Origin
Paris, ME
Late night in Paris on Saturday
Local time
2:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Paris, ME to Portland, ME
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
47.7 mi
77 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
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 31m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Paris, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Portland, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 47.7-mile journey from Paris to Portland, Maine, is a straightforward, turn-heavy local drive that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 19 minutes. It's a perfect day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You'll navigate primarily along Maine Street and Main Street, with a brief stint on the Maine Turnpike. With an estimated fuel cost of just $8, this route is very budget-friendly. The drive offers a direct connection between two locations within the Northeast region, making it a convenient option for exploring more of Maine.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 47.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (22%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" for this 47.7-mile trip, with only 22% of the route on highways. The majority of your time will be spent on local roads, including Maine Street and Main Street. The longest stretch without a turn is 10.6 miles on Maine Street, meaning you'll be actively engaged with steering and navigation for much of the drive. This isn't a monotonous interstate cruise; rather, it feels like a series of interconnected local roads guiding you toward your destination.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Maine Street is the longest continuous segment at about 10.6 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 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.7 miles in near ME 26 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.7 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: at 5.7 miles (ME 26 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 41 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
5.7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
ME 26 / Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto ME 26 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
8
41 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m 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
41.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
47.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
Preble Street
At end of road, turn right onto Preble Street
Navigation decision point
6
47.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
Congress Street
At end of road, turn left onto Congress Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Street | 10.6 mi | 16m |
| Maine Turnpike | 10.4 mi | 11m |
| Main Street | 6.9 mi | 11m |
| Shaker Road | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| Oxford Street | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| Forest Avenue | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Pigeon Hill Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Paris Hill Road | 2.4 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Maine Street
— 10.6 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Paris, ME and Portland, ME.
1
Start on Paris Hill Road
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Paris Hill Road
2
Turn left onto ME 26
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Park Street
3
Continue on ME 26
432 ft
·
5 sec
·
High Street
4
Continue on ME 26
359 ft
·
8 sec
·
Market Square
5
Continue on ME 117; ME 119
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
East Main Street
6
Turn slight right onto Oxford Street
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Oxford Street
7
At end of road, turn left onto ME 26
6.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Main Street
8
Continue on ME 26
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Pigeon Hill Road
9
Continue on ME 26
11 mi
·
16 min
·
Maine Street
10
Continue on ME 26
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Shaker Road
11
Continue on ME 26
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Maine Wildlife Park Way
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
13
Merge onto I 95
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Maine Turnpike
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 53
Toward ME 26, ME 100: West Falmouth
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
151 ft
·
3 sec
16
Turn straight onto ME 26; ME 100
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Gray Road
17
Continue on ME 26; ME 100
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Auburn Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto ME 100
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Allen Avenue
19
Turn left onto US 302; ME 100
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Forest Avenue
20
Turn left onto Portland Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Portland Street
21
At end of road, turn right onto Preble Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Preble Street
22
At end of road, turn left onto Congress Street
156 ft
·
5 sec
·
Congress Street
23
Arrive at destination
Congress Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.9 mi from Paris, ME · 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.9 miles from Paris, 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
$7.68 one way
$15.36 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $8.45 | $16.90 |
| premium | $4.86 | $9.13 | $18.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.53 | $21.06 |
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.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.68 | $3.05 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Portland, ME
Late night in Portland on Saturday
Local time
2:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
35°F
Gray, ME
24 mi in
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
9 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
1h 19m 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 Paris, ME to Portland, ME covers 47.7 miles and takes about 1h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Maine Street, Maine Turnpike, Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.9 miles from Paris, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.68 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 47.7 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: at 5.7 miles (ME 26 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 41 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Paris, ME to Portland, ME does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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