City of Portland, ME to Strong, ME is 93.9 miles and takes about 2h 27m via Maine Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Maine, starting in the Northeast region and ending in the same region. Expect a mix of highway and surface roads as you head inland. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion. It's a straightforward route for those looking to get from the coast to a more inland destination without a significant time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47 miles from City of Portland, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Maine Turnpike
22.2 mi
23m
Auburn Road
12.7 mi
14m
Federal Road
9.5 mi
10m
Main Street
8.3 mi
9m
Farmington Road
5.3 mi
7m
Washington Street
4.2 mi
6m
US Route 2 East
4.2 mi
6m
Town Farm Road
3.2 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Maine Turnpike
— 22.2 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Portland, ME and Strong, 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
Turn left onto Marginal Way
0.5 mi·1 min·Marginal Way
12
Turn right onto ME 100
2.4 mi·3 min·Forest Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
200 ft·9 sec
14
Turn slight right onto ME 100
0.8 mi·1 min·Allen Avenue
15
Turn left onto ME 26; ME 100
262 ft·7 sec·Washington Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on ME 26; ME 100
1.7 mi·4 min·Auburn Street
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on ME 26; ME 100
0.6 mi·1 min·Gray Road
18
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·41 sec
Use the left lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 95 North: Lewiston, Augusta
20
Merge onto I 95
14 mi·15 min·Maine Turnpike
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
8.1 mi·8 min·Maine Turnpike
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward US 202, ME 4, ME 100: Auburn
23
At end of road, turn left onto US 202; ME 4
4.2 mi·6 min·Washington Street
24
Merge onto US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
0.5 mi·38 sec·Minot Avenue
25
Continue on ME 4
0.4 mi·30 sec·Union Street Bypass
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Merge onto ME 4
2.9 mi·3 min·Center Street
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on ME 4
2.9 mi·3 min·Turner Road
28
Continue on ME 4
13 mi·14 min·Auburn Road
29
Continue on ME 4
9.5 mi·10 min·Federal Road
30
Continue on ME 4
510 ft·11 sec·Bridge Street
31
At end of road, turn left onto ME 4; ME 17
8.3 mi·9 min·Main Street
32
Merge onto US 2; ME 4
0.3 mi·19 sec·United States Highway 2
33
Continue on US 2; ME 4
4.2 mi·6 min·US Route 2 East
34
Continue on US 2; ME 4
3.0 mi·5 min·Wilton Road
35
Turn left onto Oakes Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·Oakes Street
36
Continue on Town Farm Road
3.2 mi·7 min·Town Farm Road
37
At end of road, turn left onto ME 4
2.3 mi·3 min·Fairbanks Road
38
Continue on ME 4
5.3 mi·7 min·Farmington Road
39
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.4 mi·38 sec·South Main Street
40
Turn straight onto Lambert Hill Road
124 ft·2 sec·Lambert Hill Road
41
Arrive at destination
Lambert Hill Road
Trip Plan
For this 93.9-mile drive, leaving Portland in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. With a total drive time of around 2 hours and 27 minutes, you likely won't need many stops, but it's good to take advantage of the flexibility this shorter trip offers. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $15, and while there are stretches on the Maine Turnpike, you'll be on surface roads for a significant portion, so plan for potential stops at local stations. A good point to consider a brief break might be around the halfway mark, as you transition off the main highway.
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 47 miles from City of Portland, ME, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.2 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 21 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47 miles or 1h 21m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Strong, 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 93.9 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 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 Maine Turnpike for about 22.2 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 33.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
8.4 mi into trip|~33m in|ME 26; ME 100 / Washington Avenue
Turn left onto ME 26; ME 100 / Washington Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
10.7 mi into trip|~38m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
10.9 mi into trip|~39m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 North: Lewiston, Augusta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 North: Lewiston, Augusta
5
33.3 mi into trip|~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward US 202, ME 4, ME 100: Auburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 202, ME 4, ME 100: Auburn
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.12 one way
$30.23 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$16.63
$33.26
premium
$4.86
$17.98
$35.96
diesel
$5.61
$20.73
$41.46
Estimated Tolls: $1.34
Maine Turnpike
(22.2 mi)$1.34
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
$15
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.2
0
$9.86
$4.51
Efficient EV
23.5
0
$8.22
$3.76
EV Truck/SUV
37.6
0
$13.15
$6.01
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Dec 19, 2023
Origin
City of Portland, ME
Late night
in City of Portland on Tuesday
Local time
5:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Strong, ME
Late night
in Strong on Tuesday
Local time
5:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
12 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 27m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with highway driving accounting for 28% of the total distance. You'll experience a longest stretch of 22.2 miles on the Maine Turnpike before transitioning to surface streets. Expect a more rural feel once you leave the main highway, with less frequent exits and more local traffic. The shift from the Turnpike to Auburn Road will mark the change from faster highway speeds to more typical town and country driving.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.2 mi on Maine Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near Welch Street.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 93.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (Welch Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 8.4 miles (ME 26; ME 100 / Washington Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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 City of Portland, ME to Strong, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Augusta along the way.
Augusta
10.9 mi in|~39m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 27m. Total distance: 93.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.2 miles on Maine Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.34 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 — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Strong, ME before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. There are 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 1 miles (Welch Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 8.4 miles (ME 26; ME 100 / Washington Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Strong, ME before heading back.
