The drive from Auburn, ME to Southwest Harbor, ME covers 133.9 miles and takes about 2h 56m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Route 3, Acadia Highway, US 202 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.6 miles on Route 3.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.56 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
67 miles from Auburn, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Route 3
17.6 mi
21m
Acadia Highway
13.4 mi
15m
US 202
12.8 mi
14m
Main Street
11.8 mi
16m
North Belfast Avenue
9 mi
13m
Bucksport Road
8.5 mi
9m
West Main Street
7.2 mi
8m
Bar Harbor Road
6.7 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
Route 3
— 17.6 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, ME and Southwest Harbor, ME.
1
Start on US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
40 ft·4 sec·Minot Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.4 mi·37 sec·Court Street
3
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
4.9 mi·5 min·Main Street
4
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
3.8 mi·4 min·Route 202
5
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.6 mi·42 sec·US Route 202
6
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
2.7 mi·3 min·Route 202
7
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.9 mi·1 min·US Route 202
8
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
13 mi·14 min·US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
2.5 mi·3 min·Western Avenue
10
Turn left
416 ft·8 sec
11
Turn straight onto Old Winthrop Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Old Winthrop Road
12
Turn right onto Meadow Road
0.3 mi·42 sec·Meadow Road
13
Turn left onto US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 100
0.3 mi·1 min·Western Avenue
14
Turn right onto Armory Street
0.2 mi·18 sec·Armory Street
15
Continue on Capitol Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Capitol Street
16
Turn left onto US 201; ME 27
0.2 mi·18 sec·State Street
17
Enter roundabout onto US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100
29 ft·0 sec·Memorial Drive
18
Continue on US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100
0.7 mi·1 min·Memorial Drive
19
Enter roundabout onto US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100
220 ft·4 sec·Bangor Street
Toward US 201 North, ME 100 North, US 202 East, ME 9 East: Waterville, Belfast
20
Continue on US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100
0.6 mi·54 sec·Bangor Street
Toward US 201 North, ME 100 North, US 202 East, ME 9 East: Waterville, Belfast
21
Turn right onto US 202; ME 9
1.0 mi·1 min·North Belfast Avenue
Use the right lane.
22
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
8.1 mi·11 min·North Belfast Avenue
Use the right lane.
23
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
0.2 mi·16 sec·Belfast Road
24
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
18 mi·21 min·Route 3
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on ME 3
4.0 mi·4 min·Acadia Highway
26
Continue on ME 3
3.4 mi·3 min·Belfast Augusta Road West
27
Continue on ME 3
4.8 mi·5 min·Augusta Road
28
Continue on ME 3
4.0 mi·4 min·Belmont Avenue
29
Take the exit onto ME 3
0.3 mi·43 sec·ME 3
30
Merge onto US 1; ME 3
0.7 mi·1 min·Route 1
31
Continue on US 1; ME 3
2.7 mi·4 min·Searsport Avenue
Use the left lane.
32
Continue on US 1; ME 3
7.0 mi·8 min·West Main Street
33
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; ME 3
6.3 mi·7 min·East Main Street
34
Continue on US 1; ME 3
1.2 mi·2 min·US Highway 1
35
Continue on US 1; ME 3
508 ft·12 sec·Route 1
36
Continue on US 1; ME 3; ME 15
1.0 mi·1 min·Route 1
37
Continue on US 1; ME 3; ME 15
9.4 mi·10 min·Acadia Highway
38
Continue on US 1; ME 3
8.5 mi·9 min·Bucksport Road
39
Continue on US 1; ME 3
0.2 mi·17 sec·West Main Street
40
Turn right onto ME 230
0.8 mi·1 min·Water Street
Use the right lane.
41
Continue on ME 230
1.0 mi·1 min·Bayside Road
42
Turn left onto Beechland Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Beechland Road
43
Turn right onto ME 3
0.7 mi·1 min·High Street
44
Continue on ME 3
6.7 mi·11 min·Bar Harbor Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
45
Turn slight right onto ME 102
3.7 mi·5 min·State Highway 102
46
Continue on ME 102; ME 198
7.0 mi·10 min·Main Street
47
Turn left onto Clark Point Road
236 ft·6 sec·Clark Point Road
48
Arrive at destination
Clark Point Road
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67 miles from Auburn, ME, or about 1h 24m 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 29 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67 miles or 1h 24m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Southwest Harbor, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Auburn, 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 Auburn, ME
This is one driving day of about 133.9 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Auburn, 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 Route 3 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 113 — 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 202; ME 11; ME 100 / Court Street
Turn right onto US 202; ME 11; ME 100 / Court Street
Navigation decision point
5
31.3 mi into trip|~39m 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
7
32 mi into trip|~40m in|US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100 / Bangor Street
Enter roundabout onto US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100 / Bangor Street toward US 201 North, ME 100 North, US 202 East, ME 9 East: Waterville, Belfast
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 201 North, ME 100 North, US 202 East,...
5
32.6 mi into trip|~41m in|US 202; ME 9 / North Belfast Avenue
Turn right onto US 202; ME 9 / North Belfast Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
113 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|ME 230 / Water Street
Turn right onto ME 230 / Water Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.56 one way
$43.11 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$23.72
$47.43
premium
$4.86
$25.64
$51.28
diesel
$5.61
$29.56
$59.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.2
0
$14.06
$6.43
Efficient EV
33.5
0
$11.72
$5.36
EV Truck/SUV
53.6
0
$18.75
$8.57
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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
Auburn, ME
Afternoon
in Auburn on Saturday
Local time
4:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Southwest Harbor, ME
Afternoon
in Southwest Harbor on Saturday
Local time
4:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
28°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
34°F
Brooks, ME
67 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
22 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 56m 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.
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
$6
near mile 124.7
Park Closure: Carriage Roads open to pedestrians only
Park Closure: Cadillac Summit Road Closed for Construction
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 36.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
133.9 mi in 2h 56m — 34% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Route 3.
34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
48 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.6 mi on Route 3.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 202; ME 11; ME 100 / Court Street.
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 133.9 miles you will encounter 18 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 202; ME 11; ME 100 / Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 31.3 miles (US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100 / Memorial Drive): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 32 miles (US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100 / Bangor Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Auburn, ME to Southwest Harbor, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Belfast along the way.
Belfast
32 mi in|~40m|via US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 56m. Total distance: 133.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (34%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.6 miles on Route 3. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Southwest Harbor, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 202; ME 11; ME 100 / Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 31.3 miles (US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100 / Memorial Drive): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 32 miles (US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100 / Bangor Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Acadia National Park and 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 Southwest Harbor, ME before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
