The drive from Portland, ME to Kenduskeag, ME covers 129.4 miles and takes about 2h 40m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Maine Turnpike, I 295, Main Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64.1 miles on Maine Turnpike.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.83 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64.7 miles from Portland, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 40m. Total distance: 129.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 2h 40m highway drive covering 129.4 miles, with most of the trip on Maine Turnpike and I 295. The longest continuous stretch is about 64.1 miles on Maine Turnpike.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 64.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and I 295. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Elm Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 40m drive. You will face about 11 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 (Elm Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (Cumberland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (US 1A / Franklin Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Elm Street
Turn left onto Elm Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Cumberland Avenue
Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|US 1A / Franklin Street
Turn left onto US 1A / Franklin Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|I 295; US 1
Merge onto I 295; US 1
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
111.4 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward ME 69, ME 143: Etna, Dixmont
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 167
Toward ME 69, ME 143: Etna, Dixmont
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 Portland, ME to Kenduskeag, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Dixmont along the way.
Dixmont
111.4 mi in|~2h 4m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Maine Turnpike
64.1 mi
1h 9m
I 295
46.3 mi
52m
Main Road
3.6 mi
5m
Wing Road
2.8 mi
6m
Plymouth Road
2.8 mi
4m
Route 2
2.6 mi
3m
Levant Road
2.3 mi
5m
Kenduskeag Road
1.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Maine Turnpike
— 64.1 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portland, ME and Kenduskeag, ME.
1
Start on Congress Street
131 ft·11 sec·Congress Street
2
Turn left onto Elm Street
519 ft·22 sec·Elm Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue
0.3 mi·44 sec·Cumberland Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto US 1A
0.4 mi·36 sec·Franklin Street
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp onto US 1A
0.3 mi·39 sec·US 1A
6
Merge onto I 295; US 1
46 mi·52 min·I 295; US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 95
64 mi·1 hr 9 min·Maine Turnpike
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 167Toward ME 69, ME 143: Etna, Dixmont
9
Turn right onto ME 69; ME 143
0.3 mi·38 sec·Dixmont Road
10
Turn right onto ME 69
2.8 mi·4 min·Plymouth Road
11
Continue on US 2; ME 100
3.6 mi·5 min·Main Road
12
Continue on US 2; ME 100
2.6 mi·3 min·Route 2
13
Turn left onto Annis Road
1.5 mi·3 min·Annis Road
14
Continue on Wing Road
2.8 mi·6 min·Wing Road
15
Turn right onto Kenduskeag Road
1.5 mi·3 min·Kenduskeag Road
16
Continue on Levant Road
2.3 mi·5 min·Levant Road
17
Turn right onto Stetson Road
275 ft·7 sec·Stetson Road
18
Arrive at destination
Stetson Road
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.7 miles from Portland, ME, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.1 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 28 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.7 miles or 1h 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 1h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kenduskeag, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Portland, 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 Portland, ME
This is one driving day of about 129.4 miles and 2h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Portland, 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 Maine Turnpike for about 64.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.7 mi from Portland, ME
· 1h 13m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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 40.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.83 one way
$41.66 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$22.92
$45.84
premium
$4.86
$24.78
$49.56
diesel
$5.61
$28.57
$57.14
Estimated Tolls: $3.84
Maine Turnpike
(64.1 mi)$3.84
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
$21
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.8
0
$13.59
$6.21
Efficient EV
32.4
0
$11.32
$5.18
EV Truck/SUV
51.8
0
$18.12
$8.28
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Portland, ME
Night
in Portland on Friday
Local time
11:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kenduskeag, ME
Night
in Kenduskeag on Friday
Local time
11:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Augusta, ME
65 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
3 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
2h 40m 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 Portland, ME to Kenduskeag, ME covers 129.4 miles and takes about 2h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Maine Turnpike, I 295, Main Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 64.7 miles from Portland, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.83 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 is a straightforward 2h 40m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Elm Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (Cumberland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (US 1A / Franklin Street): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Portland, ME to Kenduskeag, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Dixmont along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Frances Perkins National Monument.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
