Biddeford, ME to Bradford, ME is 148.8 miles and takes about 3h 7m via Maine Turnpike and I-295, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maine, traversing the Northeast region. Expect a primarily highway experience for the majority of your travel. This route is a straightforward option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently within the state. It's a good choice for a single-day trip, allowing plenty of time for your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.4 miles from Biddeford, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Maine Turnpike
62.3 mi
1h 7m
I 295
52.5 mi
1h 1m
Exeter Road
15.7 mi
27m
Moosehead Trail
4.7 mi
7m
Bradford Road
3.4 mi
6m
Main Street
2.4 mi
3m
Main Road
1.7 mi
3m
Newport Road
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Maine Turnpike
— 62.3 mi, about 1h 7m
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
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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 Bradford, 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 44Toward Downtown PortlandUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 95
54 mi·58 min·Maine Turnpike
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 157Toward ME 11, ME 100: Newport, Dexter
9
Keep slight left at fork
112 ft·6 sec
10
Turn left onto ME 11; ME 100
0.5 mi·1 min·Ox Bow Road
11
Enter roundabout onto ME 7; ME 11
120 ft·2 sec·Moosehead Trail
12
Continue on ME 7; ME 11
4.7 mi·6 min·Moosehead Trail
13
Continue on ME 7; ME 11
1.4 mi·2 min·Newport Road
14
Continue on ME 7; ME 11; ME 43
416 ft·8 sec·Dexter Road
15
Turn right onto ME 11; ME 43
7.4 mi·13 min·Exeter Road
16
Continue on ME 11; ME 43
1.1 mi·2 min·Exeter Road
17
Continue on ME 11; ME 43
7.2 mi·12 min·Exeter Road
18
At end of road, turn left onto ME 11; ME 15; ME 43
1.5 mi·2 min·Main Street
19
Continue on ME 11; ME 15
0.3 mi·29 sec·Dover Road
20
Turn right onto ME 11
1.7 mi·3 min·Main Road
21
Turn right onto ME 11
3.4 mi·6 min·Bradford Road
22
Continue on ME 11
1.4 mi·2 min·West Road
23
Arrive at destination
ME 11
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour drive time, leaving Biddeford in the morning is your best bet to maximize your day in Bradford. You can easily complete this trip in one day, so you have the flexibility to depart when it's most convenient. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $26, this is an economical and manageable drive. Keep an eye out for the transition from the Maine Turnpike to I-295 as a key point in your navigation.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.4 miles from Biddeford, ME, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.3 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 33 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.4 miles or 1h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bradford, 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.
+
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 Biddeford, ME
This is one driving day of about 148.8 miles and 3h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Biddeford, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Maine Turnpike for about 62.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 118.5 — 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
117.7 mi into trip|~2h 14m in
Take the exit toward ME 11, ME 100: Newport, Dexter
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 157
Toward ME 11, ME 100: Newport, Dexter
5
118 mi into trip|~2h 15m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
118.5 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|ME 7; ME 11 / Moosehead Trail
Enter roundabout onto ME 7; ME 11 / Moosehead Trail
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.30 one way
$52.61 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$28.81
$57.62
premium
$5.29
$30.98
$61.97
diesel
$5.35
$31.34
$62.68
Estimated Tolls: $3.74
Maine Turnpike
(62.3 mi)$3.74
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
$26
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.6
0
$15.62
$7.14
Efficient EV
37.2
0
$13.02
$5.95
EV Truck/SUV
59.5
0
$20.83
$9.52
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Forecast as of Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Biddeford, ME
Afternoon
in Biddeford on Wednesday
Local time
3:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Chance Rain Showers
NE 5 mph67% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bradford, ME
Afternoon
in Bradford on Wednesday
Local time
3:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 5 mph2% chanceLive 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
6 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
3h 7m 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
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 56.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 77% of the 148.8 miles on interstates. You'll encounter a long stretch of 62.3 miles on the Maine Turnpike before transitioning to surface roads like Exeter Road. Be prepared for frequent exits and potential merging traffic as you navigate the initial highway portion.
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: 62.3 mi on Maine Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and I 295. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 148.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 117.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
405 ft26 ft
Total Climb
526 ft
Total Descent
355 ft
Highest Point
405 ft
~127.6 mi in
Elevation Range
380 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Biddeford, ME and Bradford, ME, road signs point toward Portland and Dexter.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 7m. Total distance: 148.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62.3 miles on Maine Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.74 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 5 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 2.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 117.7 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Bradford, ME, but most travelers stay overnight.
