Brunswick to York Beach is 72.4 miles and takes about 1h 30m via Maine Turnpike and US Route 1, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maine, traveling south through the Northeast region. Expect a mostly highway drive that's quick and efficient for a same-day trip. It's a straightforward route perfect for a short getaway or a leg of a larger New England adventure.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.2 miles from Brunswick, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Maine Turnpike
36 mi
38m
I 295
27.8 mi
34m
US Route 1
2.3 mi
3m
Pleasant Street
1.5 mi
3m
Short Sands Road
0.9 mi
2m
Cumberland Street
0.5 mi
1m
Spur Road
0.5 mi
<1m
Church Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Maine Turnpike
— 36 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brunswick, ME and York Beach, 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
25 mi·30 min·I 295
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
2.6 mi·3 min·I 295
10
Merge onto I 95
36 mi·38 min·Maine Turnpike
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 7Toward York, York Beach
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
13
Turn left onto Spur Road
0.5 mi·57 sec·Spur Road
14
Turn left onto US 1
2.3 mi·3 min·US Route 1
15
Turn right onto Short Sands Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Short Sands Road
16
Turn left onto Ridge Road
0.2 mi·31 sec·Ridge Road
17
At end of road, turn right onto Church Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·Church Street
18
Turn right onto US 1A
5 ft·0 sec·Long Beach Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
US 1A
Trip Plan
For this 1h 30m drive, leaving Brunswick in the morning allows you to reach York Beach with plenty of daylight. Since it's a shorter trip at just over 72 miles, you don't need to plan for overnight stays, offering flexibility. The fuel cost is estimated at $12, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing Brunswick. Keep an eye out for the transition from the Maine Turnpike to US Route 1 as you get closer to York Beach, as this marks a change in the driving environment.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36.2 miles from Brunswick, ME, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36 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 16 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.2 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near York Beach, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brunswick, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Brunswick, ME
This is one driving day of about 72.4 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Brunswick, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Maine Turnpike for about 36 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 72.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
6
68 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward York, York Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 7
Toward York, York Beach
5
68.2 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
72.2 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|Church Street
At end of road, turn right onto Church Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.66 one way
$23.31 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$12.82
$25.65
premium
$4.86
$13.86
$27.73
diesel
$5.61
$15.99
$31.97
Estimated Tolls: $2.16
Maine Turnpike
(36 mi)$2.16
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
$12
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.7
0
$7.60
$3.48
Efficient EV
18.1
0
$6.34
$2.90
EV Truck/SUV
29
0
$10.14
$4.63
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Brunswick, ME
Late night
in Brunswick on Sunday
Local time
3:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
York Beach, ME
Late night
in York Beach on Sunday
Local time
3:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Portland, ME
36 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
4 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 30m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway, with 91% of it on major roadways like the Maine Turnpike and I-295. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch of highway at 36 miles on the Maine Turnpike. The transition to surface roads begins as you approach your destination, with US Route 1 offering a more local feel before you reach York Beach.
91% 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: 36 mi on Maine Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and I 295. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.4 miles you will encounter 16 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 2.6 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; at 68 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 York Beach, ME, road signs begin pointing toward York along the way.
York
68 mi in|~1h 21m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 72.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36 miles on Maine Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.16 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.
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 York Beach, 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: 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; at 68 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at York Beach, ME before heading back.
