Origin
City of Portland, ME
Late night in City of Portland on Thursday
Local time
1:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from City of Portland, ME to Swanville, ME
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 41m
Distance
113.5 mi
183 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 31m
★
6 AM
2h 42m
8 AM
3h 3m
10 AM
2h 49m
12 PM
2h 47m
3 PM
2h 50m
5 PM
3h 2m
8 PM
2h 35m
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
Swanville, ME
Tito Zzzz
Trip Overview
Portland, ME to Swanville, ME is 113.5 miles and takes about 2h 41m via I 295 and Route 3, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maine, moving from the Northeast region of Portland to the Northeast region of Swanville. Expect a drive that's mostly on highways, making for efficient travel. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your departure time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
56.8 miles from City of Portland, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 295 | 46.3 mi | 52m |
| Route 3 | 17.6 mi | 21m |
| Maine Turnpike | 9.8 mi | 10m |
| North Belfast Avenue | 8.1 mi | 11m |
| Swan Lake Avenue | 6.4 mi | 11m |
| Augusta Road | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| Belmont Avenue | 4 mi | 4m |
| Acadia Highway | 4 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 46.3 mi, about 52m
Traffic on I-295
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 62 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,375 veh/hr typical · worst 2,926
Quietest
2 AM
~84 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
28.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Portland, ME and Swanville, 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
9.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Maine Turnpike
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 113
Toward ME 3: Augusta, Belfast
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
16
Merge onto ME 3
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Augusta Bypass
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
8.1 mi
·
11 min
·
North Belfast Avenue
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Belfast Road
19
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Route 3
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on ME 3
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Acadia Highway
21
Continue on ME 3
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Belfast Augusta Road West
22
Continue on ME 3
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Augusta Road
23
Continue on ME 3
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Belmont Avenue
24
Take the exit onto ME 3
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
ME 3
25
Merge onto US 1; ME 3
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Route 1
26
Continue on US 1; ME 3
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Searsport Avenue
27
Turn left onto ME 141
6.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Swan Lake Avenue
Use the left lane.
28
Turn right onto Curtis Road
168 ft
·
4 sec
·
Curtis Road
29
Arrive at destination
Curtis Road
Trip Plan
You can easily complete this 113.5-mile drive in a single day, so leaving anytime in the morning should work well. Given the 2h 41m estimated drive time, you can afford to take your time. Plan for one stop to break up the 46.3-mile stretch on I 295, or simply wait until you're closer to Route 3. The fuel cost is estimated at $19, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before departing Portland, as options may be less frequent once you're on Route 3.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 56.8 miles from City of Portland, ME, or about 1h 26m 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 25 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.8 miles or 1h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Swanville, 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 113.5 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from City of Portland, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
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
57 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 56.8 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 61.3 — 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
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
61 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward ME 3: Augusta, Belfast
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 113
Toward ME 3: Augusta, Belfast
5
61.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
61.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
|
ME 3 / Augusta Bypass
Merge onto ME 3 / Augusta Bypass
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.91 one way
$37.81 round trip
$4.23/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.70 | $20.98 | $41.96 |
| premium | $5.07 | $22.64 | $45.27 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $25.02 | $50.04 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.59
Maine Turnpike
(9.8 mi)
$0.59
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
$19
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.1 | 0 | $11.92 | $5.45 |
| Efficient EV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.93 | $4.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.4 | 0 | $15.89 | $7.26 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Destination
Swanville, ME
Late night in Swanville on Thursday
Local time
1:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Augusta, ME
57 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
9 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 41m 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 43.1
Park Closure: For Current Visitor Information
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
With 66% of this trip on highways, you'll experience a good amount of high-speed cruising. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 46.3 miles on I 295. The highway portion will likely end around the time you transition to Route 3, where speeds will decrease and exits may become more frequent. You'll notice the shift from faster interstate travel to more local road conditions as you approach your destination.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 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?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and Route 3. 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 Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 113.5 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 5 miles (I 295; US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 61 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
523 ft
20 ft
Total Climb
659 ft
Total Descent
476 ft
Highest Point
523 ft
~89.2 mi in
Elevation Range
504 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Swanville, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Belfast along the way.
Belfast
61 mi in
|
~1h 31m
About the Cities
Arriving in Swanville, ME
Full guide →Swanville is in Waldo County, Maine.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 41m. Total distance: 113.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 $0.59 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 Swanville, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 5 miles (I 295; US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 61 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Swanville, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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