The drive from Fort Fairfield, ME to Lewiston, ME covers 265.7 miles and takes about 5h 4m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, US 202, Houlton Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 191.4 miles on I 95.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.77 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
132.8 miles from Fort Fairfield, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 41m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 4m. Total distance: 265.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 5h 4m highway drive covering 265.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 95 and US 202. The longest continuous stretch is about 191.4 miles on I 95.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 191.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and US 202. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near ME 161 / Main Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 4m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (ME 161 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 1A; 167 / Presque Isle Street): Navigation decision point; at 45.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|ME 161 / Main Street
Turn left onto ME 161 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 1A; 167 / Presque Isle Street
Turn left onto US 1A; 167 / Presque Isle Street
Navigation decision point
4
45.4 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
3
45.7 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
237.2 mi into trip|~4h 30m in
Take the exit toward US 202 West, ME 11 West, ME 17 West, ME 100 West: Winthrop
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 109B
Toward US 202 West, ME 11 West, ME 17 West, ME...
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
191.4 mi
3h 19m
US 202
12.8 mi
14m
Houlton Road
12 mi
17m
Route 1
9.1 mi
14m
Main Road
6.7 mi
10m
Route 202
6.6 mi
7m
North Road
5.8 mi
8m
Fort Road
5.8 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 191.4 mi, about 3h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Fairfield, ME and Lewiston, ME.
1
Start on Elm Street
53 ft·6 sec·Elm Street
2
Turn left onto ME 161
413 ft·9 sec·Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 1A; 167
1.0 mi·1 min·Presque Isle Street
4
Continue on US 1A
12 mi·17 min·Houlton Road
5
Continue on US 1A
5.8 mi·8 min·Fort Road
6
Continue on US 1A
0.1 mi·9 sec·Bridge Street
7
Continue on US 1A
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
8
Continue on US 1
0.3 mi·40 sec·Military Road
9
Continue on US 1
2.7 mi·4 min·Route 1
10
Continue on US 1
6.7 mi·10 min·Main Road
11
Continue on US 1
6.4 mi·10 min·Route 1
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Continue on US 1
0.7 mi·54 sec·US Highway 1
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Continue on US 1
5.8 mi·8 min·North Road
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 1
3.1 mi·5 min·North Street
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
16
Merge onto I 95
191 mi·3 hr 19 min·I 95
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 109BToward US 202 West, ME 11 West, ME 17 West, ME 100 West: Winthrop
18
Turn right onto US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 100
2.8 mi·3 min·Western Avenue
19
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
13 mi·14 min·US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.9 mi·1 min·US Route 202
21
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
2.7 mi·3 min·Route 202
22
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.6 mi·42 sec·US Route 202
23
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
3.8 mi·4 min·Route 202
24
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
4.5 mi·5 min·Main Street
25
Continue on US 202
0.1 mi·19 sec·Main Street
26
Turn slight right
157 ft·5 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 132.8 miles from Fort Fairfield, ME, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 191.4 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 58 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.8 miles or 2h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lewiston, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fort Fairfield, 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 Fort Fairfield, ME
This is one driving day of about 265.7 miles and 5h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Fort Fairfield, 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 95 for about 191.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 132.8 mi from Fort Fairfield, ME
· 2h 41m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
National Monument
Spread across a wild landscape offering spectacular views of Katahdin, Katahdin Woods and Waters invites discovery of its rivers, streams, woods, flora, fauna, geology, and the night skies that have a...
15 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 82.5
Park Closure: Loop Road and North Entrance Seasonal Closures
Park Closure: Katahdin Overlook Construction Closure
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...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 238.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.77 one way
$85.55 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$47.06
$94.12
premium
$4.86
$50.88
$101.76
diesel
$5.61
$58.66
$117.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.7
0
$27.90
$12.75
Efficient EV
66.4
0
$23.25
$10.63
EV Truck/SUV
106.3
1
$37.20
$17.00
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Dec 19, 2023
Origin
Fort Fairfield, ME
Afternoon
in Fort Fairfield on Saturday
Local time
1:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
28°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lewiston, ME
Afternoon
in Lewiston on Saturday
Local time
1:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 4m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Fort Fairfield, ME to Lewiston, ME covers 265.7 miles and takes about 5h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, US 202, Houlton Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 132.8 miles from Fort Fairfield, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.77 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 4m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (ME 161 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 1A; 167 / Presque Isle Street): Navigation decision point; at 45.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Fort Fairfield, ME to Lewiston, ME does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
