Searsport to Lewiston is 81.1 miles and takes about 1h 42m via Belfast Augusta Road and US 202, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maine, connecting the Northeast region from coast to inland. Expect a drive that mostly uses surface roads, offering a more grounded feel than a pure highway cruise. It's a straightforward, single-day option for getting between these two points in Maine, with a manageable distance and cost.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.5 miles from Searsport, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Belfast Augusta Road
17.6 mi
21m
US 202
12.8 mi
14m
North Belfast Avenue
9.1 mi
13m
Route 202
6.6 mi
7m
Augusta Road
4.8 mi
5m
Main Street
4.6 mi
5m
Acadia Highway
4 mi
4m
Belmont Avenue
3.9 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Belfast Augusta Road
— 17.6 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Searsport, ME and Lewiston, ME.
1
Start on Elm Street
179 ft·12 sec·Elm Street
2
Turn left onto US 1; ME 3
2.7 mi·3 min·East Main Street
3
Continue on US 1; ME 3
2.7 mi·4 min·Searsport Avenue
4
Continue on US 1; ME 3
0.7 mi·1 min·Route 1
5
Take the exit onto ME 3
0.3 mi·38 sec·ME 3
6
Keep slight right at fork onto ME 3
373 ft·12 sec·ME 3
7
Merge onto ME 3
3.9 mi·4 min·Belmont Avenue
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on ME 3
4.8 mi·5 min·Augusta Road
9
Continue on ME 3
3.4 mi·3 min·Belfast Augusta Road East
10
Continue on ME 3
4.0 mi·4 min·Acadia Highway
11
Continue on ME 3
18 mi·21 min·Belfast Augusta Road
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
0.2 mi·16 sec·Belfast Road
13
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
8.1 mi·11 min·North Belfast Avenue
14
Turn left onto US 202; ME 9
1.0 mi·1 min·North Belfast Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
At end of road, turn left onto US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100
0.6 mi·52 sec·Bangor Street
16
Enter roundabout onto US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100
159 ft·3 sec·Memorial Drive
17
Continue on US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100
0.7 mi·1 min·Memorial Drive
18
Enter roundabout onto US 201; ME 27
401 ft·7 sec·State Street
19
Continue on US 201; ME 27
0.2 mi·19 sec·State Street
20
Turn right onto Capitol Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Capitol Street
21
Turn straight onto Armory Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·Armory Street
22
Turn left onto US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 100
3.7 mi·4 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 short duration of 1 hour and 42 minutes, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon from Searsport will give you plenty of daylight. The fuel cost is estimated at $13, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing, as there are no designated stops mentioned for refueling. Since this is a shorter drive, you have the flexibility to make spontaneous stops along the way if something catches your eye. Keep an eye out for the transition onto US 202 as you approach Lewiston.
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 40.5 miles from Searsport, ME, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.6 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 18 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.5 miles or 50m 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 28m
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 Searsport, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Searsport, ME
This is one driving day of about 81.1 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Searsport, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Belfast Augusta Road for about 17.6 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 6.4 and 49.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.4 mi into trip|~10m in|ME 3
Keep slight right at fork onto ME 3
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
6.5 mi into trip|~10m in|ME 3 / Belmont Avenue
Merge onto ME 3 / Belmont Avenue
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
48.4 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|US 202; ME 9 / North Belfast Avenue
Turn left onto US 202; ME 9 / North Belfast Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
49.4 mi into trip|~1h 3m in|US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100 / Bangor Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100 / Bangor Street
Navigation decision point
4
49.9 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100 / Memorial Drive
Enter roundabout onto US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100 / Memorial Drive
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.06 one way
$26.11 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$14.36
$28.73
premium
$4.86
$15.53
$31.06
diesel
$5.61
$17.91
$35.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
18 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Augusta Comfort Inn Civic Center - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.3
0
$8.52
$3.89
Efficient EV
20.3
0
$7.10
$3.24
EV Truck/SUV
32.4
0
$11.35
$5.19
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Searsport, ME
Late night
in Searsport on Sunday
Local time
4:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lewiston, ME
Late night
in Lewiston on Sunday
Local time
4:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Augusta, ME
41 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
13 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
1h 42m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Frances Perkins National Monument
National Monument
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...
24 mi from route
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 44.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily surface roads, with only 27% of it on highways. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch on Belfast Augusta Road, covering 17.6 miles. The transition to surface roads will likely begin around Augusta as you continue on US 202. Drivers will notice a shift from potentially faster highway speeds to more typical local road cruising.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.6 mi on Belfast Augusta Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.4 miles in near ME 3.
Driving Effort5/10
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 81.1 miles you will encounter 10 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 6.4 miles (ME 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 6.5 miles (ME 3 / Belmont Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.4 miles (US 202; ME 9 / North Belfast Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 81.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (27%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.6 miles on Belfast Augusta Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 6.4 miles (ME 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 6.5 miles (ME 3 / Belmont Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.4 miles (US 202; ME 9 / North Belfast Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lewiston, ME before heading back.
