Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h
Distance
93.6 mi
151 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lewiston, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Bucksport, ME
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Lewiston, ME to Bucksport, ME covers 93.6 miles and takes about 2h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Route 3, US 202, North Belfast Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.6 miles on Route 3. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.34 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.8 miles from Lewiston, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Route 3 | 17.6 mi | 21m |
| US 202 | 12.8 mi | 14m |
| North Belfast Avenue | 9 mi | 13m |
| West Main Street | 7 mi | 8m |
| Route 202 | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| East Main Street | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| Main Street | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| Augusta Road | 4.8 mi | 5m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lewiston, ME and Bucksport, ME.
Start on this road
Turn sharp left onto ME 126
Turn right onto US 202
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Turn left
Turn straight onto Old Winthrop Road
Turn right onto Meadow Road
Turn left 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 17; ME 100
Continue on US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100
Enter roundabout onto US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100
Continue on US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100
Turn right onto US 202; ME 9
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
Continue on ME 3
Continue on ME 3
Continue on ME 3
Continue on ME 3
Take the exit onto ME 3
Merge onto US 1; ME 3
Continue on US 1; ME 3
Continue on US 1; ME 3
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; ME 3
Continue on US 1; ME 3
Continue on US 1; ME 3
At end of road, turn left onto ME 15
Turn right onto Mechanic Street
Arrive at destination
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 21 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.8 miles or 1h 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bucksport, ME than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Lewiston, 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 Lewiston, ME
This is one driving day of about 93.6 miles and 2h.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 46.8 miles from Lewiston, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 31.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn sharp left onto ME 126 / Sabattus Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Turn right onto Armory Street
Navigation decision point
Enter roundabout onto US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100 / Memorial Drive
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Enter roundabout onto US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100 / Bangor Street toward US 201 North, ME 100 North, US 202 East, ME 9 East: Waterville, Belfast
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto US 202; ME 9 / North Belfast Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$16.34 one way
$32.67 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.93 | $18.18 | $36.36 |
| premium | $5.30 | $19.53 | $39.07 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $22.77 | $45.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.1 | 0 | $9.83 | $4.49 |
| Efficient EV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.19 | $3.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.4 | 0 | $13.10 | $5.99 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (67% 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 Lewiston on Saturday
Local time
9:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Bucksport on Saturday
Local time
9:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Partly Cloudy
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
93.6 mi in 2h — 44% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Route 3.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near ME 126 / Sabattus Street.
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 93.6 miles you will encounter 17 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: near the start (ME 126 / Sabattus Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 29.2 miles (Armory Street): Navigation decision point; at 30.4 miles (US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100 / Memorial Drive): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
493 ft
Total Descent
652 ft
Highest Point
397 ft
~46.8 mi in
Elevation Range
339 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Lewiston, ME to Bucksport, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Belfast along the way.
Belfast
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h. Total distance: 93.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). 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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