Origin
Bethel, ME
Late night in Bethel on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bethel, ME to City of 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 6m
Distance
69.6 mi
112 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 58m
★
6 AM
2h 7m
8 AM
2h 25m
10 AM
2h 13m
12 PM
2h 11m
3 PM
2h 14m
5 PM
2h 24m
8 PM
2h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethel, ME
RealToughCandy.com
City of Portland, ME
Brett Sayles
Trip Overview
Bethel, ME to City of Portland, ME is 69.6 miles and takes about 2h 6m via Roosevelt Trail, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Maine, connecting the Northeast region from start to finish. Expect a drive primarily on surface roads, offering a more leisurely pace than a typical interstate trip. With minimal highway driving and a short duration, this is a straightforward option for getting from the Bethel area to Portland.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.8 miles from Bethel, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Roosevelt Trail | 24.7 mi | 35m |
| Songo Pond Road | 5.8 mi | 9m |
| Valley Road | 5 mi | 8m |
| Forest Avenue | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Portland Road | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| Bridgton Road | 3.8 mi | 7m |
| Crooked River Crossway | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Crooked River Causeway | 3 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Roosevelt Trail
— 24.7 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethel, ME and City of Portland, ME.
1
Start on Broad Street
32 ft
·
7 sec
·
Broad Street
2
Turn left onto Mill Hill Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Mill Hill Road
3
Turn sharp left onto ME 5; ME 35
5.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Songo Pond Road
4
Continue on ME 5; ME 35
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Crooked River Causeway
5
Continue on ME 5; ME 35
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Crooked River Crossway
6
Turn left onto ME 35
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
Maine Street
7
Continue on ME 35
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Valley Road
8
Keep slight right at fork onto ME 35
4.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Valley Road
9
At end of road, turn right onto Waterford Road
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Waterford Road
10
Keep slight right at fork onto State Route 37
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
State Route 37
11
Continue on North Bridgton Road
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
North Bridgton Road
12
Turn straight onto Harrison Road
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Harrison Road
13
Continue on US 302
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Portland Road
14
Continue on US 302
20 mi
·
30 min
·
Roosevelt Trail
Use the straight lane.
15
Enter roundabout onto US 302
283 ft
·
9 sec
·
Roosevelt Trail
Toward US 302: Portland
16
Continue on US 302
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Roosevelt Trail
Toward US 302: Portland
17
Continue on US 302
3.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Bridgton Road
18
Continue on US 302
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Forest Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn left onto Marginal Way
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Marginal Way
20
Turn right onto US 1A
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Franklin Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on Maine State Pier
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Maine State Pier
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn slight right
187 ft
·
13 sec
23
Turn straight onto Portland - Peaks Island
2.5 mi
·
20 min
·
Portland - Peaks Island
24
Continue
213 ft
·
15 sec
25
Continue on Welch Street
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
Welch Street
26
Turn right onto Oakland Avenue
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Oakland Avenue
27
Turn slight left onto Whitehead Street
351 ft
·
15 sec
·
Whitehead Street
28
Continue on Seashore Avenue
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Seashore Avenue
29
Continue on Seashore Avenue
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Seashore Avenue
30
Arrive at destination
Seashore Avenue
Trip Plan
Given this trip takes just over 2 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with timing. Leaving in the morning allows for a full day upon arrival in Portland, while an afternoon departure means you could still have a relaxed evening. Plan for your fuel needs, as the estimated cost is around $12. While there are no specified stops, keep an eye out for opportunities to stretch your legs or grab a quick snack, especially during the 24.7-mile stretch on Roosevelt Trail. Since it's not an overnight trip, you can easily adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
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 34.8 miles from Bethel, ME, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.7 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 15 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.8 miles or 55m 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 31m
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 Bethel, 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 Bethel, ME
This is one driving day of about 69.6 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Bethel, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Roosevelt Trail for about 24.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.8 miles from Bethel, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 68.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Mill Hill Road
Turn left onto Mill Hill Road
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
ME 5; ME 35 / Songo Pond Road
Turn sharp left onto ME 5; ME 35 / Songo Pond Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
52 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
|
US 302 / Roosevelt Trail
Enter roundabout onto US 302 / Roosevelt Trail toward US 302: Portland
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward US 302: Portland
5
65 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
|
US 1A / Franklin Street
Turn right onto US 1A / Franklin Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
68.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 3m in
|
Oakland Avenue
Turn right onto Oakland Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.20 one way
$22.41 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $12.33 | $24.66 |
| premium | $4.86 | $13.33 | $26.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.37 | $30.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.31 | $3.34 |
| Efficient EV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.09 | $2.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.8 | 0 | $9.74 | $4.45 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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.
Destination
City of Portland, ME
Late night in City of Portland on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 10 mph
7% chance
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
4 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
2h 6m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features minimal highway use, with a highway share of 100% for 0 miles before transitioning to surface roads. You'll spend the majority of your time on Roosevelt Trail, Songo Pond Road, and Valley Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch on these surface roads measures 24.7 miles along Roosevelt Trail. Be prepared for a more rural cruising experience as you navigate these local roads.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.7 mi on Roosevelt Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Mill Hill Road.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.6 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Mill Hill Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (ME 5; ME 35 / Songo Pond Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 52 miles (US 302 / Roosevelt Trail): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 6m. Total distance: 69.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.7 miles on Roosevelt Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at City of Portland, ME before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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: near the start (Mill Hill Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (ME 5; ME 35 / Songo Pond Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 52 miles (US 302 / Roosevelt Trail): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at City of 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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