Fort Fairfield to South Portland Gardens is 294.9 miles and takes about 5h 38m via I 95 and I 295, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Maine, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Given its mostly highway profile and single-day recommendation, expect a straightforward drive focused on covering ground efficiently. It's a practical option for getting from one part of the state to another without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
147.5 miles from Fort Fairfield, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
198.2 mi
3h 26m
I 295
50.2 mi
58m
Houlton Road
12 mi
17m
Route 1
9.1 mi
14m
Main Road
6.7 mi
10m
North Road
5.8 mi
8m
Fort Road
5.8 mi
8m
North Street
3.1 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 198.2 mi, about 3h 26m
Traffic on I-295
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 39 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,557 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,064
Quietest
2 AM
~87 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
29.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Fort Fairfield, ME and South Portland Gardens, ME.
1
Start on Elm Street
53 ft·6 sec·Elm Street
2
Turn left onto ME 161
413 ft·9 sec·Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 1A; 167
1.0 mi·1 min·Presque Isle Street
4
Continue on US 1A
12 mi·17 min·Houlton Road
5
Continue on US 1A
5.8 mi·8 min·Fort Road
6
Continue on US 1A
0.1 mi·9 sec·Bridge Street
7
Continue on US 1A
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
8
Continue on US 1
0.3 mi·40 sec·Military Road
9
Continue on US 1
2.7 mi·4 min·Route 1
10
Continue on US 1
6.7 mi·10 min·Main Road
11
Continue on US 1
6.4 mi·10 min·Route 1
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Continue on US 1
0.7 mi·54 sec·US Highway 1
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Continue on US 1
5.8 mi·8 min·North Road
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 1
3.1 mi·5 min·North Street
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
16
Merge onto I 95
198 mi·3 hr 26 min·I 95
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
50 mi·58 min·I 295
Exit 103Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, BrunswickUse the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 3Toward ME 9: Jetport
19
Keep slight right at fork
489 ft·15 sec
Exit 3Toward ME 9: Jetport
20
Turn straight onto ME 9
0.1 mi·21 sec·Westbrook Street
21
Turn slight right
224 ft·8 sec
22
Turn straight onto Westbrook Street
0.1 mi·20 sec·Westbrook Street
23
Turn left onto Devereaux Circle
0.2 mi·50 sec·Devereaux Circle
24
Arrive at destination
Devereaux Circle
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5h 38m drive, consider leaving Fort Fairfield in the morning to give yourself ample daylight. With a recommended one-day trip, you can easily complete this in a single go without needing an overnight stay. There's one recommended stop, so plan to stretch your legs and refuel at a convenient point along I 95. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 198.2-mile stretch on I 95, to avoid any unexpected delays in more rural sections.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 147.5 miles from Fort Fairfield, ME, or about 2h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 198.2 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 65 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147.5 miles or 2h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Portland Gardens, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fort Fairfield, 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 Fort Fairfield, ME
This is one driving day of about 294.9 miles and 5h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Fort Fairfield, 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 95 for about 198.2 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 294.3 — 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 161 / Main Street
Turn left onto ME 161 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
45.4 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
9
243.9 mi into trip|~4h 37m 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...
5
294.1 mi into trip|~5h 36m in
Take the exit toward ME 9: Jetport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 3
Toward ME 9: Jetport
7
294.3 mi into trip|~5h 36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward ME 9: Jetport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 3
Toward ME 9: Jetport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.28 one way
$92.56 round trip
$3.99/gal25.4 MPG avg103 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$51.97
$103.93
premium
$4.81
$55.87
$111.74
diesel
$4.80
$55.68
$111.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.5
1
$30.96
$14.16
Efficient EV
73.7
0
$25.80
$11.80
EV Truck/SUV
118
1
$41.29
$18.87
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Fort Fairfield, ME
Night
in Fort Fairfield on Saturday
Local time
9:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Clear
SW 3 to 12 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 2:06AM EDT until July 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Caribou ME
Destination
South Portland Gardens, ME
Night
in South Portland Gardens on Saturday
Local time
9:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 0 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 2:06AM EDT until July 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Caribou ME
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
7 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
5h 38m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
National Monument
Spread across a wild landscape offering spectacular views of Katahdin, Katahdin Woods and Waters invites discovery of its rivers, streams, woods, flora, fauna, geology, and the night skies that have a...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 81.4
Park Closure: Katahdin Overlook Construction Closure
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 254.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 88% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on interstates. The longest continuous stretch on I 95 covers 198.2 miles. You'll transition from I 95 to I 295, and eventually to Houlton Road as you approach your destination. Expect a high volume of exits and merging traffic as you get closer to the South Portland area.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 198.2 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 295. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near ME 161 / Main Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 294.9 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (ME 161 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 45.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 243.9 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
675 ft57 ft
Total Climb
539 ft
Total Descent
865 ft
Highest Point
675 ft
~63.2 mi in
Elevation Range
618 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 Fort Fairfield, ME to South Portland Gardens, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Brunswick along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 38m. Total distance: 294.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 198.2 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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.
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. There are 10 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: near the start (ME 161 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 45.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 243.9 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and Frances Perkins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at South Portland Gardens, ME before the return drive.
