If you are planning to travel from Anson to Portland, expect a straightforward journey covering 96.1 miles through the heart of Maine. You should budget approximately 1 hour and 57 minutes of driving time, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. With fuel costs estimated at around $15, the route is economically efficient for a quick getaway between these Northeast locations. Since the drive is short, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay unless you have a packed itinerary in Portland. This highway-focused path provides a direct connection for travelers looking to get from the inland areas to the coast without unnecessary complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48 miles from Anson, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
46.5 mi
52m
I 95
27 mi
29m
Norridgewock Road
5.5 mi
8m
Old Point Avenue
4 mi
6m
Waterville Road
3.3 mi
4m
Madison Road
2.4 mi
3m
Middle Road
2.1 mi
3m
Main Street
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 46.5 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anson, ME and Portland, ME.
1
Start on Main Street
354 ft·10 sec·Main Street
2
Continue on US 201A
0.5 mi·48 sec·Main Street
3
Turn right onto US 201A
0.2 mi·22 sec·Madison Road
4
Continue on US 201A; ME 8
4.0 mi·6 min·Old Point Avenue
5
Continue on US 201A
0.6 mi·56 sec·New Madison Road
6
Continue on US 201A
2.2 mi·3 min·Madison Road
7
Continue on US 201A
0.4 mi·34 sec·New Madison Road
8
Continue on US 201A
0.2 mi·17 sec·Bridge Street
9
Turn left onto US 2; US 201A
0.4 mi·29 sec·Main Street
10
Continue on ME 139
3.3 mi·4 min·Waterville Road
11
Continue on ME 139
4.5 mi·6 min·Norridgewock Road
12
Continue on ME 104; ME 139
2.1 mi·3 min·Middle Road
13
Continue on ME 23; ME 104; ME 139
0.7 mi·59 sec·Pung Hill Road
14
Continue on ME 104
1.0 mi·1 min·Norridgewock Road
15
Continue on ME 104
0.9 mi·1 min·Main Street
16
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
17
Merge onto I 95
27 mi·29 min·I 95
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
46 mi·52 min·I 295
Exit 103Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, BrunswickUse the straight lane.
19
Take the exit onto US 1A
0.7 mi·1 min·US 1A
Exit 7Toward US 1AUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue
0.4 mi·50 sec·Cumberland Avenue
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn left onto Preble Street
0.1 mi·19 sec·Preble Street
22
Turn left onto Congress Street
156 ft·5 sec·Congress Street
23
Arrive at destination
Congress Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a sub-two-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 96.1-mile stretch in one go without needing to schedule formal stops for fatigue. Keep in mind that since the majority of your time is spent on I-95 and I-295, traffic patterns near the Portland metropolitan area can influence your arrival time. I recommend checking live traffic updates before merging onto the interstate to ensure a smooth transition into the city. Since you are only spending about $15 on fuel, consider topping off your tank in Anson before you start to avoid paying higher prices near your destination.
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 48 miles from Anson, ME, or about 1h 1m 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 21 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48 miles or 1h 1m 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 36m
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 Anson, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Anson, ME
This is one driving day of about 96.1 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Anson, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 96.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.6 mi into trip|~0m in|US 201A / Madison Road
Turn right onto US 201A / Madison Road
Navigation decision point
9
48.4 mi into trip|~1h 1m 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
94.9 mi into trip|~1h 54m 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
95.6 mi into trip|~1h 56m in|Cumberland Avenue
Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
96.1 mi into trip|~1h 57m in|Congress Street
Turn left onto Congress Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.47 one way
$30.94 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$17.02
$34.04
premium
$4.86
$18.40
$36.81
diesel
$5.61
$21.22
$42.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.8
0
$10.09
$4.61
Efficient EV
24
0
$8.41
$3.84
EV Truck/SUV
38.4
0
$13.45
$6.15
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Anson, ME
Late night
in Anson on Sunday
Local time
12:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Portland, ME
Late night
in Portland on Sunday
Local time
12:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°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
17 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 57m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive defined by efficiency, as 77% of this route takes place on major highways. You will navigate via Norridgewock Road before transitioning onto I-95 and I-295 to complete your journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-295, where you will cover 46.5 miles of steady interstate driving. While the initial segments involve local roads, the transition to high-speed corridors allows for a consistent pace once you hit the main arteries. Overall, the character of this trip is functional and reliable, prioritizing speed and direct access over winding backroads.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.5 mi on I 295.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 0.6 miles in near US 201A / Madison Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 57m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (US 201A / Madison Road): Navigation decision point; at 48.4 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.9 miles (US 1A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Anson, ME to Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Brunswick along the way.
Brunswick
48.4 mi in|~1h 1m|via I 295
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 57m. Total distance: 96.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 46.5 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.6 miles (US 201A / Madison Road): Navigation decision point; at 48.4 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.9 miles (US 1A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Portland, ME before heading back.
