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Trip from Farmington, ME to City of Portland, 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 9m

Distance

84.2 mi

135 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
2h 1m ★
6 AM
2h 10m
8 AM
2h 28m
10 AM
2h 16m
12 PM
2h 14m
3 PM
2h 17m
5 PM
2h 27m
8 PM
2h 4m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Farmington, ME, ME

Farmington, ME

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown City of Portland, ME, ME

City of Portland, ME

Brett Sayles

Trip Overview

This 84.2-mile drive from Farmington, ME, to the City of Portland, ME, is a straightforward journey that can easily be accomplished in about 2 hours and 9 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, it's an economical option for a single-day trip, so you won't need to worry about finding overnight accommodations. The route primarily utilizes the Maine Turnpike, Auburn Road, and Federal Road, offering a mixed driving experience. Given its manageable distance and duration, this trip is ideal for a single day, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination. Traveling within the Northeast region from start to finish, you'll find this route efficient for reaching Portland.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

42.1 miles from Farmington, ME

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Maine Turnpike 22.3 mi 23m
Auburn Road 12.7 mi 14m
Federal Road 9.5 mi 10m
Main Street 8.7 mi 11m
US Route 2 East 4.2 mi 6m
Washington Street 4.1 mi 5m
Wilton Road 3.1 mi 6m
Center Street 2.9 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Maine Turnpike — 22.3 mi, about 23m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Farmington, ME and City of Portland, ME.

1

Start on ME 43

26 ft · 8 sec · Broadway
2

Turn left onto ME 4; ME 27; ME 43

0.7 mi · 2 min · Main Street
3

Merge onto US 2; ME 4; ME 43

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Bridge Street
4

Turn straight onto US 2; ME 4

3.1 mi · 6 min · Wilton Road
Use the straight lane.
5

Continue on US 2; ME 4

4.2 mi · 6 min · US Route 2 East
6

Continue on US 2; ME 4

0.2 mi · 25 sec · United States Highway 2
7

Keep slight left at fork onto ME 4

0.3 mi · 36 sec · Maine Route 4 Southbound
8

Merge onto ME 4

8.0 mi · 9 min · Main Street
9

Turn right onto ME 4

510 ft · 6 sec · Bridge Street
10

Continue on ME 4

9.5 mi · 10 min · Federal Road
11

Continue on ME 4

13 mi · 14 min · Auburn Road
12

Continue on ME 4

2.9 mi · 3 min · Turner Road
13

Continue on ME 4

2.9 mi · 3 min · Center Street
14

Keep slight right at fork onto ME 4

0.4 mi · 30 sec · Union Street Bypass
Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Continue on US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100

0.7 mi · 50 sec · Minot Avenue
16

Turn slight left onto US 202; ME 4; ME 100

4.1 mi · 5 min · Washington Street
17

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 18 sec
18

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
19

Merge onto I 95

7.7 mi · 8 min · Maine Turnpike
20

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95

15 mi · 15 min · Maine Turnpike
21

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 53 Toward ME 26, ME 100: West Falmouth Use the slight right lane.
22

Keep slight right at fork

151 ft · 3 sec
23

Turn straight onto ME 26; ME 100

0.5 mi · 1 min · Gray Road
24

Continue on ME 26; ME 100

1.8 mi · 4 min · Auburn Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
25

Turn right onto ME 100

0.8 mi · 1 min · Allen Avenue
26

Turn left onto US 302; ME 100

2.4 mi · 3 min · Forest Avenue
27

Turn left onto Marginal Way

0.5 mi · 1 min · Marginal Way
28

Turn right onto US 1A

0.7 mi · 1 min · Franklin Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
29

Continue on Maine State Pier

0.1 mi · 29 sec · Maine State Pier
Use the straight lane.
30

Turn slight right

187 ft · 13 sec
31

Turn straight onto Portland - Peaks Island

2.5 mi · 20 min · Portland - Peaks Island
32

Continue

213 ft · 15 sec
33

Continue on Welch Street

0.2 mi · 49 sec · Welch Street
34

Turn right onto Oakland Avenue

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Oakland Avenue
35

Turn slight left onto Whitehead Street

351 ft · 15 sec · Whitehead Street
36

Continue on Seashore Avenue

0.2 mi · 46 sec · Seashore Avenue
37

Continue on Seashore Avenue

0.6 mi · 2 min · Seashore Avenue
38

Arrive at destination

Seashore Avenue

Trip Plan

For this relatively short 84.2-mile trip, flexibility is key. Consider leaving Farmington earlier in the morning to avoid potential traffic congestion as you get closer to Portland. With a duration of just over 2 hours, there's no need to break this drive up, but plan for a quick stop if needed, especially as you transition to more urban environments. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; while the estimated cost is only $14, knowing where to find services is always helpful. A specific tip for this route is to be aware of the varying speed limits once you leave the Maine Turnpike, as Auburn Road and Federal Road will have more frequent changes.

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 Farmington, ME, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.3 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 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 42.1 miles or 54m 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 28m

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 Farmington, 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 Farmington, ME

This is one driving day of about 84.2 miles and 2h 9m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Farmington, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Maine Turnpike for about 22.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lewiston, ME

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

Livermore Falls, ME

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lewiston, ME

Meal break

The midpoint is around 42.1 miles from Farmington, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

SABAIDEE THAI

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Farmington, Maine

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $20 to $30

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12075787331

Visit website

Thatcher's Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Auburn, Maine

1.3 mi

La Fleurs Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Jay, Maine

2.4 mi

SABAIDEE THAI

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $20 to $30

Farmington, Maine

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12075787331

Visit website

Thatcher's Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 42.1

Auburn, Maine

Hours: 11 am–7 pm

+12077822135

Visit website

La Fleurs Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 12

Jay, Maine

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+12078972117

Visit website

Orchid Lewiston

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour $20 to $30 mile 42.1

Lewiston, Maine

Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm

+12077530389

Visit website

Governor's Restaurant & Bakery

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 48.1

Lewiston, Maine

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+12077530173

Visit website

The Heritage Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 48.1

Lewiston, Maine

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

+12075137005

The Escape Room

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 78.1

Portland, Maine

Hours: 12–8:15 pm

+12076193775

Visit website

Maine Day Ventures/ formerly Maine Foodie Tours

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 78.1

Portland, Maine

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+12072337485

Visit website

Portland Observatory

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 78.1

Portland, Maine

+12072531800

Visit website

Maine Historical Society and the Wadsworth-Longfellow House

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 78.1

Portland, Maine

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+12077741822

Visit website

Old Port Historic Tours

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 78.1

Portland, Maine

Hours: 8:30 am–5:30 pm

+12078070009

Visit website

Kineowatha Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 6

Wilton, Maine

Hours: 8 am–8:30 pm

+12076454825

Visit website

Western Maine Play Museum

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 6

Wilton, Maine

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+12076453555

Visit website

Maine Military Museum & Learning Center

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 78.1

South Portland, Maine

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+12077678227

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 83.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | ME 4; ME 27; ME 43 / Main Street

Turn left onto ME 4; ME 27; ME 43 / Main Street

Navigation decision point

6
44.8 mi into trip | ~58m in | ME 4 / Union Street Bypass

Keep slight right at fork onto ME 4 / Union Street Bypass

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
8
72.9 mi into trip | ~1h 30m in

Take the exit toward ME 26, ME 100: West Falmouth

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 53 Toward ME 26, ME 100: West Falmouth
5
79.5 mi into trip | ~1h 42m in | US 1A / Franklin Street

Turn right onto US 1A / Franklin Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
83.2 mi into trip | ~2h 6m in | Oakland Avenue

Turn right onto Oakland Avenue

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.55 one way

$27.11 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $14.91 $29.83
premium $4.86 $16.12 $32.25
diesel $5.61 $18.59 $37.18

Estimated Tolls: $1.33

Maine Turnpike (22.3 mi) $1.33

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

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 29.5 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 25.3 0 $8.84 $4.04
Efficient EV 21.1 0 $7.37 $3.37
EV Truck/SUV 33.7 0 $11.79 $5.39

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 15, 2026

Origin

Farmington, ME

Late night in Farmington on Sunday

Local time

12:58 AM

EDT

Current temp

33°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

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

10 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 9m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a drive with 32% highway share, meaning you'll experience a blend of faster-paced travel and more local road conditions. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22.3 miles on the Maine Turnpike, offering a period of consistent speed. As you progress, the road character shifts, moving from the efficiency of the turnpike to more varied surface streets as you approach your destination. This mixed drive profile means you'll need to adjust your driving style, keeping an eye on changing speed limits and traffic patterns.

32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.3 mi on Maine Turnpike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near ME 4; ME 27; ME 43 / Main Street.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 18 significant decision points across 84.2 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: near the start (ME 4; ME 27; ME 43 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 44.8 miles (ME 4 / Union Street Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 84.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (32%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 22.3 miles on Maine Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.33 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 City of Portland, 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. 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: near the start (ME 4; ME 27; ME 43 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 44.8 miles (ME 4 / Union Street Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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