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Trip from Waterville, ME to Portland, ME

Drive Time

1h 28m

Distance

74.9 mi

121 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 22m ★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Maine, United States

Waterville, ME

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Portland, ME, ME

Portland, ME

Brett Sayles

Trip Overview

The drive from Waterville, ME to Portland, ME covers 74.9 miles and takes about 1h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 295, I 95, Kennedy Memorial Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.5 miles on I 295. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.99 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

37.5 miles from Waterville, ME

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 1h 28m highway drive covering 74.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 295 and I 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 46.5 miles on I 295.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 295 is the longest continuous segment at about 46.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and I 95. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 27.3 miles in near I 295.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 1h 28m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 27.3 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.7 miles (US 1A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.5 miles (Cumberland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

9
27.3 mi into trip | ~33m in | I 295

Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight lane. Exit 103 Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Bru...
7
73.7 mi into trip | ~1h 26m in | US 1A

Take the exit onto US 1A toward US 1A

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 7 Toward US 1A
5
74.5 mi into trip | ~1h 27m in | Cumberland Avenue

Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
4
74.8 mi into trip | ~1h 28m in | Preble Street

Turn left onto Preble Street

Navigation decision point

5
74.9 mi into trip | ~1h 28m in | Congress Street

Turn left onto Congress Street

Navigation decision point

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Waterville, ME to Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Brunswick along the way.

Brunswick

27.3 mi in | ~33m | via I 295

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 295 46.5 mi 52m
I 95 24.2 mi 26m
Kennedy Memorial Drive 1.6 mi 3m
US 1A 0.7 mi 1m
Silver Street 0.7 mi 1m
Elm Street 0.5 mi 1m
Cumberland Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
Preble Street 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 295 — 46.5 mi, about 52m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Post Office Square

42 ft · 7 sec · Post Office Square
2

Turn left onto ME 11; ME 104

0.5 mi · 1 min · Elm Street
3

Turn slight right onto ME 11; ME 104; ME 137 Business

0.7 mi · 1 min · Silver Street
4

Continue on ME 11; ME 104; ME 137

1.6 mi · 3 min · Kennedy Memorial Drive
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 36 sec
6

Merge onto I 95

24 mi · 26 min · I 95
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 295

46 mi · 52 min · I 295
Exit 103 Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick Use the straight lane.
8

Take the exit onto US 1A

0.7 mi · 1 min · US 1A
Exit 7 Toward US 1A Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue

0.4 mi · 50 sec · Cumberland Avenue
Use the straight lane.
10

Turn left onto Preble Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Preble Street
11

Turn left onto Congress Street

156 ft · 5 sec · Congress Street
12

Arrive at destination

Congress Street

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 37.5 miles from Waterville, ME, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.5 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 74.9 miles or 1h 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 37.5 miles or 44m 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 14m

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 Waterville, 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 Waterville, ME

This is one driving day of about 74.9 miles and 1h 28m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Waterville, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 295 for about 46.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 37.5 mi from Waterville, ME · 44m into the drive

Downtown West Scarborough, ME, ME

Mid-route town

Meal stop

West Scarborough, ME

37 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.

Popular next leg

West Scarborough, ME to Portland, ME

10.3 mi · 18m

Pacing Suggestions

Lawrence, MA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 74.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

West Scarborough, ME

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37.5 miles from Waterville, 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.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Portland, ME.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Frances Perkins National Monument

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 38.8
Park Closure: For Current Visitor Information
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.99 one way

$23.98 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.46 $13.14 $26.29
premium $4.83 $14.24 $28.47
diesel $5.64 $16.64 $33.28

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: 26.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.5 0 $7.86 $3.60
Efficient EV 18.7 0 $6.55 $3.00
EV Truck/SUV 30 0 $10.49 $4.79

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Waterville, ME

Afternoon in Waterville on Monday

Local time

2:10 PM

EDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Portland, ME

Afternoon in Portland on Monday

Local time

2:10 PM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

16 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 28m 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 Waterville, ME to Portland, ME covers 74.9 miles and takes about 1h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 295, I 95, Kennedy Memorial Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37.5 miles from Waterville, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.99 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 is a straightforward 1h 28m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 27.3 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.7 miles (US 1A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.5 miles (Cumberland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Waterville, ME to Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Brunswick along the way.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Portland, ME to Waterville, ME

Plan the drive back the other way.

74.5 mi 1h 27m

Continue From Portland, ME

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City of Portland, ME 78.7 mi · 1h 54m Augusta, ME 21.3 mi · 28m

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