Drive Time
2h 13m
Distance
129.5 mi
208 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
The drive from Charleston, ME to Portland, ME covers 129.5 miles and takes about 2h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Main Road, Dover Road, Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.59 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64.8 miles from Charleston, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 13m drive with frequent turns across 129.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Main Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dover Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Exeter Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dexter Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Newport Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Moosehead Trail | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ox Bow Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Charleston, ME and Portland, ME.
Start on the route
Turn straight onto Main Road
Turn left onto Dover Road
Continue on Main Street
Turn right onto Exeter Road
At the end of the road, turn left onto Exeter Road
Continue on Exeter Road
Keep slight left to continue on Exeter Road
At the end of the road, turn left onto Dexter Road
Continue on Newport Road
Continue on Moosehead Trail
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Ox Bow Road
Exit the roundabout onto Ox Bow Road
Take the exit slight right
Merge slight right
Keep slight right to continue on I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick
Take the exit slight right toward US 1A
Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue
Turn left onto Preble Street
Turn left onto Congress Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.8 miles or 1h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Portland, ME than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Charleston, 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 Charleston, ME
This is one driving day of about 129.5 miles and 2h 13m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.8 mi from Charleston, ME · 1h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 64.8 miles from Charleston, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Portland, 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 Portland, ME.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$17.59 one way
$35.18 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $19.63 | $39.26 |
| premium | $4.15 | $21.16 | $42.32 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $19.12 | $38.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.9 | 0 | $13.60 | $6.22 |
| Efficient EV | 32.4 | 0 | $11.33 | $5.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.8 | 0 | $18.13 | $8.29 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Charleston on Saturday
Local time
9:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Portland on Saturday
Local time
9:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
43°F
Brunswick, ME
65 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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