Origin
Brunswick, ME
Late night in Brunswick on Sunday
Local time
12:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brunswick, ME to City of Portland, ME
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
30.3 mi
49 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brunswick, ME
Wikimedia Commons
City of Portland, ME
Brett Sayles
Trip Overview
This short, 30.3-mile drive from Brunswick to the City of Portland, Maine, is easily manageable in about an hour, making it a perfect day trip. With a modest fuel cost of around $5, it's an economical way to travel between these two Northeast destinations. The route is primarily highway-focused, with a significant 73% of the journey on interstates. Given its brevity, you won't need to split this drive with an overnight stay. You'll spend most of your time on I-295, which makes up the longest stretch at 21.1 miles.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 295 | 21.1 mi | 24m |
| Portland - Peaks Island | 2.5 mi | 20m |
| Pleasant Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| US 1A | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Seashore Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Cumberland Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Welch Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Maine State Pier | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 21.1 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brunswick, ME and City of Portland, ME.
1
Start on Pleasant Street
160 ft
·
12 sec
·
Pleasant Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
2
Turn left onto ME 24 Business
445 ft
·
21 sec
·
Maine Street
3
Turn left onto Cumberland Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Cumberland Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 1
493 ft
·
12 sec
·
Mill Street
5
Turn right onto US 1
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Pleasant Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
7
Keep slight left at fork
1.6 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 295 South: Freeport, Portland
8
Merge onto I 295
21 mi
·
24 min
·
I 295
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit onto US 1A
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
US 1A
Exit 7
Toward US 1A
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on Maine State Pier
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Maine State Pier
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn slight right
187 ft
·
13 sec
12
Turn straight onto Portland - Peaks Island
2.5 mi
·
20 min
·
Portland - Peaks Island
13
Continue
213 ft
·
15 sec
14
Continue on Welch Street
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
Welch Street
15
Turn right onto Oakland Avenue
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Oakland Avenue
16
Turn slight left onto Whitehead Street
351 ft
·
15 sec
·
Whitehead Street
17
Continue on Seashore Avenue
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Seashore Avenue
18
Continue on Seashore Avenue
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Seashore Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Seashore Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.1 miles from Brunswick, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 29.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
ME 24 Business / Maine Street
Turn left onto ME 24 Business / Maine Street
Navigation decision point
6
2.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 295 South: Freeport, Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 295 South: Freeport, Portland
5
4.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 295
Merge onto I 295
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
25.3 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
US 1A
Take the exit onto US 1A toward US 1A
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 7
Toward US 1A
5
29.3 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
Oakland Avenue
Turn right onto Oakland Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.88 one way
$9.76 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $5.37 | $10.73 |
| premium | $4.86 | $5.80 | $11.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.69 | $13.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.18 | $1.45 |
| Efficient EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.65 | $1.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.24 | $1.94 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Destination
City of Portland, ME
Late night in City of Portland on Sunday
Local time
12:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Yarmouth, ME
15 mi in
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
1h 1m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a largely highway-focused experience for this trip, with 73% of the drive being on interstates. The bulk of your travel will be on I-295, which offers a consistent pace for 21.1 miles without interruption. While there are segments on local roads like Pleasant Street and Portland - Peaks Island, the overall character leans towards efficient interstate travel rather than winding scenic byways. This means you'll likely experience a more straightforward drive, prioritizing getting to your destination efficiently.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.1 mi on I 295.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and Portland - Peaks Island. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near ME 24 Business / Maine Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 30.3 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (ME 24 Business / Maine Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.2 miles (I 295): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
234 ft
-5 ft
Total Climb
281 ft
Total Descent
325 ft
Highest Point
234 ft
~6.5 mi in
Elevation Range
239 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Brunswick, ME to City of Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Portland along the way.
Portland
2.6 mi in
|
~6m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 30.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.1 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at City of Portland, ME before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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: near the start (ME 24 Business / Maine Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.2 miles (I 295): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at City of Portland, ME before heading back.
How this page is built
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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