Drive Time
5h 13m
Distance
53.9 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
The drive from South Paris, ME to City of Portland, ME covers 53.9 miles and takes about 5h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Main Street, Fair Street, Pigeon Hill Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.32 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
26.9 miles from South Paris, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 36m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 13m drive with frequent turns across 53.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Fair Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pigeon Hill Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Maine Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Shaker Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Maine Wildlife Park Way | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Maine Turnpike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| ME 26 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between South Paris, ME and City of Portland, ME.
Start on Market Square
Continue on Main Street
Continue on Fair Street
Continue on Main Street
Continue on Pigeon Hill Road
Continue on Maine Street
Continue on Shaker Road
Continue on Maine Wildlife Park Way
Take the exit straight
Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike
Take the exit slight right toward ME 26, ME 100: West Falmouth
Keep slight right
Turn straight onto Gray Road
Continue on Auburn Street
Turn right onto Allen Avenue
Turn left onto Forest Avenue
Turn left onto Marginal Way
Turn right onto Franklin Street
Continue on Maine State Pier
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto Portland - Peaks Island
Continue straight
Continue on Welch Street
Turn right onto Oakland Avenue
Turn slight left onto Whitehead Street
Continue on Seashore Avenue
Continue on Seashore Avenue
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 53.9 miles or 5h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 26.9 miles or 2h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Portland, ME than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving South Paris, 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 South Paris, ME
This is one driving day of about 53.9 miles and 5h 13m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.9 mi from South Paris, ME · 2h 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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.
A short stop after about 53.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 26.9 miles from South Paris, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into City of 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 City of Portland, ME.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$7.32 one way
$14.64 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $8.17 | $16.34 |
| premium | $4.15 | $8.81 | $17.61 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $7.96 | $15.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.66 | $2.59 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.72 | $2.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.55 | $3.45 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in South Paris on Saturday
Local time
9:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in City of Portland on Saturday
Local time
9:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
52°F
Lawrence, MA
27 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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