Waterville, ME Road Trips
Waterville, ME serves as a quiet starting point in the Northeast, connecting drivers to 9 outbound routes across the area. Most drives stay under 100 miles, making this area well-suited for day trips and weekend getaways. Most routes from Waterville, ME head south, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
10
Longest Drive
227.2 mi
Caribou, ME
Quickest Drive
1h 1m
Topsham, ME
Plan Around Waterville, ME
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Waterville, ME is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Waterville, ME
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Waterville, ME
Waterville, ME to Eliot, ME
Waterville, ME to Berwick, ME
Waterville, ME to South Berwick, ME
Waterville, ME to Lebanon, ME
Waterville, ME to Waterboro, ME
Waterville, ME to Old Orchard Beach, ME
Waterville, ME to Buxton, ME
Waterville, ME to Bridgton, ME
Waterville, ME to Topsham, ME
Driving from Waterville, ME
Expect an average of 100 miles and about 2h 3m behind the wheel when leaving Waterville, ME. The majority of routes are short drives — quick enough to finish before lunch and be back for dinner. The longest mapped route runs 127 miles (2h 29m), while the shortest is just 50 miles.
Popular Destinations
The most popular drives from Waterville, ME include Eliot, ME (126.9 mi, 2h 29m), Berwick, ME (119.8 mi, 2h 28m), South Berwick, ME (118.5 mi, 2h 25m), Lebanon, ME (115.9 mi, 2h 23m), and Waterboro, ME (101.6 mi, 2h 9m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
For the average 100-mile drive from Waterville, ME, expect to burn about 3.9 gallons of fuel one way at 25 MPG. Check local pump prices before you go to lock in your budget.
The majority of destinations are to the south. Morning starts help you avoid the midday heat on longer drives. With an average drive under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility — leave whenever it suits you.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 9 mapped routes leaving Waterville, ME and 1 routes heading into Waterville, ME, covering 10 total connections. Distances range from 50 to 127 miles.
The longest mapped route from Waterville, ME covers 127 miles and takes approximately 2h 29m. Shorter options start at just 50 miles.
The average route from Waterville, ME runs about 100 miles with a drive time of roughly 2h 3m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
The most popular road trip destinations from Waterville, ME include Eliot, ME, Berwick, ME, South Berwick, ME and Lebanon, ME. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Waterville, ME by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
16,704
Median Income
$47,489
Median Home Value
$173,700
Median Age
34.5
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Notable People from Waterville, ME
A sampling of people born in Waterville, ME.
George J. Mitchell
1933
American politician, diplomat, and judge (born 1933)
Marston Morse
1892–1977
American mathematician (1892–1977)
David E. Kelley
1956
American television producer, writer and attorney
Alice Bridges
1916–2011
American swimmer, Olympic bronze medalist (1916–2011)
Bruce Poliquin
1953
politician
Wyman B. S. Moor
1811–1869
American politician (1811-1869)
Vaughn Meader
1936–2004
American comedian, musician, and impressionist
Charles Heywood
1839–1915
9th Commandant of the Marine Corps
Donald Edmond Pelotte
1945–2010
Catholic bishop (1945-2010)
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Waterville, ME.
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
City data from Wikidata (Q997170), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Waterville, ME
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.
The city center's architecture reflects the city's textile mill past. Several large mills remain standing but are closed. 1 Colby College Campus, 4000 Mayflower Hill Drive, ☏ +1 207 859-4828. Student-led campus tours available from the Office of Admissions. A small liberal arts college founded in 1813. Stroll around the tree-studded hilltop campus with its fine Neo-Georgian architecture. The view from the steps of Miller Library (or from the library's tower during the few times the tower is open) stretches across the Kennebec River valley, particularly beautiful during fall foliage. 2 Colby College Museum of Art. Maine's largest art museum, containing important works by John Singleton Copley, Winslow Homer, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Richard Serra. 3 Perkins Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary. A 128zacre forest with almost two miles of hiking trails. 4 Two Cent Bridge. The 1903 Ticonic footbridge crosses the Kennebec between Waterville and neighboring Winslow, once allowing factory workers access to mills on either side of the river, now an interesting site to visit. 5 Redington Museum, 62 Silver St, ☏ +1 207 872-9439. Memorial Day through Labor Day, Tuesday through Saturday. Maintained by the Waterville Historical Society, this house contains 18th- and 19th-century artifacts from its original inhabitants and other local families.
Maine International Film Festival, ☏ +1 207 861-8138. In mid-July, this festival showcases independent American and international film and highlights New England and Maine filmmakers. Colby College, 4000 Mayflower Hill Drive, ☏ +1 207-859-4000. The college hosts musical and theatrical performances, sports, lectures, and many other cultural events. Check the news and events page for listings. (updated Nov 2024) 1 Railroad Square Cinema, 17 Railroad Square, ☏ +1 207 873-6526. Shows nightly and weekend matinees. One of Maine's leading independent and international movie houses and venue for the Maine International Film Festival. Art by local artists available for sale. (updated Nov 2024) 2 Waterville Opera House, 93 Main St, ☏ +1 207 873-7000. A grand theater space offering a variety of performances throughout the year. Also a venue for the Maine International Film Festival. (updated Nov 2024)
Aside from these recommendations, fast-food and other chain restaurants as well as supermarkets can be found along Main Street and the Kennedy Memorial Drive between I-95 and downtown. 1 Gifford's Ice Cream, 170 Silver St, ☏ +1 207 872-6631. Waterville location of a Maine ice cream chain headquartered in nearby Skowhegan. Unique local flavors include Moose Tracks, Whoopie Pie, and Grape-nuts. (updated Nov 2024) Waterville Farmers' Market, Appleton Street (the Concourse). May-Oct Th 2PM-6PM; Nov-Apr every third Th of month 2PM-4PM. Farmers' featuring a variety of locally grown, raised, or crafted products.
1 Mainely Brews, 1 Post Office Square, ☏ +1 207 873-2457. Bar popular with both locals and college students. (updated Nov 2024)
Most accommodations (chain hotels and motels) are found along the Kennedy Memorial Drive and Main Street between I-95 and downtown. In addition to the following recommendations, other country inns and bed and breakfasts are nearby in Belgrade Lakes. 1 Fireside Inn & Suites, 376 Main St, ☏ +1 207 873-3335, fax: +1 207 873-3335, [email protected]. (updated Nov 2024) 2 Budget Host Airport Inn, 400 Kennedy Memorial Dr, ☏ +1 207 873-3366, toll-free: +1-800-BUD-HOST (283-4678), fax: +1 207 873-3366. (updated Nov 2024) 3 The Elmwood, 455 Kennedy Memorial Dr, ☏ +1 207 616-0832, fax: +1 207 861-8019, [email protected]. (updated Nov 2024) 4 Hampton Inn, 425 Kennedy Memorial Dr, ☏ +1 207 873-0400, fax: +1 207 873-5486. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. (updated Nov 2024) 5 Best Western Plus Waterville Grand Hotel, 375 Main St, ☏ +1 207 873-0111, toll-free: +1-800-780-7234. (updated Nov 2024) 6 Pleasant Street Inn, 84 Pleasant St, ☏ +1 207 680-2515, [email protected]. A three-room B&B close to downtown. (updated Nov 2024) 7 Holiday Inn Express & Suites Waterville - North, 332 Main St, ☏ +1 207 873-2777, toll-free: +1-877-660-8550. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Nov 2024)
From Portland: Take US Interstate I-295 North through Brunswick; this becomes I-95 North in Gardiner; follow signs for Augusta, then Waterville; Exit 127 for the Kennedy Memorial Drive which leads downtown; trip is seventy-five miles and takes seventy-five minutes. From Bangor: Take I-95 South; Exit 130 for Main Street; continue south on Main Street past the strip malls to downtown; trip is 56 miles and takes about an hour. From Quebec City: Take Autoroute 73 South to end; Continue on Route 273 (Route du President Kennedy) following signs for St. Georges/Frontier; Jackman border crossing is open 24 hours/day 7 days/week; continue south on US201 to downtown Waterville; trip is 200 miles and takes about four hours. Concord Coach Lines, in front of Museum of Art at Colby College, toll-free: +1-800-639-3317. Waterville is on the Boston-Bangor line. Greyhound, 320 Kennedy Memorial Dr (by the local airport three miles southwest of downtown).
Kennebec Explorer, ☏ +1 207 622-4761. A community transportation service available to the general public, operates two bus routes through the city Monday to Friday. A south line begins downtown and follows the Kennedy Memorial Drive and a north line runs between downtown and Fairfield. TRI County Cab, ☏ +1 207 692-4029 Enterprise, ☏ +1 207 877-6601.
Travel tips adapted from Waterville (Maine) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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