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Trip from Yarmouth, ME to Portland, ME

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

16m

Distance

11.5 mi

18 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 15m ★
6 AM
0h 16m
8 AM
0h 19m
10 AM
0h 17m
12 PM
0h 17m
3 PM
0h 17m
5 PM
0h 19m
8 PM
0h 15m ★

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

Downtown Yarmouth, ME, ME

Yarmouth, ME

Jan van der Wolf

seat of Cumberland County, and largest city in State of Maine, United States

Portland, ME

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This quick 11.5-mile drive from Yarmouth, ME to Portland, ME takes about 16 minutes and is perfect for a single day trip. You'll spend most of your time on highways, with 92% of the journey on high-speed roads. The estimated fuel cost is around $2, making it a very budget-friendly excursion. This route is ideal for travelers already in the Northeast region looking for a short hop between two Maine locations. It's a straightforward drive that doesn't require an overnight stay.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.

Midpoint

5.7 miles from Yarmouth, ME

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 11.5-mile trip, as 92% of the drive utilizes major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.8 miles on I 295, offering a consistent pace. While primarily interstate, the route also incorporates sections of Route 1 and US 1A, which might offer brief glimpses of local scenery before rejoining faster-paced roads. The overall feel is efficient and direct, designed for quick transit.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 8 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 8.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and Route 1. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near I 295.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 16m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (I 295): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles (US 1A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles (Cumberland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

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

5
1.5 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 295

Merge onto I 295

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

Use the straight lane.
7
10.2 mi into trip | ~13m 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
11 mi into trip | ~15m in | Cumberland Avenue

Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
4
11.3 mi into trip | ~15m in | Preble Street

Turn left onto Preble Street

Navigation decision point

5
11.4 mi into trip | ~16m in | Congress Street

Turn left onto Congress Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 295 8.8 mi 10m
Route 1 1 mi 1m
US 1A 0.7 mi 1m
Cumberland Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
Preble Street 0.1 mi <1m
Congress Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 295 — 8.8 mi, about 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 1

1.0 mi · 1 min · Route 1
2

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 56 sec
3

Merge onto I 295

8.8 mi · 10 min · I 295
Use the straight lane.
4

Take the exit onto US 1A

0.7 mi · 1 min · US 1A
Exit 7 Toward US 1A Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue

0.4 mi · 50 sec · Cumberland Avenue
Use the straight lane.
6

Turn left onto Preble Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Preble Street
7

Turn left onto Congress Street

156 ft · 5 sec · Congress Street
8

Arrive at destination

Congress Street

Trip Plan

Given the short 16-minute duration, this drive offers significant flexibility. You can easily depart at any time of day without needing to plan extensive stops. With a fuel cost of only $2, topping off your tank before leaving Yarmouth is more than sufficient. The longest stretch is 8.8 miles on I 295, so you won't need to worry about finding services mid-journey. Keep an eye out for the transition points between I 295, Route 1, and US 1A as you approach Portland.

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 5.7 miles from Yarmouth, ME, or about 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.8 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 11.5 miles or 16m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 5.7 miles or 7m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 12m

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

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving Yarmouth, ME.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Yarmouth, ME

This is one driving day of about 11.5 miles and 16m.

At 11.5 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on I 295 for about 8.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 5.7 mi from Yarmouth, ME · 7m into the drive

Pacing Suggestions

South Portland, ME

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

South Portland, ME

Meal break

The midpoint is around 5.7 miles from Yarmouth, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Portland, ME

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Portland, ME if you are unfamiliar with the area.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.85 one way

$3.70 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $2.04 $4.07
premium $4.86 $2.20 $4.40
diesel $5.61 $2.54 $5.08

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.4 0 $1.21 $0.55
Efficient EV 2.9 0 $1.01 $0.46
EV Truck/SUV 4.6 0 $1.61 $0.74

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Yarmouth, ME

Evening in Yarmouth on Wednesday

Local time

7:04 PM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Portland, ME

Evening in Portland on Wednesday

Local time

7:04 PM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

16m 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 Yarmouth, ME to Portland, ME covers 11.5 miles and takes about 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 295, Route 1, US 1A. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.7 miles from Yarmouth, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.85 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 16m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (I 295): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles (US 1A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles (Cumberland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Yarmouth, ME to Portland, ME does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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