ME 196 begins at a junction with US 202, ME 11, and ME 100 in downtown Lewiston and heads southeast. It begins as two one way roads through downtown as Canal Street and Lisbon Street. The two roads then merge together as it exits downtown and ME 196 continues as Lisbon Street. The route runs by the Androscoggin River and interchanges Alfred A. Plourde Parkway, which gives access to I-95 from the highway. The route then passes under I-95 and heads through Lisbon. It becomes concurrent with ME 9 until it reaches the intersection of ME 125, where ME 9 terminates. The route continues along the Androscoggin River heading southeast. It interchanges I-295 heading into Topsham. It intersects US 201, then ME 24 and crossing over the Androscoggin River before reaching its southern terminus at US 1 at a directional T interchange

• Floodgap Roadgap's RoadsAroundME: Maine State Route 196^{[permanent dead link]}