Origin
Fairfield, ME
Afternoon in Fairfield on Sunday
Local time
4:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfield, ME to City of Portland, ME
Drive Time
1h 56m
Distance
81.9 mi
132 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 48m
★
6 AM
1h 57m
8 AM
2h 14m
10 AM
2h 3m
12 PM
2h 1m
3 PM
2h 4m
5 PM
2h 13m
8 PM
1h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfield, ME
Quyn Phạm
City of Portland, ME
Brett Sayles
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward connection between Fairfield and Portland, this 81.9-mile trip is an ideal candidate for a quick day excursion. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 56 minutes on the road, primarily utilizing I-95 and I-295. Because the duration is quite manageable, you can easily complete this journey in a single day without needing to book an overnight stay. Budgeting approximately $13 for fuel makes this a budget-friendly way to move through Maine's Northeast corridor. The route is highly efficient, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination rather than behind the wheel.
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
41 miles from Fairfield, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the journey spent on major interstates. You will settle into a steady rhythm on the pavement, as the drive features a significant 46.5-mile stretch along I-295. Expect a consistent, fast-paced experience rather than a winding backroad adventure. Since the route relies heavily on major arteries, the personality of the drive remains predictable and uniform from start to finish. It is a functional, no-nonsense path designed to get you from Central Maine to the coast as quickly as possible.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 295 is the longest continuous segment at about 46.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and I 95. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near High Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 56m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (High Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (ME 139 / Western Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 30.4 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
High Street
Turn right onto High Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
ME 139 / Western Avenue
Turn left onto ME 139 / Western Avenue
Navigation decision point
9
30.4 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
I 295
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Exit 103
Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Bru...
7
76.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
|
US 1A
Take the exit onto US 1A toward US 1A
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 7
Toward US 1A
5
81 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
|
Oakland Avenue
Turn right onto Oakland Avenue
Navigation decision point
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Fairfield, ME to City of Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Brunswick along the way.
Brunswick
30.4 mi in
|
~35m
|
via I 295
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 295 | 46.5 mi | 52m |
| I 95 | 29.1 mi | 31m |
| Portland - Peaks Island | 2.5 mi | 20m |
| US 1A | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Western Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Seashore Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| High Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Welch Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 46.5 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, ME and City of Portland, ME.
1
Start on Lawrence Avenue
164 ft
·
9 sec
·
Lawrence Avenue
2
Turn right onto High Street
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
High Street
3
Turn left onto ME 139
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Western Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
5
Merge onto I 95
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 95
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
46 mi
·
52 min
·
I 295
Exit 103
Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit onto US 1A
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
US 1A
Exit 7
Toward US 1A
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on Maine State Pier
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Maine State Pier
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn slight right
187 ft
·
13 sec
10
Turn straight onto Portland - Peaks Island
2.5 mi
·
20 min
·
Portland - Peaks Island
11
Continue
213 ft
·
15 sec
12
Continue on Welch Street
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
Welch Street
13
Turn right onto Oakland Avenue
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Oakland Avenue
14
Turn slight left onto Whitehead Street
351 ft
·
15 sec
·
Whitehead Street
15
Continue on Seashore Avenue
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Seashore Avenue
16
Continue on Seashore Avenue
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Seashore Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Seashore Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip with no mandatory stops, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. Keep in mind that you will be transitioning onto the Portland-Peaks Island road segment as you reach your final destination. Because the longest stretch of the drive is nearly 47 miles, ensure your tank is ready for the duration before you merge onto the highway. Aim to leave during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the interstate sections. Having that $13 fuel budget prepared beforehand will keep your transit smooth and stress-free.
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 41 miles from Fairfield, ME, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.5 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 80 miles or 1h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41 miles or 47m 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 20m
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 Fairfield, 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 Fairfield, ME
This is one driving day of about 81.9 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fairfield, 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 I 295 for about 46.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41 mi from Fairfield, ME · 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41 miles from Fairfield, 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
$13.11 one way
$26.22 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $14.37 | $28.74 |
| premium | $4.83 | $15.57 | $31.13 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $18.20 | $36.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.6 | 0 | $8.60 | $3.93 |
| Efficient EV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.17 | $3.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.8 | 0 | $11.47 | $5.24 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
City of Portland, ME
Afternoon in City of Portland on Sunday
Local time
4:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
52°F
Lawrence, MA
41 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
23 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 56m 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 Fairfield, ME to City of Portland, ME covers 81.9 miles and takes about 1h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 295, I 95, Portland - Peaks Island. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41 miles from Fairfield, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.11 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 is a straightforward 1h 56m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (High Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (ME 139 / Western Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 30.4 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Fairfield, ME to City of Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Brunswick along the way.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From City of Portland, ME
More from Fairfield, ME
More trips to City of Portland, ME
Explore more options from Fairfield, ME or browse trips ending in City of Portland, ME.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse ME road trips.
Explore maps for Fairfield, ME or City of Portland, ME on MapSof.net.