U.S. Route 2 (Maine)
Encyclopedia
In the U.S. state of Maine, U.S. Route 2 is a principal east–west route through the central portion of the state.
state line in Gilead, Route 2 continues to follow the Androscoggin River
, turning north in Bethel
(Route 26 continues eastward from this turn). From there, the road crosses the river and turns north for a short while before turning eastward again, following the curving path of the river on the opposite bank until Dixfield, where it turns northeast, crossing from Oxford County
, through southeastern Franklin County
and into Somerset County
. The road has a major junction with U.S. Route 201
in Skowhegan
, continuing to Penobscot County
and the town of Newport, where the road begins a loosely parallel path with Interstate 95
, junctioning with the interstate just south-east of the Bangor International Airport
in Bangor
.
From Bangor, the road begins following the Penobscot River
northward, passing through Orono
, crossing the river just south of the main campus of the University of Maine
. In Old Town
, the road crosses the river again, staying to the east bank of the river through Mattawamkeag
, crossing the Mattawamkeag River
, then heading northward through the rest of the county and into Aroostook County
, heading due north from Macwahoc, eventually meeting up again with I-95 near Exit 286 in Oakfield
, before crossing back at Exit 291 in Smyrna
. From Smyrna, the road travels due east into Houlton
, sharing a concurrency with U.S. Route 1
for just under half a mile, before heading east and terminating just north of Houlton International Airport
at I-95 Exit 305, the last exit before it changes to Route 95
.
Route description
After crossing the New HampshireNew Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
state line in Gilead, Route 2 continues to follow the Androscoggin River
Androscoggin River
The Androscoggin River is a river in the U.S. states of Maine and New Hampshire, in northern New England. It is long and joins the Kennebec River at Merrymeeting Bay in Maine before its water empties into the Gulf of Maine on the Atlantic Ocean. Its drainage basin is in area...
, turning north in Bethel
Bethel, Maine
Bethel is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,411 at the 2000 census. It includes the villages of West Bethel and South Bethel...
(Route 26 continues eastward from this turn). From there, the road crosses the river and turns north for a short while before turning eastward again, following the curving path of the river on the opposite bank until Dixfield, where it turns northeast, crossing from Oxford County
Oxford County, Maine
Oxford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine with a population of 57,833 as of the 2010 U.S. census. Its county seat is Paris.Part of Oxford County is included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, metropolitan New England City and Town Area while a different part of Oxford County is...
, through southeastern Franklin County
Franklin County, Maine
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of 2010, the population was 30,768. Its county seat is Farmington.Franklin County was established on 9 May 1838.-Geography:...
and into Somerset County
Somerset County, Maine
Somerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of 2010, the population was 52,228. Its county seat is Skowhegan.-History:...
. The road has a major junction with U.S. Route 201
U.S. Route 201
U.S. Route 201 is a spur of U.S. Route 1 in the U.S. state of Maine. US 201 begins in Brunswick. It follows the Kennebec River from Gardiner, Maine, to The Forks where it pulls away from the town and runs into the north woods. Route 201 ends in Sandy Bay Township, where it enters Quebec, Canada at...
in Skowhegan
Skowhegan, Maine
Skowhegan is the county seat of Somerset County, Maine, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 8,824. Every August, Skowhegan hosts the annual Skowhegan State Fair, the oldest continuous state fair in the United States...
, continuing to Penobscot County
Penobscot County, Maine
Penobscot County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. For U.S. Census statistical purposes, it is part of the Bangor, Maine, New England County Metropolitan Area . As of 2010, the population was 153,923...
and the town of Newport, where the road begins a loosely parallel path with Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in Maine
In the U.S. state of Maine, Interstate 95 is a long highway running from the New Hampshire border near Kittery, to the Canadian border near Houlton. It is the only two-digit Interstate Highway in Maine...
, junctioning with the interstate just south-east of the Bangor International Airport
Bangor International Airport
Bangor International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located west of the city of Bangor, in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. It is owned and operated by the City of Bangor and was formerly a military installation known as Dow Air Force Base. The airport possesses a single...
in Bangor
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
.
From Bangor, the road begins following the Penobscot River
Penobscot River
The Penobscot River is a river in the U.S. state of Maine. Including the river's West Branch and South Branch increases the Penobscot's length to , making it the second longest river system in Maine and the longest entirely in the state. Its drainage basin contains .It arises from four branches...
northward, passing through Orono
Orono, Maine
Orono is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. It was first settled in 1774 and named in honor of Chief Joseph Orono of the Penobscot Nation. It is home to The University of Maine. The population was 10,362 at the 2010 census.- Geography :...
, crossing the river just south of the main campus of the University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
. In Old Town
Old Town, Maine
Old Town is a city in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 7,840 at the 2010 census. The city's developed area is chiefly located on a relatively large island, though its boundaries extend beyond that...
, the road crosses the river again, staying to the east bank of the river through Mattawamkeag
Mattawamkeag, Maine
Mattawamkeag is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States located where the Mattawamkeag River joins the Penobscot River. The population was 825 at the 2000 census.-Railroad history:Mattawamkeag's history is inextricably linked to the railroad....
, crossing the Mattawamkeag River
Mattawamkeag River
The Mattawamkeag River is a river in Maine. From the confluence of its East Branch and West Branch in Haynesville, about west of the Canada – United States border, the river runs south and west to its mouth on the Penobscot River in Mattawamkeag....
, then heading northward through the rest of the county and into Aroostook County
Aroostook County, Maine
Aroostook County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. In 2010, its population was 71,870. In land area, it is the largest county in the state and the largest U.S. county east of the Mississippi River. Its seat is Houlton...
, heading due north from Macwahoc, eventually meeting up again with I-95 near Exit 286 in Oakfield
Oakfield, Maine
Oakfield is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, United States. The population was 732 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
, before crossing back at Exit 291 in Smyrna
Smyrna, Maine
Smyrna is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, United States. The population was 415 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
. From Smyrna, the road travels due east into Houlton
Houlton, Maine
Houlton is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, on the United States – Canada border, located at . As of the 2010 census, the town population was 6,123. It is perhaps best known as being at the northern terminus of Interstate 95 and for being the birthplace of Samantha Smith...
, sharing a concurrency with U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south U.S. Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. It runs 2,377 miles from Fort Kent, Maine at the Canadian border south to Key West, Florida. U.S. 1 generally parallels Interstate 95, though it is significantly farther west between...
for just under half a mile, before heading east and terminating just north of Houlton International Airport
Houlton International Airport
Houlton International Airport is a public-use airport located two miles east of Houlton , Maine, in the town of Houlton in Aroostook County, Maine, United States, on the border of New Brunswick, Canada. This general aviation airport is publicly owned by the town of Houlton...
at I-95 Exit 305, the last exit before it changes to Route 95
New Brunswick Route 95
Route 95 is a long provincial highway in New Brunswick, which serves a connector route between Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 2 at the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing near Houlton, Maine, United States to Route 2, which is part of the Trans-Canada Highway, in Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada...
.