Origin
City of Portland, ME
Night in City of Portland on Sunday
Local time
10:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from City of Portland, ME to Cornish, ME
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
36.8 mi
59 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
City of Portland, ME
Brett Sayles
Cornish, ME
Cliff Booth
Trip Overview
If you are looking to escape the coast for a quieter inland destination, the 36.8-mile trek from Portland to Cornish makes for an ideal day trip. Spanning roughly one hour and 18 minutes, this journey keeps you entirely on local roads rather than busy interstates. You can expect to spend about $6 on fuel for the round trip, making it an affordable excursion for a weekend morning or afternoon. Because the total travel time is quite short, there is no need for an overnight stay; you can easily head out and return on your own schedule. This route stays within the Northeast region of Maine, transitioning you from the city atmosphere of Portland into the more rural landscape of Cornish.
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
18.4 miles from City of Portland, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that requires your full attention rather than a monotonous highway cruise. Since this route features a 0% highway share, you will be navigating surface streets and local corridors like the Ossipee Trail and Main Street throughout the entire 36.8 miles. Your longest uninterrupted stretch is just 9.9 miles on the Ossipee Trail, meaning you will frequently encounter changes in pace as you transition between road segments. This is not a route for high-speed travel, but rather a winding path that demands a steady hand at the wheel. Be prepared for a driving experience that prioritizes local navigation over the efficiency of a major freeway.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ossipee Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 9.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Seashore Avenue.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 36.8 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Seashore Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (Welch Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 10.8 miles (Spring Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Seashore Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Seashore Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Welch Street
At end of road, turn left onto Welch Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
10.8 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
Spring Street
Turn right onto Spring Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
10.9 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
ME 25 Business / Main Street
Turn left onto ME 25 Business / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
16.5 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
ME 25; ME 112 / Ossipee Trail
Enter roundabout onto ME 25; ME 112 / Ossipee Trail
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ossipee Trail | 9.9 mi | 14m |
| Ossipee Trail West | 8.2 mi | 12m |
| Main Street | 5.9 mi | 9m |
| Portland - Peaks Island | 2.5 mi | 20m |
| Stroudwater Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Congress Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Westbrook Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| State Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Ossipee Trail
— 9.9 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Portland, ME and Cornish, ME.
1
Start on Seashore Avenue
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Seashore Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto Seashore Avenue
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Seashore Avenue
3
Continue on Whitehead Street
351 ft
·
15 sec
·
Whitehead Street
4
Continue on Oakland Avenue
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Oakland Avenue
5
At end of road, turn left onto Welch Street
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Welch Street
6
Continue on Portland - Peaks Island
2.5 mi
·
20 min
·
Portland - Peaks Island
7
Continue
187 ft
·
14 sec
8
Turn right onto Maine State Pier
74 ft
·
30 sec
·
Maine State Pier
9
Continue on Maine State Pier
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
Maine State Pier
10
Turn left onto US 1A
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Commercial Street
11
Turn right onto High Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
High Street
12
Turn left onto Park Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Avenue
13
Continue on Congress Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Congress Street
14
Turn right onto Westbrook Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Westbrook Street
15
Continue on Stroudwater Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Stroudwater Street
16
Turn left onto William B Clarke Drive
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
William B Clarke Drive
17
Turn right onto Spring Street
324 ft
·
13 sec
·
Spring Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto ME 25 Business
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto ME 25
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
William B Clarke Drive
20
Continue on ME 25
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Conant Street
21
Continue on Main Street
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on US 202; ME 4
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
23
Continue on ME 25
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Ossipee Trail East
24
Enter roundabout onto ME 25; ME 112
70 ft
·
1 sec
·
Ossipee Trail
25
Continue on ME 25; ME 112
9.9 mi
·
14 min
·
Ossipee Trail
26
Enter roundabout onto ME 25
118 ft
·
2 sec
·
Ossipee Trail West
27
Continue on ME 25
8.2 mi
·
12 min
·
Ossipee Trail West
28
Continue on ME 25; ME 117
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
29
Arrive at destination
ME 5; ME 25
Trip Plan
Because the drive is short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal preferences. Aim to leave Portland during off-peak hours to avoid potential local traffic congestion on the Ossipee Trail, as the road's technical nature can feel more demanding when it is busy. Since there are zero scheduled stops on this 1h 18m route, ensure your tank is topped off before you leave, given the $6 fuel estimate. Use the lack of required stops to your advantage by packing snacks or water in the car so you can stay comfortable behind the wheel for the duration of the trip. Pay close attention to the transition onto Main Street as you near your destination, as the road character shifts significantly in the final miles.
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 18.4 miles from City of Portland, ME, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 9.9 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 36.8 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 18.4 miles or 50m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cornish, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving City of Portland, 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 City of Portland, ME
This is one driving day of about 36.8 miles and 1h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from City of Portland, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Ossipee Trail for about 9.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.4 mi from City of Portland, ME · 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 36.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.4 miles from City of Portland, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cornish, ME
The final approach into Cornish, 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 Cornish, ME.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.89 one way
$11.78 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $6.46 | $12.91 |
| premium | $4.83 | $6.99 | $13.99 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $8.18 | $16.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11 | 0 | $3.86 | $1.77 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.22 | $1.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.15 | $2.36 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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.
Destination
Cornish, ME
Night in Cornish on Sunday
Local time
10:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 18m 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 City of Portland, ME to Cornish, ME covers 36.8 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ossipee Trail, Ossipee Trail West, Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.4 miles from City of Portland, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.89 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 36.8 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Seashore Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (Welch Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 10.8 miles (Spring Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from City of Portland, ME to Cornish, ME does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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