Origin
Hallowell, ME
Morning in Hallowell on Sunday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hallowell, ME to South 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
1h 10m
Distance
56.2 mi
90 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hallowell, ME
Wikimedia Commons
South Portland, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Hallowell to South Portland is 56.2 miles and takes about 1h 10m via I 295, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, quick drive entirely within Maine, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its short duration, it's ideal for a single-day trip, allowing you to focus on your destination. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making it an efficient way to cover the distance.
Main Roads
| 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 |
| Casco Bay Bridge | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| State Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Broadway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Marginal Way | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 42.7 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hallowell, ME and South Portland, ME.
1
Start on Central Street
189 ft
·
9 sec
·
Central Street
2
Turn right onto US 201; ME 27
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Water Street
3
Continue on US 201; ME 27
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Maine Avenue
4
Turn slight right onto US 201
5.2 mi
·
8 min
·
US 201
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
6
Merge onto I 295
43 mi
·
48 min
·
I 295
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit onto US 1A
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
US 1A
Exit 7
Toward US 1A
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto Marginal Way
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Marginal Way
Use the right lane.
9
Continue on State Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
10
Continue on ME 77
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Casco Bay Bridge
11
Continue on ME 77
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway
12
Turn sharp right onto Pine Street
60 ft
·
2 sec
·
Pine Street
13
Arrive at destination
Pine Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.1 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 56.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 201; ME 27 / Water Street
Turn right onto US 201; ME 27 / Water Street
Navigation decision point
5
9.5 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
I 295
Merge onto I 295
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
52.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m 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
52.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
Marginal Way
Turn right onto Marginal Way
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
56.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
Pine Street
Turn sharp right onto Pine Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.05 one way
$18.09 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $9.95 | $19.91 |
| premium | $4.86 | $10.76 | $21.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.41 | $24.82 |
Estimated Tolls: $7.00
Bay Bridge
$7.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$7
Total
$16
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.90 | $2.70 |
| Efficient EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.92 | $2.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.87 | $3.60 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
South Portland, ME
Morning in South Portland on Sunday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
52°F
Freeport, ME
28 mi in
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Road read
1h 10m 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?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 86% of the journey taking place on major roadways like I 295 and US 201. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 42.7 miles on I 295, offering a consistent pace. While Maine Avenue provides a brief introduction and conclusion, the bulk of your travel will be on faster-paced, limited-access highways, making for a direct and uncomplicated transit.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.7 mi on I 295.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 early in the drive near US 201; ME 27 / Water Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 10m drive. You will face about 6 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 (US 201; ME 27 / Water Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 56.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 42.7 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $7.00 in tolls one way, starting with Bay Bridge. 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.
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 (US 201; ME 27 / Water Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at South 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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