Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
50 mi
81 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Biddeford, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Bowdoinham, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Biddeford, ME to Bowdoinham, ME is 50 miles and takes about 1 hour 2 minutes via I 295 and Maine Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maine, beginning in the Northeast region and ending in the same. Expect a straightforward drive primarily on major highways, making it a convenient option for a quick transit. If you're looking for a simple, efficient route with minimal fuss, this is a solid choice for a same-day trip.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 295 | 37 mi | 44m |
| Maine Turnpike | 8.8 mi | 9m |
| Main Street | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| North Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| State Route 138 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Beach Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Center Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
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
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Biddeford, ME and Bowdoinham, ME.
Start on US 1 Alternate
Turn left onto ME 112
Continue on ME 5; ME 112
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
Take the exit
Turn right onto State Route 138
Continue on ME 125
Turn left onto Center Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 50 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward I 95 North: Portland
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 toward Downtown Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward ME 125, ME 138: Bowdoinham, Bowdoin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto State Route 138
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Center Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$8.84 one way
$17.68 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $9.68 | $19.36 |
| premium | $5.29 | $10.41 | $20.82 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $10.53 | $21.06 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.53
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15 | 0 | $5.25 | $2.40 |
| Efficient EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.38 | $2.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20 | 0 | $7.00 | $3.20 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Biddeford on Wednesday
Local time
5:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Evening in Bowdoinham on Wednesday
Local time
5:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Partly Sunny
52°F
Falmouth, ME
25 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 92% of the 50 miles on major roads like I 295 and the Maine Turnpike. You'll experience a long stretch of 37 miles on I 295 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect frequent exits and merging traffic as you navigate these busy corridors. The final portion of your drive will be on local streets, including Main Street, as you reach your destination.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and Maine Turnpike. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 2m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 48.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
282 ft
Total Descent
270 ft
Highest Point
184 ft
~35.7 mi in
Elevation Range
170 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Biddeford, ME to Bowdoinham, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Portland along the way.
Portland
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 50 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
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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