This 56.5-mile drive from Chelsea to Portland, Maine, is a straightforward 1 hour and 31-minute journey, making it an ideal day trip within the Northeast region. You'll primarily be on I-295, with a short segment on Brunswick Avenue and the Portland - Peaks Island ferry listed as part of the route, suggesting a potential coastal connection. With a fuel cost estimated at $9, this route is budget-friendly. The drive is almost entirely highway, so expect efficient travel without many detours, perfect for getting to your destination quickly and easily.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
28.3 miles from Chelsea, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
42.7 mi
48m
Brunswick Avenue
4.8 mi
7m
Portland - Peaks Island
2.5 mi
20m
Windsor Street
1.7 mi
3m
Togus Road
1.2 mi
2m
US 1A
1.1 mi
2m
Seashore Avenue
0.8 mi
2m
Bridge Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 42.7 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chelsea, ME and City of Portland, ME.
1
Start on Hankerson Road
57 ft·8 sec·Hankerson Road
2
Turn sharp right onto ME 226
1.2 mi·2 min·Togus Road
3
Continue on ME 226
1.7 mi·3 min·Windsor Street
4
Turn right onto ME 27; ME 126
0.2 mi·35 sec·Water Street
5
Turn left onto ME 9; ME 27; ME 126
0.5 mi·48 sec·Bridge Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Continue on US 201
4.8 mi·7 min·Brunswick Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
8
Merge onto I 295
43 mi·48 min·I 295
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit onto US 1A
1.1 mi·2 min·US 1A
Exit 7Toward US 1AUse 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
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 31-minute duration, this route offers great flexibility. You can easily depart anytime, but consider leaving mid-morning to avoid any potential early commuter rush. Since the drive is only 56.5 miles and the longest stretch on I-295 is 42.7 miles, you won't need many stops for fuel or rest. However, it's always wise to check your fuel levels before departing, especially with a $9 estimated fuel cost. Keep an eye out as you transition off I-295 onto Brunswick Avenue, as this is where the driving environment will likely change from highway speeds to more urban conditions as you get closer to Portland.
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 28.3 miles from Chelsea, ME, or about 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.7 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 12 miles or 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 28.3 miles or 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Portland, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chelsea, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chelsea, ME
This is one driving day of about 56.5 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 12 miles from Chelsea, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 295 for about 42.7 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 55.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|ME 226 / Togus Road
Turn sharp right onto ME 226 / Togus Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
3.1 mi into trip|~5m in|ME 9; ME 27; ME 126 / Bridge Street
Turn left onto ME 9; ME 27; ME 126 / Bridge Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
8.8 mi into trip|~14m in|I 295
Merge onto I 295
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
51.5 mi into trip|~1h 3m 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
55.6 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|Oakland Avenue
Turn right onto Oakland Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.10 one way
$18.19 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg20 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$10.01
$20.02
premium
$4.86
$10.82
$21.64
diesel
$5.61
$12.47
$24.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
17
0
$5.93
$2.71
Efficient EV
14.1
0
$4.94
$2.26
EV Truck/SUV
22.6
0
$7.91
$3.62
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Chelsea, ME
Late night
in Chelsea on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
City of Portland, ME
Late night
in City of Portland on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Freeport, ME
28 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
7 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 31m 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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 15.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 56.5-mile trip. Approximately 78% of the drive is on high-speed roads, including a significant uninterrupted stretch of 42.7 miles on I-295. This means you'll likely encounter consistent speeds and efficient progress for the majority of your journey. While the profile suggests a predominantly highway drive, the inclusion of local roads like Brunswick Avenue and the mention of Portland - Peaks Island could indicate a transition to more local traffic and potentially slower speeds as you approach the city and its ferry terminals. Overall, it's a route designed for moving efficiently.
78% 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: 42.7 mi on I 295.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and Brunswick Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near ME 226 / Togus Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 31m drive. You will face about 6 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 226 / Togus Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 3.1 miles (ME 9; ME 27; ME 126 / Bridge Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles (I 295): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 56.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 42.7 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 226 / Togus Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 3.1 miles (ME 9; ME 27; ME 126 / Bridge Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles (I 295): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 City of Portland, ME before heading back.
