Waterville, ME to Buxton, ME is 88.4 miles and takes about 1h 48m via I 295 and I 95, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Maine, taking you south through the Northeast region. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major highways, making it a convenient option for a quick trip. You'll find it's a practical route if you're looking for a direct path to your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.2 miles from Waterville, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
41.4 mi
46m
I 95
24.2 mi
26m
Main Street
3.7 mi
6m
Falmouth Spur
3.5 mi
4m
Maine Turnpike
2.6 mi
3m
Narragansett Trail
2.2 mi
2m
Narragansett Street
2.1 mi
2m
Kennedy Memorial Drive
1.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 41.4 mi, about 46m
Traffic on I-295
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,934 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,510
Quietest
2 AM
~73 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
26.5×
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 Waterville, ME and Buxton, ME.
1
Start on Post Office Square
42 ft·7 sec·Post Office Square
2
Turn left onto ME 11; ME 104
0.5 mi·1 min·Elm Street
3
Turn slight right onto ME 11; ME 104; ME 137 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Silver Street
4
Continue on ME 11; ME 104; ME 137
1.6 mi·3 min·Kennedy Memorial Drive
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
6
Merge onto I 95
24 mi·26 min·I 95
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
41 mi·46 min·I 295
Exit 103Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, BrunswickUse the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 11Toward I 95: NH-Mass
9
Merge onto Falmouth Spur
1.0 mi·1 min·Falmouth Spur
10
Keep slight left at fork onto Falmouth Spur
2.5 mi·3 min·Falmouth Spur
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 South: Portland, Kittery
12
Merge onto I 95
2.6 mi·3 min·Maine Turnpike
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 48Toward ME 25, US 302Use the slight right lane.
14
Continue on Larrabee Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Larrabee Road
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto Westbrook Arterial
1.2 mi·1 min·Westbrook Arterial
16
Continue on William B Clarke Drive
0.5 mi·39 sec·William B Clarke Drive
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto Spring Street
324 ft·13 sec·Spring Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto ME 25 Business
0.5 mi·53 sec·Main Street
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto ME 25
0.4 mi·47 sec·William B Clarke Drive
20
Continue on ME 25
0.3 mi·38 sec·Conant Street
21
Continue on Main Street
3.2 mi·5 min·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on US 202; ME 4
0.2 mi·16 sec·State Street
23
Turn left onto US 202; ME 4
0.8 mi·58 sec·Narragansett Street
24
Enter roundabout onto US 202; ME 4
107 ft·2 sec·Narragansett Street
25
Continue on US 202; ME 4
1.3 mi·1 min·Narragansett Street
26
Continue on US 202; ME 4
2.2 mi·2 min·Narragansett Trail
27
Turn right onto Long Plains Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Long Plains Road
28
Arrive at destination
Long Plains Road
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of this trip, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon should allow you to complete the 1 hour and 48-minute drive well before dark. With a total distance of 88.4 miles, you won't need to worry about extensive stops, but a quick break around the halfway point might be comfortable. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $14, and ensure you have enough to reach Buxton without needing to search for a station unexpectedly. Since this is a single-day trip, plan to have your fuel topped off before you leave Waterville.
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 44.2 miles from Waterville, ME, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.4 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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.2 miles or 52m 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 Buxton, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Waterville, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Waterville, ME
This is one driving day of about 88.4 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Waterville, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 295 for about 41.4 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 27.3 and 78.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
27.3 mi into trip|~33m in|I 295
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Exit 103
Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Bru...
5
68.6 mi into trip|~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 95: NH-Mass
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 11
Toward I 95: NH-Mass
6
72.5 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South: Portland, Kittery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 South: Portland, Kittery
8
75.7 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward ME 25, US 302
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 48
Toward ME 25, US 302
6
78.5 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|Spring Street
Turn right onto Spring Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.73 one way
$29.45 round trip
$4.23/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.70
$16.34
$32.68
premium
$5.07
$17.63
$35.26
diesel
$5.60
$19.49
$38.97
Estimated Tolls: $0.16
Maine Turnpike
(2.6 mi)$0.16
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
$15
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.5
0
$9.28
$4.24
Efficient EV
22.1
0
$7.74
$3.54
EV Truck/SUV
35.4
0
$12.38
$5.66
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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 Aug 15, 2026
Origin
Waterville, ME
Late night
in Waterville on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Sunny
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued August 14 at 7:57PM EDT until August 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Caribou ME
Destination
Buxton, ME
Late night
in Buxton on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Sunny
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued August 14 at 7:57PM EDT until August 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Caribou ME
59°F
Falmouth, ME
44 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
3 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 48m on the road
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.
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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 36.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 77% highway, so you'll spend most of your time on interstate driving. Expect a longest stretch of 41.4 miles on I 295 before you transition to surface streets. As you approach your destination, you'll notice a higher density of exits and local traffic as you transition from highway cruising to Main Street. The profile is described as mostly highway, indicating a smooth and direct path for the majority of the drive.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.4 mi on I 295.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 27.3 miles in near I 295.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 88.4 miles you will encounter 16 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 27.3 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 72.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
257 ft39 ft
Total Climb
455 ft
Total Descent
380 ft
Highest Point
257 ft
~12.6 mi in
Elevation Range
218 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Waterville, ME and Buxton, ME, road signs point toward Brunswick and Kittery.
Waterville is a small city (16,000 in 2020) on the Kennebec River, home to Colby College. Because of its location along a former migration corridor between Quebec and New England (now the Kennebec-Chaudière International Corridor), Franco-American culture is evident here.
Top landmarks
•Lockwood Mill Historic District — mill complex in Waterville, Maine, United States
•Professional Building — historic commercial building in Waterville, Maine
•Waterville Opera House and City Hall — theater and former town hall in Waterville, Maine, United States
Buxton is a small farming town in Maine that is in the Portland Metropolitan Area. Buxton includes the villages of Salmon Falls/Tory Hill, Chicopee, Groveville, Bar Mills, West Buxton, and Buxton Center. The old town Common is east of Union Falls, which is the location of Skelton Dam, operated by Central Maine Power, and near historic location of the original settlement at Pleasant Point.
Top landmarks
•Salmon Falls (East) Historic District — historic district in Buxton, Maine, United States
•Elden's Store — historic building in Buxton, Maine, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 88.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.4 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.16 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 Buxton, ME before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 27.3 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 72.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Frances Perkins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Buxton, ME before heading back.
