Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 9m
Distance
200.4 mi
322 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brunswick, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Calais, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Brunswick to Calais spans 200.4 miles of Maine landscape, typically requiring about 4 hours and 9 minutes of driving time. Because this route is manageable within a single day, you can easily complete the trip without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via I-295, the Maine Turnpike, and I-395, making this a highly efficient transit rather than a slow-paced excursion. Budget roughly $32 for fuel to cover the distance, which remains consistent across the Northeast region. It serves as a straightforward connection between southern and eastern Maine, perfect for those prioritizing speed and reliability over wandering backroads.
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
100.2 miles from Brunswick, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 395 | 90.1 mi | 2h 3m |
| Maine Turnpike | 79.2 mi | 1h 25m |
| I 295 | 21.1 mi | 23m |
| Route 1 | 2.6 mi | 2m |
| Baring Street | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| North Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| Maine Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Brunswick, ME and Calais, ME.
Start on Pleasant Street
Turn left onto ME 24 Business
Continue on US 201; ME 24 Business
Turn left onto ME 196
Continue on ME 196
Take the exit
Merge onto I 295
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Merge onto I 395; ME 15
Continue on I 395; ME 9; ME 15
Continue on US 1; ME 9
Continue on US 1; ME 9
Continue on US 1; ME 9
Enter roundabout onto US 1; ME 9
Continue on US 1; ME 9
Continue on US 1; ME 9
Turn right onto Lincoln Street
Turn left onto Germain Street
Arrive at destination
Since the drive is roughly four hours long, plan for at least one strategic stop to break up the monotony of the interstate. Departing early in the morning is your best bet to ensure you arrive in Calais with plenty of daylight left. Given the heavy reliance on I-295 and the Maine Turnpike, keep an eye on real-time traffic updates, as these major arteries can experience congestion depending on the season. Remember that your fuel costs will hover around $32, so filling up before hitting the longest 90.1-mile stretch on I-395 will keep your travel stress-free. Take advantage of the route's flexibility by choosing your single stop based on your personal energy levels rather than a rigid schedule.
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.
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 44 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.2 miles or 1h 53m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Calais, ME than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Brunswick, 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 Brunswick, ME
This is one driving day of about 200.4 miles and 4h 9m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
100 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 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 100.2 miles from Brunswick, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 395 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 90.1 miles.
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 0 and 200.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto ME 24 Business / Maine Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto ME 196 / Route 196
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 295 North: Augusta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 395 South, ME 15 South: Bangor, Brewer
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto Germain Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$32.26 one way
$64.52 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $35.50 | $70.99 |
| premium | $4.86 | $38.38 | $76.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $44.25 | $88.49 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.75
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
$32
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 60.1 | 0 | $21.04 | $9.62 |
| Efficient EV | 50.1 | 0 | $17.54 | $8.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 80.2 | 1 | $28.06 | $12.83 |
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Brunswick on Saturday
Local time
9:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Night in Calais on Saturday
Local time
9:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Sunny
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
National Park
Acadia National Park protects the natural beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the United States, an abundance of habitats, and a rich cultural heritage. At 4 million...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a focused, highway-centric experience, as 96% of your journey takes place on high-speed roads. The route transitions through varying interstate segments, keeping the pace steady and predictable for the majority of your 200.4-mile trip. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch along a 90.1-mile segment of I-395, which requires steady focus behind the wheel. Because this is a highway-focused drive, you will spend most of your time maintaining consistent speeds rather than navigating technical local turns. It is a utilitarian trek that prioritizes getting you to your destination with minimal detours.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 395 and Maine Turnpike. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near ME 24 Business / Maine Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 9m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (ME 24 Business / Maine Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (ME 196 / Route 196): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,077 ft
Total Descent
1,046 ft
Highest Point
516 ft
~171.7 mi in
Elevation Range
451 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Brunswick, ME to Calais, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Brewer along the way.
Brewer
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 9m. Total distance: 200.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Brunswick, ME or browse trips ending in Calais, ME.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse ME road trips.
