The drive from Swanville, ME to Scarborough, ME covers 115.8 miles and takes about 2h 28m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 295, Belfast Augusta Road, North Belfast Avenue for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 50.5 miles on I 295.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.64 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.
Midpoint
57.9 miles from Swanville, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 28m. Total distance: 115.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Swanville, ME to Scarborough, ME covers 115.8 miles and takes about 2h 28m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 295 is the longest continuous segment at about 50.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 7.6 miles in near ME 3.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 115.8 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 7.6 miles (ME 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 7.7 miles (ME 3 / Belmont Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
7.6 mi into trip|~13m in|ME 3
Keep slight right at fork onto ME 3
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
7.7 mi into trip|~13m in|ME 3 / Belmont Avenue
Merge onto ME 3 / Belmont Avenue
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
54.2 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-95 South: Portland, Kittery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-95 South: Portland, Kittery
9
60.7 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|I 295
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Exit 103
Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Bru...
7
111.3 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|Scarborough Connector
Keep slight right at fork onto Scarborough Connector toward Scarborough, Old Orchard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 2
Toward Scarborough, Old Orchard
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Swanville, ME and Scarborough, ME, road signs point toward Waterville, Bangor, Kittery and Brunswick.
Waterville
53.8 mi in|~1h 13m
Bangor
53.8 mi in|~1h 13m
Kittery
54.2 mi in|~1h 13m
Brunswick
60.7 mi in|~1h 21m|via I 295
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
50.5 mi
58m
Belfast Augusta Road
17.6 mi
21m
North Belfast Avenue
9.1 mi
13m
Swan Lake Avenue
6.4 mi
11m
Maine Turnpike
5.9 mi
6m
Augusta Road
4.8 mi
5m
Acadia Highway
4 mi
4m
Belmont Avenue
3.9 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 50.5 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Swanville, ME and Scarborough, ME.
1
Start on Curtis Road
168 ft·11 sec·Curtis Road
2
Turn left onto ME 141
6.4 mi·11 min·Swan Lake Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 1; ME 3
0.3 mi·32 sec·Searsport Avenue
4
Continue on US 1; ME 3
0.7 mi·1 min·Route 1
5
Take the exit onto ME 3
0.3 mi·38 sec·ME 3
6
Keep slight right at fork onto ME 3
373 ft·12 sec·ME 3
7
Merge onto ME 3
3.9 mi·4 min·Belmont Avenue
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on ME 3
4.8 mi·5 min·Augusta Road
9
Continue on ME 3
3.4 mi·3 min·Belfast Augusta Road East
10
Continue on ME 3
4.0 mi·4 min·Acadia Highway
11
Continue on ME 3
18 mi·21 min·Belfast Augusta Road
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
0.2 mi·16 sec·Belfast Road
13
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
8.1 mi·11 min·North Belfast Avenue
14
Turn left onto US 202; ME 9
1.0 mi·1 min·North Belfast Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
At end of road, turn left onto US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100
0.6 mi·52 sec·Bangor Street
16
Enter roundabout onto US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100
159 ft·3 sec·Memorial Drive
17
Continue on US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100
0.7 mi·1 min·Memorial Drive
18
Enter roundabout onto US 201; ME 27
401 ft·7 sec·State Street
19
Continue on US 201; ME 27
0.2 mi·19 sec·State Street
20
Turn right onto Capitol Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Capitol Street
21
Turn straight onto Armory Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·Armory Street
22
Turn left onto US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 100
0.7 mi·1 min·Western Avenue
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 95: Portland, Waterville, Bangor
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I-95 South: Portland, Kittery
25
Merge onto I 95
5.9 mi·6 min·Maine Turnpike
26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
51 mi·58 min·I 295
Exit 103Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, BrunswickUse the straight lane.
27
Keep slight right at fork onto Scarborough Connector
2.1 mi·2 min·Scarborough Connector
Exit 2Toward Scarborough, Old Orchard
28
Turn straight onto US 1; ME 9
1.2 mi·2 min·Route 1
29
Turn left onto ME 207
1.2 mi·2 min·Black Point Road
30
Turn left onto Highland Avenue
267 ft·7 sec·Highland Avenue
31
Arrive at destination
Highland Avenue
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 57.9 miles from Swanville, ME, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.5 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 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.9 miles or 1h 18m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scarborough, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Swanville, 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 Swanville, ME
This is one driving day of about 115.8 miles and 2h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Swanville, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 295 for about 50.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57.9 mi from Swanville, ME
· 1h 18m into the drive
The midpoint is around 57.9 miles from Swanville, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Scarborough, ME
The final approach into Scarborough, ME usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Scarborough, ME.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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 67.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.64 one way
$37.28 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$20.51
$41.02
premium
$4.86
$22.18
$44.35
diesel
$5.61
$25.57
$51.13
Estimated Tolls: $0.36
Maine Turnpike
(5.9 mi)$0.36
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
$19
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
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, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.7
0
$12.16
$5.56
Efficient EV
29
0
$10.13
$4.63
EV Truck/SUV
46.3
0
$16.21
$7.41
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Swanville, ME
Afternoon
in Swanville on Thursday
Local time
1:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Scarborough, ME
Afternoon
in Scarborough on Thursday
Local time
1:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Augusta, 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
13 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
2h 28m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Swanville, ME to Scarborough, ME covers 115.8 miles and takes about 2h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 295, Belfast Augusta Road, North Belfast Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.9 miles from Swanville, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.64 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 115.8 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.6 miles (ME 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 7.7 miles (ME 3 / Belmont Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Swanville, ME and Scarborough, ME, road signs point toward Waterville, Bangor, Kittery and Brunswick.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Frances Perkins National Monument.
