West Scarborough to Brooks is 115.7 miles and takes about 2h 29m via I 295 and Maine Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maine, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. The route is primarily highway driving, making for a straightforward trip. It's a relatively short drive, perfect for a single day without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.8 miles from West Scarborough, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m 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
US 1
4.1 mi
8m
Acadia Highway
4 mi
4m
Veterans Highway
3.9 mi
6m
Belfast Augusta Road West
3.4 mi
3m
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 Brooks, 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
Turn left onto Higgins Hill Road
2.4 mi·3 min·Higgins Hill Road
16
Turn left onto ME 131
3.1 mi·5 min·South Main Street
17
Continue on ME 131
3.3 mi·5 min·Waldo Station Road
18
Turn left onto ME 7
0.4 mi·41 sec·Moosehead Trail
19
Continue on ME 7
3.9 mi·6 min·Veterans Highway
20
Arrive at destination
ME 7
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 29m duration, leaving anytime in the morning should get you to Brooks with plenty of daylight to spare. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility if you want to make an early start. The longest stretch without a major exit is 50.4 miles on I 295, so plan your fuel and restroom breaks accordingly before embarking on that segment. The estimated fuel cost is around $21, which is a good benchmark for budgeting.
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 57.8 miles from West Scarborough, ME, or about 1h 10m 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 25 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.8 miles or 1h 10m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brooks, 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 115.7 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from West Scarborough, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 66.8 — 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 / Route 1
Turn left onto US 1 / Route 1
Navigation decision point
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.45 one way
$40.90 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$22.40
$44.80
premium
$5.29
$24.09
$48.18
diesel
$5.35
$24.37
$48.74
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
$20
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.7
0
$12.15
$5.55
Efficient EV
28.9
0
$10.12
$4.63
EV Truck/SUV
46.3
0
$16.20
$7.40
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (65% 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
3:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Chance Rain Showers
NE 5 mph68% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Brooks, ME
Afternoon
in Brooks on Wednesday
Local time
3:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Patchy Fog
NE 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
51°F
Randolph, ME
58 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
7 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
2h 29m 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 47.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 71% of this 115.7-mile drive on highways, including a notable 50.4-mile stretch on I 295. The majority of your travel will be on the Maine Turnpike and I 295, offering a consistent highway experience. Expect the transition to surface roads, like Route 3, to occur after the main highway portions conclude.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and Route 3. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 1 / Route 1.
Driving Effort6/10
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 115.7 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: near the start (US 1 / Route 1): Navigation decision point; 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
515 ft29 ft
Total Climb
515 ft
Total Descent
199 ft
Highest Point
515 ft
~90.9 mi in
Elevation Range
486 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 Brooks, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Belfast along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 29m. Total distance: 115.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 Brooks, 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. 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: near the start (US 1 / Route 1): Navigation decision point; 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.
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 Brooks, ME before heading back.
