Origin
City of Portland, ME
Night in City of Portland on Saturday
Local time
11:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from City of Portland, ME to Benton, ME
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 1m
Distance
84.1 mi
135 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 52m
★
6 AM
2h 1m
8 AM
2h 19m
10 AM
2h 7m
12 PM
2h 6m
3 PM
2h 8m
5 PM
2h 18m
8 PM
1h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
City of Portland, ME
Brett Sayles
Benton, ME
PhotoShoot Studio | Candid, Birthday Pre Wedding, Baby, Maternity & Child Photographer in Pune Ps Studio
Trip Overview
Portland, ME to Benton, ME is 84.1 miles and takes about 2h 1m via I 295 and Maine Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive stays within Maine, taking you from the coastal Northeast region inland. It's a straightforward, relatively short trip ideal for a single day. Given the efficient route and manageable duration, this is a practical option if you're looking for a quick journey without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.1 miles from City of Portland, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 295 | 46.3 mi | 52m |
| Maine Turnpike | 29.3 mi | 32m |
| Portland - Peaks Island | 2.5 mi | 20m |
| Neck Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Western Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Seashore Avenue | 0.8 mi | 3m |
| Franklin Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Bridge Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 46.3 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Portland, ME and Benton, ME.
1
Start on Seashore Avenue
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Seashore Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto Seashore Avenue
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Seashore Avenue
3
Continue on Whitehead Street
351 ft
·
15 sec
·
Whitehead Street
4
Continue on Oakland Avenue
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Oakland Avenue
5
At end of road, turn left onto Welch Street
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Welch Street
6
Continue on Portland - Peaks Island
2.5 mi
·
20 min
·
Portland - Peaks Island
7
Continue
187 ft
·
14 sec
8
Turn right onto Maine State Pier
74 ft
·
30 sec
·
Maine State Pier
9
Continue on Maine State Pier
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Maine State Pier
10
Continue on US 1A
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Franklin Street
11
Take the ramp onto US 1A
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 1A
12
Merge onto I 295; US 1
46 mi
·
52 min
·
I 295; US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 95
29 mi
·
32 min
·
Maine Turnpike
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 132
Toward ME 139: Fairfield, Benton
15
Turn right onto ME 139
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Western Avenue
16
Turn right onto Newhall Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Newhall Street
17
At end of road, turn left onto Lawrence Avenue
498 ft
·
15 sec
·
Lawrence Avenue
18
Continue on ME 11; ME 100; ME 139
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Bridge Street
19
Continue on ME 11; ME 100; ME 139
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Neck Road
20
Turn left onto ME 11; ME 100; ME 139
460 ft
·
12 sec
·
Clinton Avenue
21
Turn right onto ME 139
64 ft
·
1 sec
·
Sebasticook Bridge Road
22
Arrive at destination
ME 139
Trip Plan
Since this drive is only about 2 hours and covers 84.1 miles, you have a lot of flexibility with departure times. Leaving Portland in the morning allows you to arrive in Benton with plenty of time to spare. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, you won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops. Keep an eye out for any potential traffic delays as you leave the Portland area, especially during peak commuting hours.
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 42.1 miles from City of Portland, ME, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.3 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 19 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.1 miles or 1h 10m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benton, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving City of Portland, 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 City of Portland, ME
This is one driving day of about 84.1 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from City of Portland, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 295 for about 46.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42.1 miles from City of Portland, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 81.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Seashore Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Seashore Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Welch Street
At end of road, turn left onto Welch Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
5 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
I 295; US 1
Merge onto I 295; US 1
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
80.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward ME 139: Fairfield, Benton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 132
Toward ME 139: Fairfield, Benton
6
81.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m in
|
Lawrence Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Lawrence Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.54 one way
$27.08 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $14.90 | $29.79 |
| premium | $4.86 | $16.10 | $32.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.57 | $37.14 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.76
Maine Turnpike
(29.3 mi)
$1.76
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
$14
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.2 | 0 | $8.83 | $4.04 |
| Efficient EV | 21 | 0 | $7.36 | $3.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.6 | 0 | $11.77 | $5.38 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Benton, ME
Night in Benton on Saturday
Local time
11:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Brunswick, ME
42 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
8 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 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.
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 43.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 90% of the journey utilizing major highways like I 295 and the Maine Turnpike. You'll experience a consistent, high-speed environment for most of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 46.3 miles on I 295, allowing for a steady pace. Expect a smooth ride with minimal deviations from the main thoroughfares, making it efficient for covering distance quickly.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.3 mi on I 295.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and Maine Turnpike. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Seashore Avenue.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 1m 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: at 0.6 miles (Seashore Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (Welch Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 5 miles (I 295; US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 1m. Total distance: 84.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.3 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.76 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, 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 0.6 miles (Seashore Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (Welch Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 5 miles (I 295; US 1): 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 Benton, 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 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
Continue From Benton, ME
More trips to Benton, ME
Explore more options from City of Portland, ME or browse trips ending in Benton, ME.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse ME road trips.