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Trip from Anson, ME to South Portland, ME

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 2m

Distance

98.9 mi

159 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 53m ★
6 AM
2h 2m
8 AM
2h 20m
10 AM
2h 8m
12 PM
2h 7m
3 PM
2h 9m
5 PM
2h 19m
8 PM
1h 57m

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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town in Somerset County, Maine, United States

Anson, ME

Wikimedia Commons

city in Cumberland County, Maine, United States

South Portland, ME

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Anson, ME to South Portland, ME covers 98.9 miles and takes about 2h 2m 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, Norridgewock Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.5 miles on I 295. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.92 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.

Midpoint

49.5 miles from Anson, ME

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m 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 South 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 103 Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick Use the straight lane.
19

Take the exit onto US 1A

0.4 mi · 1 min · US 1A
Exit 7 Toward US 1A Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Turn right onto Marginal Way

0.5 mi · 1 min · Marginal Way
Use the right lane.
21

Continue on State Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · State Street
22

Continue on ME 77

1.1 mi · 1 min · Casco Bay Bridge
23

Continue on ME 77

1.0 mi · 1 min · Broadway
24

Turn sharp right onto Pine Street

60 ft · 2 sec · Pine Street
25

Arrive at destination

Pine 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 49.5 miles from Anson, ME, or about 1h 2m 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 22 miles or 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 49.5 miles or 1h 2m 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 38m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South 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.

+

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 Anson, ME

This is one driving day of about 98.9 miles and 2h 2m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 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.

town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brunswick, ME

49 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

Waterville, ME

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Gardiner, ME

Meal break

The midpoint is around 49.5 miles from Anson, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Ming Lee Chinese Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Waterville, Maine

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 21.2

Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm

+12078732828

Visit website

Thai With Us

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Augusta, Maine

0.9 mi

Nom Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Portland, Maine

1.5 mi

Ming Lee Chinese Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 21.2

Waterville, Maine

Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm

+12078732828

Visit website

Thai With Us

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour Moderately mile 42.4

Augusta, Maine

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+12074801121

Visit website

Nom Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 98.9

Portland, Maine

Hours: 9 am–2 pm

+12076139332

Visit website

Freeport Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 84.8

Freeport, Maine

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+12078695113

Visit website

Villager Family Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 21.2

Waterville, Maine

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+12078726231

West Gardiner Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Rest Area

0.2 mi from route

Service Plaza

1.8 mi from route

Maine Day Ventures/ formerly Maine Foodie Tours

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 98.9

Portland, Maine

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+12072337485

Visit website

Eartha Globe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 84.8

Yarmouth, Maine

Hours: 9 am–3 pm

The Escape Room

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 98.9

Portland, Maine

Hours: 12–8:15 pm

+12076193775

Visit website

Portland Observatory

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 98.9

Portland, Maine

+12072531800

Visit website

Maine Historical Society and the Wadsworth-Longfellow House

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 98.9

Portland, Maine

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+12077741822

Visit website

Old Fort Western

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 42.4

Augusta, Maine

+12076262385

Visit website

Old Port Historic Tours

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 98.9

Portland, Maine

Hours: 8:30 am–5:30 pm

+12078070009

Visit website

Maine Military Museum & Learning Center

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 98.9

South Portland, Maine

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+12077678227

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 98.9 — 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
95.3 mi into trip | ~1h 55m in | Marginal Way

Turn right onto Marginal Way

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
98.9 mi into trip | ~2h 2m in | Pine Street

Turn sharp right onto Pine Street

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.92 one way

$31.84 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $17.52 $35.04
premium $4.86 $18.94 $37.88
diesel $5.61 $21.84 $43.67

Estimated Tolls: $7.00

Bay Bridge $7.00

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Tolls

$7

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 34.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 29.7 0 $10.38 $4.75
Efficient EV 24.7 0 $8.65 $3.96
EV Truck/SUV 39.6 0 $13.85 $6.33

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (66% 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

Afternoon in Anson on Sunday

Local time

1:29 PM

EDT

Current temp

34°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

South Portland, ME

Afternoon in South Portland on Sunday

Local time

1:29 PM

EDT

Current temp

--

Unavailable

46°F

Brunswick, ME

49 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.

Road read

2h 2m 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.

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 58
Park Closure: For Current Visitor Information
View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

98.9 mi in 2h 2m, mostly highway — 46.5 mi of that is on I 295.

75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 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 Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 2m drive. You will face about 8 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 South 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 2h 2m. Total distance: 98.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (75%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 46.5 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $7.00 in tolls one way, starting with Bay Bridge. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

Yes — we found about 3 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

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 — Frances Perkins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at South Portland, ME before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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