Trip from Cornish, ME to City of Portland, ME

Drive Time

1h 17m

Distance

36.9 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

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 12m ★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Cornish, ME, ME

Cornish, ME

Cliff Booth

Downtown City of Portland, ME, ME

City of Portland, ME

Brett Sayles

Trip Overview

If you are looking to head from the inland charm of Cornish toward the coast, this 36.9-mile trip to Portland is a straightforward one-day excursion. You should plan for about 1 hour and 17 minutes of travel time, making it an easy jaunt for a weekend morning or afternoon. With a fuel budget of approximately $6, it is a very affordable way to traverse this corner of the Northeast. The route relies primarily on local roads like Ossipee Trail West, Ossipee Trail, and Main Street rather than high-speed interstates. Since the entire drive stays within Maine, you will experience a smooth transition from rural inland landscapes to the urban environment of the coast. It is a practical, no-fuss journey that works best as a simple out-and-back day trip.

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

18.5 miles from Cornish, ME

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 27m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Only 5% of this route involves highway travel, so you will spend the vast majority of your time navigating smaller roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 9.9-mile segment on Ossipee Trail West, which provides a bit of consistency before the road becomes more technical. Because the path relies heavily on local thoroughfares, your speed will remain moderate throughout the 1-hour and 17-minute duration. You will find that the personality of the road favors a steady, attentive pace rather than the monotonous cruising typically associated with major interstates.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ossipee Trail West 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 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 10.4 miles in near ME 25 / Ossipee Trail West.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 36.9 miles you will encounter 8 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 10.4 miles (ME 25 / Ossipee Trail West): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 20.3 miles (ME 25 / Ossipee Trail East): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 26.1 miles (Stroudwater Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
10.4 mi into trip | ~15m in | ME 25 / Ossipee Trail West

Enter roundabout onto ME 25 / Ossipee Trail West

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

4
20.3 mi into trip | ~30m in | ME 25 / Ossipee Trail East

Enter roundabout onto ME 25 / Ossipee Trail East

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
26.1 mi into trip | ~39m in | Stroudwater Street

Turn right onto Stroudwater Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
32.1 mi into trip | ~50m in

Take the exit toward US 1A

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 7 Toward US 1A
5
36 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in | Oakland Avenue

Turn right onto Oakland Avenue

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Ossipee Trail West 9.9 mi 14m
Ossipee Trail 8.2 mi 12m
Main Street 5.4 mi 8m
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
I 295 1.2 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Ossipee Trail West — 9.9 mi, about 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cornish, ME and City of Portland, ME.

1

Start on ME 5; ME 25

2.2 mi · 3 min · Main Street
2

Continue on ME 25; ME 117

8.2 mi · 12 min · Ossipee Trail
3

Enter roundabout onto ME 25

119 ft · 1 sec · Ossipee Trail West
4

Continue on ME 25

9.9 mi · 14 min · Ossipee Trail West
Use the straight lane.
5

Enter roundabout onto ME 25

166 ft · 2 sec · Ossipee Trail East
6

Continue on ME 25

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Ossipee Trail East
7

Continue on ME 25

1.0 mi · 1 min · State Street
8

Continue on US 202; ME 4

3.2 mi · 5 min · Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
9

Continue on Conant Street

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Conant Street
10

Continue on ME 25

1.1 mi · 1 min · William B Clarke Drive
Use the straight lane.
11

Turn right onto Stroudwater Street

1.7 mi · 3 min · Stroudwater Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Continue on Westbrook Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · Westbrook Street
13

Turn left onto ME 9; ME 22

1.5 mi · 2 min · Congress Street
14

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 33 sec
15

Merge onto I 295; US 1

1.2 mi · 1 min · I 295; US 1
16

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Exit 7 Toward US 1A
17

Continue on US 1A

0.8 mi · 1 min · US 1A
Exit 7 Toward US 1A Use the left / straight lanes.
18

Continue on Maine State Pier

0.1 mi · 29 sec · Maine State Pier
Use the straight lane.
19

Turn slight right

187 ft · 13 sec
20

Turn straight onto Portland - Peaks Island

2.5 mi · 20 min · Portland - Peaks Island
21

Continue

213 ft · 15 sec
22

Continue on Welch Street

0.2 mi · 49 sec · Welch Street
23

Turn right onto Oakland Avenue

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Oakland Avenue
24

Turn slight left onto Whitehead Street

351 ft · 15 sec · Whitehead Street
25

Continue on Seashore Avenue

0.2 mi · 46 sec · Seashore Avenue
26

Continue on Seashore Avenue

0.6 mi · 2 min · Seashore Avenue
27

Arrive at destination

Seashore Avenue

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short 36.9-mile drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around traffic patterns near the city. You won't need to worry about planning long-haul rest stops, as there are zero required stops along the way. Keep in mind that because the route is composed of local roads, your travel time can be sensitive to local congestion, so check your GPS before heading out. Budgeting about $6 for fuel is sufficient for the trip, but topping off your tank in Cornish before you leave is a smart way to avoid potential price fluctuations closer to the city. Use the lack of mandatory stops to your advantage by planning a direct route, allowing you to maximize your time once you arrive in Portland.

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 18.5 miles from Cornish, ME, or about 27m 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 36.9 miles or 1h 17m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 18.5 miles or 27m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 49m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Portland, ME than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Cornish, 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 Cornish, ME

This is one driving day of about 36.9 miles and 1h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cornish, 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 West for about 9.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 18.5 mi from Cornish, ME · 27m into the drive

Downtown Boston, MA, MA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Boston, MA

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

Lawrence, MA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Boston, MA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.5 miles from Cornish, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in City of Portland, ME

The final approach into City of 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 City of Portland, 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

$5.91 one way

$11.81 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.46 $6.47 $12.95
premium $4.83 $7.01 $14.03
diesel $5.64 $8.20 $16.40

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 11.1 0 $3.87 $1.77
Efficient EV 9.2 0 $3.23 $1.48
EV Truck/SUV 14.8 0 $5.17 $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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Cornish, ME

Night in Cornish on Sunday

Local time

10:03 PM

EDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

City of Portland, ME

Night in City of Portland 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 17m 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 Cornish, ME to City of Portland, ME covers 36.9 miles and takes about 1h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ossipee Trail West, Ossipee Trail, Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.5 miles from Cornish, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.91 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 36.9 miles you will encounter 8 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 10.4 miles (ME 25 / Ossipee Trail West): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 20.3 miles (ME 25 / Ossipee Trail East): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 26.1 miles (Stroudwater Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Cornish, ME to City of Portland, ME does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

City of Portland, ME to Cornish, ME

Plan the drive back the other way.

36.8 mi 1h 18m

Explore more options from Cornish, ME or browse trips ending in City of Portland, ME.

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