This 134.8-mile drive from Holden to Portland, Maine, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in a single day. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 34 minutes on the road, primarily on major interstates like I-95, I-295, and I-395. With 97% of the route being highway, it's a focused drive that gets you to your destination efficiently. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $22. This is a practical option for a day trip within the Northeast region, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
67.4 miles from Holden, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
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Drive Character
You'll find this drive to be almost entirely highway-focused, with 97% of the mileage on interstates. The main arteries for this trip are I-95, I-295, and I-395, making for a consistent driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 79 miles on I-95, so be prepared for sustained highway travel. This profile suggests a journey where the focus is on covering distance rather than exploring varied landscapes or winding roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 79 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 295. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Church Road.
Route Complexity6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 134.8 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (Church Road): Navigation decision point; at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 87.1 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Church Road
Turn left onto Church Road
Navigation decision point
6
7.8 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Newport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 1A
Toward I 95 South: Newport
9
87.1 mi into trip|~1h 38m 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
133.5 mi into trip|~2h 31m 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
134.3 mi into trip|~2h 33m in|Cumberland Avenue
Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Holden, ME to Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Brunswick along the way.
Brunswick
87.1 mi in|~1h 38m|via I 295
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
79 mi
1h 25m
I 295
46.5 mi
52m
I 395
4.8 mi
6m
Main Road
1.8 mi
2m
US 1A
0.7 mi
1m
Wilson Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Cumberland Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Church Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 79 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Holden, ME and Portland, ME.
1
Start on Rider Bluff Road
223 ft·17 sec·Rider Bluff Road
2
Turn left onto Church Road
0.2 mi·50 sec·Church Road
3
Turn left onto US 1A
1.8 mi·2 min·Main Road
4
Continue on US 1A
0.5 mi·50 sec·Wilson Street
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
6
Merge onto I 395; ME 9
3.5 mi·4 min·I 395; ME 9
7
Continue on I 395; ME 15
1.3 mi·1 min·I 395; ME 15
8
Continue on I 395
148 ft·12 sec·I 395
Use the left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·22 sec
Exit 1AToward I 95 South: Newport
10
Merge onto I 95
79 mi·1 hr 25 min·I 95
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
46 mi·52 min·I 295
Exit 103Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, BrunswickUse the straight lane.
12
Take the exit onto US 1A
0.7 mi·1 min·US 1A
Exit 7Toward US 1AUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue
0.4 mi·50 sec·Cumberland Avenue
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto Preble Street
0.1 mi·19 sec·Preble Street
15
Turn left onto Congress Street
156 ft·5 sec·Congress Street
16
Arrive at destination
Congress Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of about 2.5 hours, this trip offers great flexibility. You can depart Holden at your leisure, though an early start can help you beat any potential traffic closer to Portland. With only one stop suggested, you can choose to make it for fuel or a quick break. Pay attention to the longest stretch of 79 miles on I-95; plan your refreshments before entering this segment. The $22 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always check your fuel gauge, especially before heading into longer interstate sections.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.4 miles from Holden, ME, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79 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 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.4 miles or 1h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Portland, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Holden, 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 Holden, ME
This is one driving day of about 134.8 miles and 2h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Holden, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 79 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 67.4 mi from Holden, ME
· 1h 17m into the drive
The midpoint is around 67.4 miles from Holden, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79 miles.
Arriving in Portland, ME
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Frances Perkins National Monument
National Monument
Known as the first woman to hold a presidential cabinet position and the “Woman behind the New Deal,” Frances Perkins championed many labor rights that Americans enjoy today, including safety standard...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 97.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.70 one way
$43.40 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$23.88
$47.75
premium
$4.86
$25.81
$51.63
diesel
$5.61
$29.76
$59.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.4
0
$14.15
$6.47
Efficient EV
33.7
0
$11.80
$5.39
EV Truck/SUV
53.9
0
$18.87
$8.63
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Forecast data refreshed 5 days ago
Origin
Holden, ME
Late night
in Holden on Wednesday
Local time
1:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Portland, ME
Late night
in Portland on Wednesday
Local time
1:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°F
Brunswick, ME
67 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 34m 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 Holden, ME to Portland, ME covers 134.8 miles and takes about 2h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, I 295, I 395. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 67.4 miles from Holden, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.70 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 134.8 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (Church Road): Navigation decision point; at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 87.1 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Holden, ME to Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Brunswick along the way.
