 17 West, ME 100 West: Winthrop
22
Turn right onto US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 100
2.8 mi·3 min·Western Avenue
23
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
13 mi·14 min·US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.9 mi·1 min·US Route 202
25
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
2.7 mi·3 min·Route 202
26
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.6 mi·42 sec·US Route 202
27
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
3.8 mi·4 min·Route 202
28
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
4.5 mi·5 min·Main Street
29
Continue on US 202
0.1 mi·19 sec·Main Street
30
Turn slight right
157 ft·5 sec
31
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 54m estimated duration, leaving in the morning from Fort Kent is advisable to ensure you reach Lewiston with ample daylight. While the route is manageable in one day, you can choose to stop once along the way, perhaps after the longest stretch of 153.7 miles on I 95, to break up the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $46, and plan your refueling stops accordingly, especially as you transition from highway to surface roads. This trip offers flexibility due to its single-day feasibility.
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 144.1 miles from Fort Kent, ME, or about 3h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 153.7 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 63 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.1 miles or 3h 19m 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 56m
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 Fort Kent, 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 Fort Kent, ME
This is one driving day of about 288.1 miles and 5h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Fort Kent, 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 153.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 259.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 1 / East Main Street
Turn left onto US 1 / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|ME 161 / Market Street
Turn left onto ME 161 / Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
3
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in|Bridge Street
Turn right onto Bridge Street
Navigation decision point
4
48 mi into trip|~1h 12m in|ME 11 / Station Street
Turn left onto ME 11 / Station Street
Navigation decision point
6
259.6 mi into trip|~5h 21m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.82 one way
$99.63 round trip
$4.39/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.90
$55.57
$111.13
premium
$5.27
$59.79
$119.57
diesel
$6.28
$71.19
$142.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.4
1
$30.25
$13.83
Efficient EV
72
0
$25.21
$11.52
EV Truck/SUV
115.2
1
$40.33
$18.44
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Fort Kent, ME
Late night
in Fort Kent on Friday
Local time
12:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Sunny
SW 7 to 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lewiston, ME
Late night
in Lewiston on Friday
Local time
12:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Sunny
S 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 54m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 99.4
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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 258.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a highway share of 61%, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on major interstates. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 153.7 miles on I 95, offering an extended period of consistent cruising. After leaving the highway portions, expect to transition to surface roads like Aroostook Road and Aroostook Scenic Highway for the remainder of the approximately 288.1-mile trip. The high highway percentage suggests fewer complex intersections and more straightforward driving.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 153.7 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Aroostook Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 1 / East Main Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 54m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 1 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (ME 161 / Market Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (Bridge Street): Navigation decision point.
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".
Top landmarks
•Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul — cathedral
•Kora Temple — masonic temple in Lewiston, United States of America
•Lewiston City Hall — city hall building in Lewiston, Maine, United States
The longest stretch is about 153.7 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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: near the start (US 1 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (ME 161 / Market Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (Bridge Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and Frances Perkins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lewiston, ME before the return drive.
