Origin
City of Portland, ME
Late night in City of Portland on Sunday
Local time
12:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 32m
Distance
60.7 mi
98 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
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
Manchester, ME
Mylo Kaye
This straightforward 60.7-mile drive from Portland, ME, to Manchester, ME, can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 32 minutes. It's a perfect day trip, requiring no overnight stays. The route is heavily focused on highway travel, with 87% of the journey on major interstates and turnpikes, making it an efficient option for getting from point A to point B within the Northeast region. Your estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $10, offering a budget-friendly way to travel between these two Maine locations. Given its short duration and highway-centric profile, this drive is best suited for those prioritizing speed and directness.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
30.4 miles from City of Portland, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 295 | 46.3 mi | 52m |
| Maine Turnpike | 6.3 mi | 6m |
| Western Avenue | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Portland - Peaks Island | 2.5 mi | 20m |
| Seashore Avenue | 0.8 mi | 3m |
| Franklin Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| US 1A | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Welch Street | 0.2 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between City of Portland, ME and Manchester, ME.
Start on Seashore Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Seashore Avenue
Continue on Whitehead Street
Continue on Oakland Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Welch Street
Continue on Portland - Peaks Island
Continue
Turn right onto Maine State Pier
Continue on Maine State Pier
Continue on US 1A
Take the ramp onto US 1A
Merge onto I 295; US 1
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 100
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Given that this drive is just 60.7 miles and takes only about 1 hour and 32 minutes, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Portland in the morning or early afternoon will keep you on the main highways for the bulk of the journey, minimizing potential delays. With no specific stops recommended, you can easily complete the drive without needing to plan for breaks. Keep in mind the $10 fuel cost and ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing, as the longest stretch is a significant 46.3 miles on I-295. A practical tip for this route: familiarize yourself with the I-295 to Maine Turnpike transition, as it's a key point for maintaining momentum.
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.
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 13 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.4 miles or 56m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manchester, ME than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving City of Portland, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from City of Portland, ME
This is one driving day of about 60.7 miles and 1h 32m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 30.4 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 57.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto Seashore Avenue
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto Welch Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Merge onto I 295; US 1
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 202, ME 11, ME 17, ME 100: Augusta, Winthrop
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward US 202, ME 11, ME 17, ME 100: Winthrop
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$9.77 one way
$19.54 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $10.75 | $21.50 |
| premium | $4.86 | $11.62 | $23.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.40 | $26.80 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.38
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
$10
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.37 | $2.91 |
| Efficient EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.31 | $2.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.50 | $3.88 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Late night in City of Portland on Sunday
Local time
12:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Manchester on Sunday
Local time
12:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
52°F
Freeport, ME
30 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 60.7-mile trip, with 87% of the route utilizing major roadways like I-295 and the Maine Turnpike. This means you'll encounter mostly high-speed travel and minimal traffic lights for extended periods. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 46.3 miles on I-295, providing a consistent pace. While primarily interstate, the final leg on Western Avenue may offer a slight shift in scenery as you approach your destination. Overall, the character of this drive is efficient and direct, prioritizing mileage over leisurely exploration.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and Maine Turnpike. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Seashore Avenue.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.7 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: 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from City of Portland, ME to Manchester, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Winthrop along the way.
Winthrop
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 60.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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