Biddeford to Solon is 124.6 miles and takes about 2h 30m via I 295 and Maine Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route primarily stays within Maine, moving from the southern part of the state up towards the central region. Given its relatively short distance and mostly highway profile, it's a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in a single day. Expect a smooth drive with minimal complexity, making it a good option for a quick transit or a travel day with plenty of time left 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
62.3 miles from Biddeford, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
52.5 mi
1h 1m
Maine Turnpike
39.3 mi
42m
South Main Street
13.3 mi
15m
Skowhegan Road
7.6 mi
11m
Waterville Road
6.8 mi
9m
Madison Avenue
1.6 mi
3m
North Street
1.4 mi
2m
Main Street
0.9 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
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 Solon, 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
31 mi·33 min·Maine Turnpike
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 133Toward US 201: Fairfield, Skowhegan
9
Keep slight right at fork
108 ft·2 sec
10
Merge onto US 201
7.6 mi·11 min·Skowhegan Road
11
Continue on US 201
6.8 mi·9 min·Waterville Road
12
Turn right onto US 2; US 201
206 ft·7 sec·Main Street
13
Continue on US 2; US 201
0.2 mi·33 sec·Island Avenue
14
Continue on US 2; US 201
375 ft·15 sec·Water Street
15
Take the exit
132 ft·9 sec
16
Turn left onto US 2; US 201
431 ft·16 sec·Commercial Street
17
Turn right onto US 201
1.6 mi·3 min·Madison Avenue
18
Continue on US 201
13 mi·15 min·South Main Street
19
Turn right onto Pleasant Street
352 ft·9 sec·Pleasant Street
20
Arrive at destination
Pleasant Street
Trip Plan
For this 2.5-hour drive, leaving Biddeford in the morning or early afternoon is ideal. With only one recommended stop and a total distance of 124.6 miles, you have a lot of flexibility in pacing. The $22 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting, and you'll want to ensure you have adequate fuel before heading onto the longer highway stretches. Watch for the transition from I 295 to local roads as you approach Solon, as this is where the driving pace will change.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.3 miles from Biddeford, ME, or about 1h 13m 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 27 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.3 miles or 1h 13m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Solon, 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 124.6 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 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 I 295 for about 52.5 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 109.6 — 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
94.6 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward US 201: Fairfield, Skowhegan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 133
Toward US 201: Fairfield, Skowhegan
5
94.8 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
109.6 mi into trip|~2h 11m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.03 one way
$44.05 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$24.13
$48.25
premium
$5.29
$25.95
$51.89
diesel
$5.35
$26.24
$52.49
Estimated Tolls: $2.36
Maine Turnpike
(39.3 mi)$2.36
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
$22
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.4
0
$13.08
$5.98
Efficient EV
31.2
0
$10.90
$4.98
EV Truck/SUV
49.8
0
$17.44
$7.97
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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
3:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Chance Rain Showers
NE 5 mph67% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Solon, ME
Afternoon
in Solon on Wednesday
Local time
3:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Mostly Cloudy
NE 0 to 5 mph5% 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
3 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
2h 30m 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 55.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 74% of this 124.6-mile drive on highways, including the Maine Turnpike and I 295. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 52.5 miles, primarily on I 295. After the highway portion, you'll transition to South Main Street, which marks the beginning of your surface road driving experience. The density of exits on the highway portion is noticeable as you make your way north.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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 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 124.6 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 94.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
417 ft15 ft
Total Climb
600 ft
Total Descent
263 ft
Highest Point
417 ft
~115.7 mi in
Elevation Range
401 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 Solon, ME, road signs point toward Portland and Skowhegan.
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 2h 30m. Total distance: 124.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). 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 $2.36 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, 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 94.6 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 Solon, ME before heading back.
