This 81.7-mile drive from New Sharon to Portland, Maine, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 42 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at around $13, it's an economical option for a day trip. The route primarily utilizes major highways, making it a practical choice for getting between these two points in the Northeast. Given its short duration and focused highway profile, it’s perfectly suited for a single day without the need for an overnight stay. You'll find this journey efficient and direct, designed for getting you to your destination without significant detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.8 miles from New Sharon, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
46.5 mi
52m
Augusta Road
14.5 mi
21m
I 95
8.8 mi
9m
Mile Hill Road
4.4 mi
6m
Civic Center Drive
3.1 mi
4m
Belgrade Road
2.1 mi
2m
Mercer Road
0.8 mi
<1m
US 1A
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 46.5 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Sharon, ME and Portland, ME.
1
Start on US 2; ME 27
94 ft·1 sec·Farmington Falls Road
2
Continue on US 2; ME 27; ME 134
0.8 mi·54 sec·Mercer Road
3
Turn right onto ME 27
4.4 mi·6 min·Mile Hill Road
4
Continue on ME 27
15 mi·21 min·Augusta Road
5
Continue on ME 8; ME 11; ME 27
2.1 mi·2 min·Belgrade Road
6
Continue on ME 8; ME 11; ME 27
3.1 mi·4 min·Civic Center Drive
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
8
Merge onto I 95
8.8 mi·9 min·I 95
9
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.
10
Take the exit onto US 1A
0.7 mi·1 min·US 1A
Exit 7Toward US 1AUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue
0.4 mi·50 sec·Cumberland Avenue
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn left onto Preble Street
0.1 mi·19 sec·Preble Street
13
Turn left onto Congress Street
156 ft·5 sec·Congress Street
14
Arrive at destination
Congress Street
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 1 hour and 42-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility. Consider an early morning departure to avoid any potential commuter traffic as you approach Portland. While there are no mandated stops on this 81.7-mile route, planning for a brief break around the halfway mark, perhaps after the longest stretch on I-295, can help you stay refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially if you're starting with less than a full tank, as the estimated fuel cost of $13 suggests a direct journey with limited opportunities for cheaper gas stations off the main highway.
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 40.8 miles from New Sharon, ME, or about 54m 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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.8 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Portland, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving New Sharon, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from New Sharon, ME
This is one driving day of about 81.7 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from New Sharon, 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 34 and 81.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
34 mi into trip|~46m 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
80.4 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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
81.2 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|Cumberland Avenue
Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
81.5 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|Preble Street
Turn left onto Preble Street
Navigation decision point
5
81.6 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|Congress Street
Turn left onto Congress Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.15 one way
$26.30 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$14.47
$28.94
premium
$4.86
$15.65
$31.29
diesel
$5.61
$18.04
$36.08
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: 28.6 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
24.5
0
$8.58
$3.92
Efficient EV
20.4
0
$7.15
$3.27
EV Truck/SUV
32.7
0
$11.44
$5.23
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
New Sharon, ME
Morning
in New Sharon on Sunday
Local time
6:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Portland, ME
Morning
in Portland on Sunday
Local time
6:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°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
17 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
1h 42m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Frances Perkins National Monument
National Monument
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 45.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 69% of the journey on major interstates like I-295 and I-95. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 46.5 miles on I-295, offering a consistent pace. While the route is largely highway-centric, expect some segments on Augusta Road as well. This character means you'll likely encounter higher speeds and less variation in scenery for much of the trip, making it a functional route for covering distance efficiently.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 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 Augusta Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 34 miles in near I 295.
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 42m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 34 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.4 miles (US 1A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.2 miles (Cumberland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
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 New Sharon, ME to Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Brunswick along the way.
Brunswick
34 mi in|~46m|via I 295
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 81.7 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: at 34 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.4 miles (US 1A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.2 miles (Cumberland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Frances Perkins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Portland, ME before heading back.
