Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
53.4 mi
86 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hallowell, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Portland, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Hallowell to Portland is 53.4 miles and takes about 1h 6m via I 295, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maine, connecting two points in the Northeast region. With a high percentage of highway driving, you'll find this is a straightforward and efficient way to get from Hallowell to Portland. It’s a short enough drive that you can easily complete it in a single day without feeling rushed.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 295 | 42.7 mi | 48m |
| US 201 | 5.2 mi | 8m |
| Maine Avenue | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Water Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| US 1A | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Cumberland Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Preble Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Central Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hallowell, ME and Portland, ME.
Start on Central Street
Turn right onto US 201; ME 27
Continue on US 201; ME 27
Turn slight right onto US 201
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 295
Take the exit onto US 1A
Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue
Turn left onto Preble Street
Turn left onto Congress Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 26.7 miles from Hallowell, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.5 and 53.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Merge onto I 295
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto US 1A toward US 1A
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Preble Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Congress Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$8.60 one way
$17.19 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $9.46 | $18.92 |
| premium | $4.86 | $10.23 | $20.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.79 | $23.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16 | 0 | $5.61 | $2.56 |
| Efficient EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.67 | $2.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.48 | $3.42 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Hallowell on Sunday
Local time
7:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Patchy Fog
Destination
Morning in Portland on Sunday
Local time
7:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
52°F
Freeport, ME
27 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive is primarily on highways, with 91% of the route utilizing them. You'll spend most of your time on I 295, including a significant stretch of 42.7 miles. Expect to transition to surface roads like Maine Avenue as you approach your destination. Given the highway prevalence, anticipate the typical experience of merging and exiting traffic common to interstate travel.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and US 201. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 9.5 miles in near I 295.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 6m 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: at 9.5 miles (I 295): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.2 miles (US 1A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.9 miles (Cumberland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 53.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Straightforward navigation.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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