SR 197 then crosses the Sabattus-Wales town line, and then the Wales-Litchfield town line entering Kennebec County, as Litchfield Road becomes Richmond Road instead.

It SR 197 then enters Richmond intersects U.S. Route 201, called Brunswick Rd (northbound) and Augusta Rd (southbound).

It then and crosses the West Branch Denham Stream before coming to an interchange with on and off ramps onto Interstate 295.

A bridge carries SR 197 across the Kennebec River, into Lincoln County, and into the town of Dresden.

It then junctions SR 128, crosses the Eastern River, and turns onto Middle Rd (This is also a junction with the northern terminus of SR 127).