West Scarborough to Blue Hill is 146.5 miles and takes about 3h 5m via I 295 and Maine Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Maine, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a single-day trip that utilizes a mix of highway and local roads. Expect a fairly straightforward journey that should be manageable for most drivers. Given the relatively short duration, you can afford to be flexible with your departure time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
73.2 miles from West Scarborough, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
50.4 mi
58m
Route 3
17.6 mi
21m
Maine Turnpike
9.8 mi
10m
North Belfast Avenue
8.1 mi
11m
Acadia Highway
7.3 mi
8m
West Main Street
7 mi
8m
East Main Street
6.3 mi
7m
Front Ridge Road
6.3 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 50.4 mi, about 58m
Traffic on I-295
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 39 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,557 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,064
Quietest
2 AM
~87 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
29.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 West Scarborough, ME and Blue Hill, ME.
1
Start on this road
25 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto US 1
0.2 mi·29 sec·Route 1
3
Continue on US 1; ME 9
4.1 mi·8 min·US 1; ME 9
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto Scarborough Connector
2.1 mi·2 min·Scarborough Connector
5
Merge onto I 295
50 mi·58 min·I 295
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 95
9.8 mi·10 min·Maine Turnpike
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi·26 sec
Exit 113Toward ME 3: Augusta, Belfast
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·20 sec
9
Merge onto ME 3
2.5 mi·3 min·Augusta Bypass
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
8.1 mi·11 min·North Belfast Avenue
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
0.2 mi·16 sec·Belfast Road
12
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
18 mi·21 min·Route 3
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on ME 3
4.0 mi·4 min·Acadia Highway
14
Continue on ME 3
3.4 mi·3 min·Belfast Augusta Road West
15
Continue on ME 3
4.8 mi·5 min·Augusta Road
16
Continue on ME 3
4.0 mi·4 min·Belmont Avenue
17
Take the exit onto ME 3
0.3 mi·43 sec·ME 3
18
Merge onto US 1; ME 3
0.7 mi·1 min·Route 1
19
Continue on US 1; ME 3
2.7 mi·4 min·Searsport Avenue
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on US 1; ME 3
7.0 mi·8 min·West Main Street
21
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; ME 3
6.3 mi·7 min·East Main Street
22
Continue on US 1; ME 3
1.2 mi·2 min·US Highway 1
23
Continue on US 1; ME 3
508 ft·12 sec·Route 1
24
Continue on US 1; ME 3; ME 15
1.0 mi·1 min·Route 1
25
Continue on US 1; ME 3; ME 15
3.4 mi·3 min·Acadia Highway
26
Turn right onto ME 15
6.3 mi·9 min·Front Ridge Road
Use the right lane.
27
Turn straight onto ME 15
6.1 mi·9 min·Pleasant Street
28
At end of road, turn left onto ME 172; ME 176
41 ft·0 sec·Main Street
29
Arrive at destination
ME 172; ME 176
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour drive, departing in the morning is recommended to give you ample time to reach Blue Hill without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop, you can easily manage your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you get closer to the 146.5-mile mark, as fuel options might become less frequent off the main highways. The estimated fuel cost is around $24, so plan accordingly. A key tip for this route: once you leave I 295 for Route 3, pay close attention to local signage as you'll be navigating more town centers.
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 73.2 miles from West Scarborough, ME, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.4 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 32 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.2 miles or 1h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blue Hill, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Scarborough, 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 West Scarborough, ME
This is one driving day of about 146.5 miles and 3h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from West Scarborough, 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 295 for about 50.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.3 and 146.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.3 mi into trip|~11m in|I 295
Merge onto I 295
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
66.5 mi into trip|~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward ME 3: Augusta, Belfast
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 113
Toward ME 3: Augusta, Belfast
5
66.7 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
66.8 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|ME 3 / Augusta Bypass
Merge onto ME 3 / Augusta Bypass
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
146.5 mi into trip|~3h 5m in|ME 172; ME 176 / Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto ME 172; ME 176 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.90 one way
$51.79 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$28.37
$56.73
premium
$5.29
$30.51
$61.01
diesel
$5.35
$30.86
$61.71
Estimated Tolls: $0.59
Maine Turnpike
(9.8 mi)$0.59
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
$26
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44
0
$15.38
$7.03
Efficient EV
36.6
0
$12.82
$5.86
EV Truck/SUV
58.6
0
$20.51
$9.38
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jun 1, 2026
Origin
West Scarborough, ME
Afternoon
in West Scarborough on Wednesday
Local time
3:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Chance Rain Showers
NE 5 mph68% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Blue Hill, ME
Afternoon
in Blue Hill on Wednesday
Local time
3:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Mostly Cloudy
NE 3 mph1% chanceLive forecast
51°F
Augusta, ME
73 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
6 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
3h 5m 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.
Acadia National Park
National Park
Acadia National Park protects the natural beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the United States, an abundance of habitats, and a rich cultural heritage. At 4 million...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
$6
near mile 146.5
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
~41 min detour
Free
near mile 45.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed drive experience, with 58% of it being highway travel. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Maine Turnpike and I 295. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 50.4 miles on I 295, offering a good opportunity for steady progress. As you transition off the main highways onto Route 3, the character of the drive will shift, likely becoming more local in feel. Be prepared for a blend of faster highway segments and potentially slower, more scenic two-lane driving as you near your destination.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.4 mi on I 295.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.3 miles in near I 295.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 146.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.3 miles (I 295): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
530 ft15 ft
Total Climb
841 ft
Total Descent
882 ft
Highest Point
530 ft
~94.2 mi in
Elevation Range
516 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from West Scarborough, ME to Blue Hill, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Belfast along the way.
Blue Hill is a small town in Hancock County, in the US state of Maine, located on Blue Hill Bay, about 14 miles southwest of the county seat of Ellsworth and quite near Acadia National Park.
Top landmarks
•Blue Hill Historic District — historic district of the 19th century Maine coastal community of Blue Hill
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 5m. Total distance: 146.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.4 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.59 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.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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 Blue Hill, ME before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 1 rest area 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: at 6.3 miles (I 295): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Acadia National Park and Frances Perkins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Blue Hill, ME, but most travelers stay overnight.
