Traveling from Portland to Rumford covers 76.3 miles of Maine’s interior, typically taking about 1 hour and 43 minutes behind the wheel. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the distance allows for a straightforward journey without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $12 for fuel to complete the trip. Navigating through the Northeast, you will transition from the coastal hub of Portland toward the more rugged terrain of Rumford. Given the manageable duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your own schedule. It is an efficient route that balances highway connectivity with local road travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.2 miles from Portland, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Maine Turnpike
22.2 mi
23m
Auburn Road
19.4 mi
24m
Washington Street
4.2 mi
6m
Pleasant Street
4 mi
5m
State Route 108
3.1 mi
4m
Turner Road
3.1 mi
3m
Turner Street
3 mi
4m
Center Street
2.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Maine Turnpike
— 22.2 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portland, ME and Rumford, ME.
1
Start on Congress Street
484 ft·20 sec·Congress Street
2
Turn right onto Brown Street
0.1 mi·30 sec·Brown Street
3
Turn left onto Cumberland Avenue
0.2 mi·29 sec·Cumberland Avenue
4
Turn right onto ME 77
0.3 mi·37 sec·High Street
5
Continue on ME 100
2.4 mi·3 min·Forest Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
200 ft·9 sec
7
Turn slight right onto ME 100
0.8 mi·1 min·Allen Avenue
8
Turn left onto ME 26; ME 100
262 ft·7 sec·Washington Avenue
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on ME 26; ME 100
1.7 mi·4 min·Auburn Street
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on ME 26; ME 100
0.6 mi·1 min·Gray Road
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·41 sec
Use the left lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 95 North: Lewiston, Augusta
13
Merge onto I 95
14 mi·15 min·Maine Turnpike
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
8.1 mi·8 min·Maine Turnpike
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward US 202, ME 4, ME 100: Auburn
16
At end of road, turn left onto US 202; ME 4
4.2 mi·6 min·Washington Street
17
Merge onto US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
0.5 mi·38 sec·Minot Avenue
18
Continue on ME 4
0.4 mi·30 sec·Union Street Bypass
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Merge onto ME 4
2.9 mi·3 min·Center Street
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on ME 4
2.9 mi·3 min·Turner Road
21
Continue on ME 4
13 mi·14 min·Auburn Road
22
Continue on ME 4
1.2 mi·1 min·Federal Road
23
Turn left onto ME 108
2.6 mi·3 min·Canton Road
24
Continue on Turner Road
0.2 mi·17 sec·Turner Road
25
Continue on ME 108
3.0 mi·4 min·Turner Street
26
Continue on ME 108
4.0 mi·5 min·Pleasant Street
27
Continue on ME 108
6.7 mi·9 min·Auburn Road
28
Continue on ME 108
1.2 mi·1 min·Oxford Road
29
Continue on ME 108
3.1 mi·4 min·State Route 108
30
Continue on ME 108
0.6 mi·1 min·Bridge Street
31
Turn right onto US 2
497 ft·16 sec·Franklin Street
32
Turn right onto US 2
0.2 mi·41 sec·Rumford Avenue
33
Continue on US 2
301 ft·10 sec·Rumford Avenue
34
Keep slight right at fork onto US 2
441 ft·17 sec·Rumford Avenue
Use the right lane.
35
Turn left onto US 2
0.3 mi·59 sec·Hancock Street
36
Arrive at destination
US 2
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the advantage of being able to leave whenever fits your itinerary best. With no mandatory stops required to reach your destination in under two hours, you can drive through comfortably without feeling rushed. Keep in mind that your route transitions from major turnpikes to local roads like Washington Street, so stay alert for changes in road types as you exit the highway. Because the fuel cost is a modest $12, you can easily manage your budget without needing to hunt for the cheapest gas stations along the way. Use the flexibility of this 76.3-mile trip to plan your arrival around the specific activities you have scheduled in Rumford.
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 38.2 miles from Portland, ME, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.2 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 17 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.2 miles or 50m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rumford, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Portland, ME
This is one driving day of about 76.3 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Portland, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Maine Turnpike for about 22.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 75.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Brown Street
Turn right onto Brown Street
Navigation decision point
5
4 mi into trip|~6m in|ME 26; ME 100 / Washington Avenue
Turn left onto ME 26; ME 100 / Washington Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
6.3 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
6.5 mi into trip|~13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 North: Lewiston, Augusta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 North: Lewiston, Augusta
7
75.9 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|US 2 / Rumford Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto US 2 / Rumford Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.28 one way
$24.57 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$13.51
$27.03
premium
$4.86
$14.61
$29.22
diesel
$5.61
$16.85
$33.69
Estimated Tolls: $1.34
Maine Turnpike
(22.2 mi)$1.34
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
$12
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.7 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
22.9
0
$8.01
$3.66
Efficient EV
19.1
0
$6.68
$3.05
EV Truck/SUV
30.5
0
$10.68
$4.88
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 12, 2026
Origin
Portland, ME
Afternoon
in Portland on Saturday
Local time
3:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 10 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Rumford, ME
Afternoon
in Rumford on Saturday
Local time
3:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Partly Sunny
SW 5 mph8% chanceLive forecast
50°F
Auburn, ME
38 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
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
1h 43m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience as you head inland, with about 33% of your journey spent on highways. Your route relies on the Maine Turnpike, Auburn Road, and Washington Street to bridge the gap between the two cities. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 22.2-mile segment on the Maine Turnpike, which provides a steady pace before you transition onto local roads. As you move away from the interstate, the character of the drive shifts, requiring more attention to local traffic patterns and changing speed limits. This combination of high-speed transit and local surface streets keeps the drive engaging without becoming overly monotonous.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.2 mi on Maine Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Brown Street.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.3 miles you will encounter 18 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 0.1 miles (Brown Street): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (ME 26; ME 100 / Washington Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
491 ft78 ft
Total Climb
558 ft
Total Descent
145 ft
Highest Point
491 ft
~76.3 mi in
Elevation Range
413 ft
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 Rumford, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Augusta along the way.
Augusta
6.5 mi in|~13m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 76.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (33%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.2 miles on Maine Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.34 in tolls one way, starting with Maine Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Rumford, ME before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through ME can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Brown Street): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (ME 26; ME 100 / Washington Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rumford, ME before heading back.
