If you are looking for a straightforward connection between Fairfield and Portland, this 81.9-mile trip is an ideal candidate for a quick day excursion. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 56 minutes on the road, primarily utilizing I-95 and I-295. Because the duration is quite manageable, you can easily complete this journey in a single day without needing to book an overnight stay. Budgeting approximately $13 for fuel makes this a budget-friendly way to move through Maine's Northeast corridor. The route is highly efficient, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination rather than behind the wheel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41 miles from Fairfield, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
46.5 mi
52m
I 95
29.1 mi
31m
Portland - Peaks Island
2.5 mi
20m
US 1A
1.1 mi
2m
Western Avenue
0.9 mi
2m
Seashore Avenue
0.8 mi
2m
High Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Welch Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 46.5 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, ME and City of Portland, ME.
1
Start on Lawrence Avenue
164 ft·9 sec·Lawrence Avenue
2
Turn right onto High Street
0.2 mi·57 sec·High Street
3
Turn left onto ME 139
0.9 mi·2 min·Western Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
5
Merge onto I 95
29 mi·31 min·I 95
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
46 mi·52 min·I 295
Exit 103Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, BrunswickUse the straight lane.
7
Take the exit onto US 1A
1.1 mi·2 min·US 1A
Exit 7Toward US 1AUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on Maine State Pier
0.1 mi·29 sec·Maine State Pier
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn slight right
187 ft·13 sec
10
Turn straight onto Portland - Peaks Island
2.5 mi·20 min·Portland - Peaks Island
11
Continue
213 ft·15 sec
12
Continue on Welch Street
0.2 mi·49 sec·Welch Street
13
Turn right onto Oakland Avenue
0.1 mi·26 sec·Oakland Avenue
14
Turn slight left onto Whitehead Street
351 ft·15 sec·Whitehead Street
15
Continue on Seashore Avenue
0.2 mi·46 sec·Seashore Avenue
16
Continue on Seashore Avenue
0.6 mi·2 min·Seashore Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Seashore Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip with no mandatory stops, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. Keep in mind that you will be transitioning onto the Portland-Peaks Island road segment as you reach your final destination. Because the longest stretch of the drive is nearly 47 miles, ensure your tank is ready for the duration before you merge onto the highway. Aim to leave during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the interstate sections. Having that $13 fuel budget prepared beforehand will keep your transit smooth and stress-free.
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 41 miles from Fairfield, ME, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.5 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41 miles or 47m 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 20m
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 Fairfield, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fairfield, ME
This is one driving day of about 81.9 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Fairfield, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 295 for about 46.5 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 81 — 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|High Street
Turn right onto High Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|ME 139 / Western Avenue
Turn left onto ME 139 / Western Avenue
Navigation decision point
9
30.4 mi into trip|~35m in|I 295
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Exit 103
Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Bru...
7
76.9 mi into trip|~1h 28m 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
81 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|Oakland Avenue
Turn right onto Oakland Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.18 one way
$26.37 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$14.51
$29.01
premium
$4.86
$15.68
$31.37
diesel
$5.61
$18.08
$36.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.7 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
24.6
0
$8.60
$3.93
Efficient EV
20.5
0
$7.17
$3.28
EV Truck/SUV
32.8
0
$11.47
$5.24
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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Fairfield, ME
Late night
in Fairfield on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
41 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
13 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 56m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the journey spent on major interstates. You will settle into a steady rhythm on the pavement, as the drive features a significant 46.5-mile stretch along I-295. Expect a consistent, fast-paced experience rather than a winding backroad adventure. Since the route relies heavily on major arteries, the personality of the drive remains predictable and uniform from start to finish. It is a functional, no-nonsense path designed to get you from Central Maine to the coast as quickly as possible.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.5 mi on I 295.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and I 95. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near High Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 56m drive. You will face about 7 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 (High Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (ME 139 / Western Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 30.4 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
356 ft21 ft
Total Climb
470 ft
Total Descent
589 ft
Highest Point
356 ft
~5.9 mi in
Elevation Range
336 ft
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 Fairfield, ME to City of Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Brunswick along the way.
Brunswick
30.4 mi in|~35m|via I 295
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 81.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 46.5 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 (High Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (ME 139 / Western Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 30.4 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at City of Portland, ME before heading back.
