Trip from Woolwich, ME to City of Portland, ME

Drive Time

1h 14m

Distance

39.5 mi

64 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 8m ★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 11m

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

Downtown Woolwich, ME, ME

Woolwich, ME

PhotoShoot Studio | Candid, Birthday Pre Wedding, Baby, Maternity & Child Photographer in Pune Ps Studio

Downtown City of Portland, ME, ME

City of Portland, ME

Brett Sayles

Trip Overview

Traveling from Woolwich to Portland covers 39.5 miles of Maine’s coastline, making for a straightforward trek that takes about 1 hour and 14 minutes. Because the duration is quite short, you can easily handle this as a one-day trip without needing an overnight stay. Your fuel budget will remain minimal, costing around $6 for the journey. The route primarily connects two key points within the Northeast, transitioning from the quiet charm of Woolwich into the vibrant hub of Portland. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick excursion, the simplicity of this trip makes it a stress-free option for your weekend plans.

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

19.8 miles from Woolwich, ME

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 28m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a mixed driving experience as you navigate this 39.5-mile path, which relies on a 56% highway share to keep things moving. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-295, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 21.1 miles that offers a consistent pace. The route also incorporates the Leeman Highway and the connection toward Portland and Peaks Island. While the interstate sections allow for steady travel, the transition into local roads requires you to stay alert as the environment shifts. It is a functional drive that balances efficiency with the necessary local access to reach your final destination.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 19 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 21.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 early in the drive.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 39.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.4 miles (I 295): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

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

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

6
11.8 mi into trip | ~18m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 295 South: Freeport, Portland

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 295 South: Freeport, Portland
5
13.4 mi into trip | ~21m in | I 295

Merge onto I 295

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
7
34.5 mi into trip | ~45m 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
38.6 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in | Oakland Avenue

Turn right onto Oakland Avenue

Navigation decision point

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Woolwich, ME to City of Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Portland along the way.

Portland

11.8 mi in | ~18m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 295 21.1 mi 24m
Leeman Highway 9.2 mi 13m
Portland - Peaks Island 2.5 mi 20m
Pleasant Street 1.4 mi 2m
US 1A 1.1 mi 2m
Seashore Avenue 0.8 mi 2m
Main Street 0.7 mi 1m
Welch Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 295 — 21.1 mi, about 24m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Woolwich, ME and City of Portland, ME.

1

Start on this road

36 ft · 7 sec · this road
2

Turn left

64 ft · 6 sec
3

Turn right onto US 1

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street
4

Continue on US 1

9.2 mi · 13 min · Leeman Highway
Use the none lane.
5

Turn right onto US 1

1.4 mi · 2 min · Pleasant Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
6

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 41 sec
7

Keep slight left at fork

1.6 mi · 2 min
Toward I 295 South: Freeport, Portland
8

Merge onto I 295

21 mi · 24 min · I 295
Use the none lane.
9

Take the exit onto US 1A

1.1 mi · 2 min · US 1A
Exit 7 Toward US 1A Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on Maine State Pier

0.1 mi · 29 sec · Maine State Pier
Use the straight lane.
11

Turn slight right

187 ft · 13 sec
12

Turn straight onto Portland - Peaks Island

2.5 mi · 20 min · Portland - Peaks Island
13

Continue

213 ft · 15 sec
14

Continue on Welch Street

0.2 mi · 49 sec · Welch Street
15

Turn right onto Oakland Avenue

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Oakland Avenue
16

Turn slight left onto Whitehead Street

351 ft · 15 sec · Whitehead Street
17

Continue on Seashore Avenue

0.2 mi · 46 sec · Seashore Avenue
18

Continue on Seashore Avenue

0.6 mi · 2 min · Seashore Avenue
19

Arrive at destination

Seashore Avenue

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. You won't need to worry about extensive rest stops given the 1-hour and 14-minute duration, but keeping a small buffer for traffic near Portland is always a smart move. Because the fuel cost is low at approximately $6, you don't need to stress about finding the cheapest pump along the way. Focus your energy on navigating the transition from the Leeman Highway toward the Portland area, as local traffic patterns can change quickly. Taking this trip in a single day is the most efficient approach, allowing you to maximize your time once you arrive.

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 19.8 miles from Woolwich, ME, or about 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21.1 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 39.5 miles or 1h 14m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 19.8 miles or 28m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 44m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Portland, ME than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Woolwich, 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 Woolwich, ME

This is one driving day of about 39.5 miles and 1h 14m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Woolwich, 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 21.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 19.8 mi from Woolwich, ME · 28m into the drive

Downtown Lawrence, MA, MA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lawrence, MA

20 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

Lawrence, MA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lawrence, MA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 19.8 miles from Woolwich, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in City of Portland, ME

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.32 one way

$12.65 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.46 $6.93 $13.86
premium $4.83 $7.51 $15.02
diesel $5.64 $8.78 $17.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.9 0 $4.15 $1.90
Efficient EV 9.9 0 $3.46 $1.58
EV Truck/SUV 15.8 0 $5.53 $2.53

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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

Woolwich, ME

Evening in Woolwich on Sunday

Local time

8:26 PM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

City of Portland, ME

Evening in City of Portland on Sunday

Local time

8:26 PM

EDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

52°F

Lawrence, MA

20 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

1 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 14m 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 Woolwich, ME to City of Portland, ME covers 39.5 miles and takes about 1h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 295, Leeman Highway, Portland - Peaks Island. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.8 miles from Woolwich, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.32 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 demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 39.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.4 miles (I 295): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Woolwich, ME to City of Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Portland along the way.

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