Origin
Gray, ME
Late night in Gray on Thursday
Local time
2:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gray, ME to City of Portland, ME
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
52m
Distance
22.6 mi
36 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gray, ME
Kadir Avşar
City of Portland, ME
Brett Sayles
Trip Overview
Traveling from Gray to Portland is a straightforward 22.6-mile journey that typically takes about 52 minutes to complete. Because this is such a short trip, you can easily handle it as a single-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $4 on fuel for the trek, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. You will navigate via the Maine Turnpike, Forest Avenue, and the Portland - Peaks Island transit connection. Since both towns are located within the Northeast region, the transition between them is seamless and familiar. This route is an ideal choice if you want to reach the city quickly without a complex travel itinerary.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
11.3 miles from Gray, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip offers a mixed drive experience that transitions from highway speeds to local navigation. You will spend about 46% of your time on the highway, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 10.4 miles on the Maine Turnpike. Once you exit the turnpike, the character of the road shifts as you merge onto Forest Avenue. Expect a change in pace as you move from the open, high-speed sections of the turnpike into the more structured environment of the Portland approach. It is a functional commute that balances efficiency with the necessity of navigating urban-adjacent roads as you near your destination.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Maine Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 10.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 22.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
8
11.3 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward ME 26, ME 100: West Falmouth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 53
Toward ME 26, ME 100: West Falmouth
4
11.8 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
17.9 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
US 1A / Franklin Street
Turn right onto US 1A / Franklin Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
21.6 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
Oakland Avenue
Turn right onto Oakland Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Turnpike | 10.4 mi | 11m |
| Portland - Peaks Island | 2.5 mi | 20m |
| Forest Avenue | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Auburn Street | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| Allen Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Seashore Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Franklin Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Marginal Way | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Maine Turnpike
— 10.4 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gray, ME and City of Portland, ME.
1
Start on US 202; ME 4
154 ft
·
2 sec
·
Main Street
2
Continue on US 202; ME 4; ME 26
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Gray Road
3
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
4
Merge onto I 95
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Maine Turnpike
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 53
Toward ME 26, ME 100: West Falmouth
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
151 ft
·
3 sec
7
Turn straight onto ME 26; ME 100
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Gray Road
8
Continue on ME 26; ME 100
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Auburn Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
9
Turn right onto ME 100
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Allen Avenue
10
Turn left onto US 302; ME 100
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Forest Avenue
11
Turn left onto Marginal Way
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Marginal Way
12
Turn right onto US 1A
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Franklin Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on Maine State Pier
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Maine State Pier
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn slight right
187 ft
·
13 sec
15
Turn straight onto Portland - Peaks Island
2.5 mi
·
20 min
·
Portland - Peaks Island
16
Continue
213 ft
·
15 sec
17
Continue on Welch Street
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
Welch Street
18
Turn right onto Oakland Avenue
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Oakland Avenue
19
Turn slight left onto Whitehead Street
351 ft
·
15 sec
·
Whitehead Street
20
Continue on Seashore Avenue
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Seashore Avenue
21
Continue on Seashore Avenue
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Seashore Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
Seashore Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 52-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to plan for any formal stops along the way, as the 22.6-mile distance is easily manageable in one go. Keep in mind that traffic patterns on the Maine Turnpike can fluctuate, so checking road conditions before you head out is a smart move. Because the fuel cost is a modest $4, you can focus your budget on your activities once you arrive in Portland. For the smoothest transition into the city, pay close attention to the signage when exiting the turnpike onto Forest Avenue to ensure you stay on the most direct path.
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 11.3 miles from Gray, ME, or about 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10.4 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 22.6 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 11.3 miles or 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Portland, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Gray, ME.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gray, ME
This is one driving day of about 22.6 miles and 52m.
At 22.6 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Maine Turnpike for about 10.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 11.3 mi from Gray, ME · 13m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 22.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 11.3 miles from Gray, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in City of Portland, ME
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into City of Portland, ME if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.64 one way
$7.28 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $4.00 | $8.01 |
| premium | $4.86 | $4.33 | $8.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.99 | $9.98 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.63
Maine Turnpike
(10.4 mi)
$0.63
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.37 | $1.08 |
| Efficient EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.98 | $0.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9 | 0 | $3.16 | $1.45 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Late night in City of Portland on Thursday
Local time
2:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
8 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
52m 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 Gray, ME to City of Portland, ME covers 22.6 miles and takes about 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Maine Turnpike, Portland - Peaks Island, Forest Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.3 miles from Gray, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.64 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 22.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Gray, ME to City of Portland, ME does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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