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Trip from Palermo, ME to Portland, ME

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 18m

Distance

76.6 mi

123 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 13m ★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
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.

seat of Cumberland County, and largest city in State of Maine, United States

Portland, ME

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Palermo, ME to Portland, ME covers 76.6 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Belfast Avenue, Bangor Street, Cony Circle for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.33 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

38.3 miles from Palermo, ME

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 39m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 18m drive with frequent turns across 76.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Belfast Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Palermo, ME to Portland, ME is easy. At 1h 18m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Palermo, ME to Portland, ME is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Belfast Avenue
Bangor Street
Cony Circle
Memorial Drive
Memorial Circle
State Street
Capitol Street
Armory Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: North Belfast Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Palermo, ME and Portland, ME.

1

Start on Branch Mills Road

0.7 mi · 2 min · Branch Mills Road
2

At the end of the road, turn right

15 mi · 20 min
3

Turn left onto North Belfast Avenue

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Belfast Avenue
4

At the end of the road, turn left onto Bangor Street

0.6 mi · 53 sec · Bangor Street
5

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Cony Circle

161 ft · 3 sec · Cony Circle
6

Exit the rotary onto Memorial Drive

0.7 mi · 1 min · Memorial Drive
7

Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Memorial Circle

400 ft · 7 sec · Memorial Circle
8

Exit the rotary onto State Street

0.2 mi · 19 sec · State Street
9

Turn right onto Capitol Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · Capitol Street
10

Turn straight onto Armory Street

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Armory Street
11

Turn left onto Western Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Western Avenue
12

Take the exit slight right toward I 95: Portland, Waterville, Bangor

0.3 mi · 44 sec · I 95: Portland, Waterville, Bangor
13

Keep slight left to continue on I-95 South: Portland, Kittery

0.6 mi · 1 min · I-95 South: Portland, Kittery
14

Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike

5.9 mi · 6 min · Maine Turnpike
15

Keep slight right to continue on I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick

46 mi · 53 min · I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick
16

Take the exit slight right toward US 1A

0.7 mi · 1 min · US 1A
17

Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue

0.4 mi · 51 sec · Cumberland Avenue
18

Turn left onto Preble Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Preble Street
19

Turn left onto Congress Street

157 ft · 5 sec · Congress Street
20

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 38.3 miles from Palermo, ME, or about 39m into the drive.

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 17 miles or 17m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 38.3 miles or 39m 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 6m

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 Palermo, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Palermo, ME

This is one driving day of about 76.6 miles and 1h 18m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Palermo, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 38.3 mi from Palermo, ME · 39m into the drive

city in Kennebec County, Maine, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Gardiner, ME

38 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

Augusta, ME

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Gardiner, ME

Meal break

The midpoint is around 38.3 miles from Palermo, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.33 one way

$24.66 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $13.57 $27.14
premium $4.86 $14.67 $29.34
diesel $5.61 $16.91 $33.82

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23 0 $8.04 $3.68
Efficient EV 19.2 0 $6.70 $3.06
EV Truck/SUV 30.6 0 $10.72 $4.90

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (67% 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 as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Palermo, ME

Late night in Palermo on Thursday

Local time

12:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Portland, ME

Late night in Portland on Thursday

Local time

12:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

51°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

2 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 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 Palermo, ME to Portland, ME covers 76.6 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 North Belfast Avenue, Bangor Street, Cony Circle. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.3 miles from Palermo, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.33 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.
The drive from Palermo, ME to Portland, ME is easy. At 1h 18m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Palermo, ME to Portland, ME is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Palermo, ME to Portland, ME does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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