Biddeford to Houlton is 263.8 miles and takes about 4h 45m via Maine Turnpike and I 295, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within Maine, moving you from the southern part of the state northeastward. It's a straightforward trip that should feel familiar to anyone who has driven in the Northeast. The route is largely straightforward, making it a practical choice for a single-day trip without much complication.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
131.9 miles from Biddeford, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Maine Turnpike
207.1 mi
3h 36m
I 295
52.5 mi
1h 1m
North Street
2.3 mi
4m
Main Street
0.9 mi
1m
Market Square
0.1 mi
<1m
Union Square
<0.1 mi
<1m
Beach Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Maine Turnpike
— 207.1 mi, about 3h 36m
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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Houlton, 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
198 mi·3 hr 26 min·Maine Turnpike
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 302Toward US 1: Houlton, Presque Isle
9
Turn slight right
176 ft·4 sec
10
Turn straight onto US 1
0.9 mi·1 min·North Street
11
Turn left onto Union Square
169 ft·4 sec·Union Square
12
Continue on Market Square
393 ft·16 sec·Market Square
13
Continue on Market Square
229 ft·8 sec·Market Square
14
Turn right
135 ft·9 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 45m duration, leaving Biddeford in the morning allows ample time to reach Houlton before evening. With only one recommended stop and a short overall drive, you have flexibility in planning your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 207.1-mile stretch on the Maine Turnpike, as services can be spread out. Budgeting around $48 for fuel should cover the 263.8-mile trip comfortably.
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 131.9 miles from Biddeford, ME, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 207.1 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 58 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.9 miles or 2h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Houlton, 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 263.8 miles and 4h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 207.1 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 263.8 — 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
262.4 mi into trip|~4h 42m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Houlton, Presque Isle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 302
Toward US 1: Houlton, Presque Isle
4
263.6 mi into trip|~4h 45m in|Union Square
Turn left onto Union Square
Navigation decision point
4
263.8 mi into trip|~4h 45m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.63 one way
$93.26 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$51.08
$102.15
premium
$5.29
$54.93
$109.86
diesel
$5.35
$55.56
$111.13
Estimated Tolls: $12.43
Maine Turnpike
(207.1 mi)$12.43
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
$47
Tolls
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.1
0
$27.70
$12.66
Efficient EV
66
0
$23.08
$10.55
EV Truck/SUV
105.5
1
$36.93
$16.88
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
3:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Chance Rain Showers
NE 5 mph67% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Houlton, ME
Afternoon
in Houlton on Wednesday
Local time
3:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
34°F
Mostly Cloudy
0 mph4% chanceLive forecast
75°F
Benton, ME
132 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
11 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
4h 45m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
National Monument
Spread across a wild landscape offering spectacular views of Katahdin, Katahdin Woods and Waters invites discovery of its rivers, streams, woods, flora, fauna, geology, and the night skies that have a...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 227.4
Park Closure: Temporary Road Closures on Swift Brook Road for Culvert Replacement
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 54.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend nearly all your time on highways, with 98% of the 263.8 miles being high-speed driving. The longest continuous stretch on the Maine Turnpike is a significant 207.1 miles. Expect frequent exits and merges for the majority of the trip, as the route primarily utilizes major interstates before transitioning to North Street in Houlton for the final approach.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 207.1 mi on Maine Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and I 295. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 45m drive. You will face about 9 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 262.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
The longest stretch is about 207.1 miles on Maine Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $12.43 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 10 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 262.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and Frances Perkins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Houlton, ME, but most travelers stay overnight.
