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Trip from Biddeford, ME to Benton, ME

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 56m

Distance

97 mi

156 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 48m ★
6 AM
1h 57m
8 AM
2h 13m
10 AM
2h 2m
12 PM
2h 1m
3 PM
2h 3m
5 PM
2h 13m
8 PM
1h 51m

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

city in York County, Maine, United States

Biddeford, ME

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Benton, ME, ME

Benton, ME

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

Trip Overview

This 97-mile drive from Biddeford, ME to Benton, ME is designed for efficiency, taking approximately 1 hour and 56 minutes. With 93% of the journey on highways, it's a straightforward trip that's easily manageable as a day trip. Expect a fuel cost of around $16 for this northeast to northeast leg within Maine. The overall feel is one of focused travel, prioritizing getting you to your destination with minimal fuss. Given its short duration, you'll have plenty of flexibility to depart when it suits you best.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

48.5 miles from Biddeford, ME

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 295 52.5 mi 1h 1m
Maine Turnpike 38 mi 41m
Neck Road 1.7 mi 3m
North Street 1.4 mi 2m
Western Avenue 0.9 mi 2m
Main Street 0.9 mi 1m
Bridge Street 0.5 mi 1m
Newhall Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 295 — 52.5 mi, about 1h 1m

Traffic on I-295

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 39 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~2,557 veh/hr typical · worst 3,064

Quietest

2 AM

~87 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

29.4×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Biddeford, ME and Benton, ME.

1

Start on US 1 Alternate

0.9 mi · 1 min · Main Street
2

Turn left onto ME 112

162 ft · 5 sec · Beach Street
3

Continue on ME 5; ME 112

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Street
4

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 95 North: Portland
5

Merge onto I 95

8.8 mi · 9 min · Maine Turnpike
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 295

52 mi · 1 hr 1 min · I 295
Exit 44 Toward Downtown Portland Use the slight right lane.
7

Merge onto I 95

29 mi · 32 min · Maine Turnpike
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 35 sec
Exit 132 Toward ME 139: Fairfield, Benton
9

Turn right onto ME 139

0.9 mi · 2 min · Western Avenue
10

Turn right onto Newhall Street

0.2 mi · 37 sec · Newhall Street
11

At end of road, turn left onto Lawrence Avenue

498 ft · 15 sec · Lawrence Avenue
12

Continue on ME 11; ME 100; ME 139

0.5 mi · 1 min · Bridge Street
13

Continue on ME 11; ME 100; ME 139

1.7 mi · 3 min · Neck Road
14

Turn left onto ME 11; ME 100; ME 139

460 ft · 12 sec · Clinton Avenue
15

Turn right onto ME 139

64 ft · 1 sec · Sebasticook Bridge Road
16

Arrive at destination

ME 139

Trip Plan

For this relatively short 97-mile journey, you have the advantage of flexibility with your departure time. The drive is estimated to take under two hours, meaning you won't need to split it. With a fuel cost of roughly $16, it's an economical trip to plan for. Consider starting your drive in the late morning to avoid potential early commuter traffic. Because the majority of the route is on highways, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can be further apart on the interstate compared to local roads. Planning a brief stop around the halfway point, perhaps after the longest 52.5-mile stretch on I-295, can help break up the drive.

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 48.5 miles from Biddeford, ME, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.5 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 25m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 48.5 miles or 57m 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 32m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Biddeford, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Biddeford, ME

This is one driving day of about 97 miles and 1h 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Biddeford, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 295 for about 52.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Yarmouth, ME, ME

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Yarmouth, 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

South Portland Gardens, ME

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brunswick, ME

Meal break

The midpoint is around 48.5 miles from Biddeford, 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · home stretch

Ming Lee Chinese Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Waterville, Maine

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch · 8min to go 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm

+12078732828

Visit website

Thai With Us

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Augusta, Maine

1.7 mi

Villager Family Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Waterville, Maine

2.1 mi

Best coffee break · early in the drive

Freeport Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Freeport, Maine

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch · 33min in 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+12078695113

Visit website

Nom Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Portland, Maine

2.9 mi

Artemisia Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Portland, Maine

3 mi

Ming Lee Chinese Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Waterville, Maine

Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm

+12078732828

Visit website

Thai With Us

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately

Augusta, Maine

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+12074801121

Visit website

Villager Family Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10

Waterville, Maine

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+12078726231

Freeport Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Freeport, Maine

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+12078695113

Visit website

Nom Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Portland, Maine

Hours: 9 am–2 pm

+12076139332

Visit website

Artemisia Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 3 mi from route ~8 min detour $20 to $30

Portland, Maine

Hours: 11 AM–1:30 PM

Visit website

West Gardiner Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Rest Area

0.2 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.2 mi from route

Maine Escape Games

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

South Portland, Maine

Hours: 1–7 pm

+12072746007

Visit website

Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

South Portland, Maine

Hours: 4–8 pm

+12078087696

Visit website

Maine Military Museum & Learning Center

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

South Portland, Maine

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+12077678227

Visit website

Eartha Globe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Yarmouth, Maine

Hours: 9 am–3 pm

Old Fort Western

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Augusta, Maine

+12076262385

Visit website

Portland Observatory

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Portland, Maine

+12072531800

Visit website

The Escape Room

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Portland, Maine

Hours: 12–8:15 pm

+12076193775

Visit website

Maine Day Ventures/ formerly Maine Foodie Tours

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

First break 3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour

Portland, Maine

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+12072337485

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 97 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
2.3 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward I 95 North: Portland

Navigation decision point

Toward I 95 North: Portland
8
11.6 mi into trip | ~14m in | I 295

Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 toward Downtown Portland

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 44 Toward Downtown Portland
6
93.4 mi into trip | ~1h 48m in

Take the exit toward ME 139: Fairfield, Benton

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 132 Toward ME 139: Fairfield, Benton
6
94.7 mi into trip | ~1h 51m in | Lawrence Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto Lawrence Avenue

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

4
97 mi into trip | ~1h 56m in | ME 139 / Sebasticook Bridge Road

Turn right onto ME 139 / Sebasticook Bridge Road

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.15 one way

$34.29 round trip

$4.49/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.92 $18.78 $37.56
premium $5.29 $20.20 $40.40
diesel $5.35 $20.43 $40.86

Estimated Tolls: $2.29

Maine Turnpike (38 mi) $2.29

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

$17

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 33.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 29.1 0 $10.19 $4.66
Efficient EV 24.3 0 $8.49 $3.88
EV Truck/SUV 38.8 0 $13.58 $6.21

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 May 29, 2026

Origin

Biddeford, ME

Afternoon in Biddeford on Wednesday

Local time

4:54 PM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Partly Cloudy

NW 0 to 5 mph 9% chance Live forecast

Destination

Benton, ME

Afternoon in Benton on Wednesday

Local time

4:54 PM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Mostly Cloudy

N 5 mph 5% chance Live forecast

51°F

Yarmouth, 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.

Temperature spread

4 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 56m 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.

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 56.9
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?

Primarily a highway-focused drive, this route spends 93% of its time on major roadways like I-295 and the Maine Turnpike. You'll experience long stretches of smooth, high-speed travel, with the longest uninterrupted segment covering 52.5 miles on I-295. While the focus is on the interstate, you will encounter some local road sections, including Neck Road, offering brief changes in pace. The character remains largely that of a functional commute, designed for swift transit across the landscape.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.5 mi on I 295.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and Maine Turnpike. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 97 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: at 2.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

307 ft 26 ft

Total Climb

468 ft

Total Descent

432 ft

Highest Point

307 ft

~76.2 mi in

Elevation Range

281 ft

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 Biddeford, ME to Benton, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Portland along the way.

Portland

11.6 mi in | ~14m | via I 295

Detours Along the Way

Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.

Coffee By Design

Cafe

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Freeport

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Su-Th 07:00-18:00; Fr-Sa 07:00-19:00

Visit website

Bintliffs Corner Brew

Cafe

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Gardiner, ME

Cuisine: coffee_shop;bakery

Visit website

Starbucks

Cafe

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Mo-Su 06:00-20:00

Aroma Joe's

Cafe

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

Waterville, ME

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Mo-Su 05:00-22:00

Visit website

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the start, ~9 min detour

First break 3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour

Portland, ME

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Dunkin'

Fast_food

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.1 mi from route

Freeport, ME

Cuisine: donut;coffee_shop

Hours: 05:00-19:00

Visit website

Thai Garden

Restaurant

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Freeport, ME

Cuisine: thai

Visit website

Bucks Naked Barbecue

Restaurant

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.1 mi from route

Cuisine: barbecue

Subway

Fast_food

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Topsham, ME

Cuisine: sandwich

Hours: 08:00-20:00

Visit website

Fuji Sakura

Restaurant

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Freeport

Cuisine: sushi

Hours: Su-Mo,We-Th 11:00-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:...

Visit website

Lobster Cooker

Restaurant

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Freeport

Cuisine: seafood

Hours: Apr-Nov Su-Th 11:00-19:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-2...

Visit website

Benton Family Fun Park

Attraction

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Waterville, ME

LL Bean Boot

Attraction

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

"The Final Charge" (Locked-horm Moose Display)

Attraction

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Fishway Viewing Area

Attraction

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour

Big Indian

Attraction

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Freeport, ME

Fred Savage Park - City of Augusta

Park

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

Augusta, ME

Saint Andre School

Yes

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route

York Institute Museum

Museum

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

ME

Visit website

Topsham Historic District

District

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Desert of Maine Farm Museum

Museum

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Mc Cartney House Museum

Museum

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Oakland, ME

Oakland historical artifacts & photo museum

Museum

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Oakland, ME

The Freeport Hotel

Motel

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Freeport, ME

The Stone Turret

Guest_house

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Gardiner, ME

Wild Acres

Caravan_site

Near the start, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Old Orchard Beach

Visit website

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

About the Cities

Starting in Biddeford, ME

Full guide →

Founded 1616

Biddeford is a city located in southern Maine. It was once a booming town full of textile mills, the service and manufacturing industries are the major city employers. Approximately 33% of the population speaks French, due to the influx of French-Canadian immigrants to the city's mills in the 18th and early 19th centuries.

Top landmarks

  • Biddeford City Hall — rathaus in Biddeford, United States of America
  • Biddeford Main Street Historic District — historic district in Maine, United States
  • St. Andre's Parish — historic church in Maine, United States

Arriving in Benton, ME

Full guide →

Fairfield and nearby Benton are small towns in Maine which are suburbs of Waterville.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 97 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 52.5 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $2.29 in tolls one way, starting with Maine Turnpike. 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. 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 2.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Benton, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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