Traveling from Portland to Addison covers 183.8 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 58 minutes. Since this is a straightforward, highway-focused route, you can easily complete the journey in a single day. You will primarily navigate via I-295, US-1, and Route 3, making it an efficient way to cross the Northeast region of Maine. With an estimated fuel cost of $29, the trip is budget-friendly and manageable for a weekend getaway or a direct transit. Because the drive is under four hours, you have the flexibility to head out in the morning and reach your destination by early afternoon. It is a reliable connection between these two Maine points that avoids overly complicated detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
91.9 miles from Portland, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
46.3 mi
52m
US 1
30.6 mi
45m
Route 3
17.6 mi
21m
Acadia Highway
13.4 mi
15m
Maine Turnpike
9.8 mi
10m
Bucksport Road
8.5 mi
9m
North Belfast Avenue
8.1 mi
11m
West Main Street
7.2 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 46.3 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portland, ME and Addison, ME.
1
Start on Congress Street
131 ft·11 sec·Congress Street
2
Turn left onto Elm Street
519 ft·22 sec·Elm Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue
0.3 mi·44 sec·Cumberland Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto US 1A
0.4 mi·36 sec·Franklin Street
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp onto US 1A
0.3 mi·39 sec·US 1A
6
Merge onto I 295; US 1
46 mi·52 min·I 295; US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 95
9.8 mi·10 min·Maine Turnpike
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi·26 sec
Exit 113Toward ME 3: Augusta, Belfast
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·20 sec
10
Merge onto ME 3
2.5 mi·3 min·Augusta Bypass
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
8.1 mi·11 min·North Belfast Avenue
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
0.2 mi·16 sec·Belfast Road
13
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
18 mi·21 min·Route 3
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on ME 3
4.0 mi·4 min·Acadia Highway
15
Continue on ME 3
3.4 mi·3 min·Belfast Augusta Road West
16
Continue on ME 3
4.8 mi·5 min·Augusta Road
17
Continue on ME 3
4.0 mi·4 min·Belmont Avenue
18
Take the exit onto ME 3
0.3 mi·43 sec·ME 3
19
Merge onto US 1; ME 3
0.7 mi·1 min·Route 1
20
Continue on US 1; ME 3
2.7 mi·4 min·Searsport Avenue
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on US 1; ME 3
7.0 mi·8 min·West Main Street
22
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; ME 3
6.3 mi·7 min·East Main Street
23
Continue on US 1; ME 3
1.2 mi·2 min·US Highway 1
24
Continue on US 1; ME 3
508 ft·12 sec·Route 1
25
Continue on US 1; ME 3; ME 15
1.0 mi·1 min·Route 1
26
Continue on US 1; ME 3; ME 15
9.4 mi·10 min·Acadia Highway
27
Continue on US 1; ME 3
8.5 mi·9 min·Bucksport Road
28
Continue on US 1; ME 3
0.2 mi·17 sec·West Main Street
29
Turn right onto ME 230
0.7 mi·1 min·Water Street
Use the right lane.
30
Turn left onto Foster Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Foster Street
31
Turn right onto US 1; ME 3
0.3 mi·43 sec·High Street
32
Turn left onto US 1; ME 3
31 mi·45 min·US 1; ME 3
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
33
Turn right onto US 1A
0.3 mi·29 sec·Bridge Street
34
Continue on US 1A
4.1 mi·6 min·Kennedy Highway
35
Continue on US 1A
3.0 mi·4 min·US Highway 1A
36
Continue on US 1A
0.2 mi·18 sec·Kennedy Highway
37
Continue on US 1
0.5 mi·47 sec·Main Street
38
Continue on US 1
1.9 mi·2 min·Route 1
39
Turn right onto Addison Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Addison Road
40
Continue on Water Street
1.1 mi·2 min·Water Street
41
Arrive at destination
Water Street
Trip Plan
To keep your trip stress-free, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the nearly four-hour drive. Leaving Portland early in the morning is your best bet to avoid potential traffic and reach Addison with plenty of daylight to spare. Since you are budgeting about $29 for fuel, it is wise to fill up before departing Portland to avoid price fluctuations along the more rural stretches. Given the route's reliance on major thoroughfares like US-1, keep an eye on your navigation for any unexpected congestion on the highway portions. The manageable duration gives you the luxury of flexibility, so do not feel rushed to sprint through the 183.8-mile distance in one go.
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 91.9 miles from Portland, ME, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.3 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 40 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.9 miles or 1h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Addison, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Portland, 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 Portland, ME
This is one driving day of about 183.8 miles and 3h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Portland, 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 295 for about 46.3 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 57.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Elm Street
Turn left onto Elm Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Cumberland Avenue
Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|US 1A / Franklin Street
Turn left onto US 1A / Franklin Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|I 295; US 1
Merge onto I 295; US 1
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
57.2 mi into trip|~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward ME 3: Augusta, Belfast
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 113
Toward ME 3: Augusta, Belfast
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.59 one way
$59.18 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$32.56
$65.11
premium
$4.86
$35.20
$70.39
diesel
$5.61
$40.58
$81.16
Estimated Tolls: $0.59
Maine Turnpike
(9.8 mi)$0.59
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
$30
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.1
0
$19.30
$8.82
Efficient EV
46
0
$16.08
$7.35
EV Truck/SUV
73.5
0
$25.73
$11.76
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
22 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 12, 2026
Origin
Portland, ME
Night
in Portland on Saturday
Local time
9:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Partly Sunny
SW 5 to 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Addison, ME
Night
in Addison on Saturday
Local time
9:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Sunny
NW 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
43°F
Belfast, ME
92 mi in
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
2 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
3h 58m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Acadia National Park
National Park
Acadia National Park protects the natural beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the United States, an abundance of habitats, and a rich cultural heritage. At 4 million...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive that is roughly 61% highway, balancing quick interstate travel with more localized road segments. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs early on, covering 46.3 miles along I-295 before the route transitions. As you move away from the initial highway sections, the character of the road shifts toward the regional flow of US-1 and Route 3. This mix provides a steady pace that prevents the monotony of a purely interstate grind while keeping your travel time efficient. You will spend most of your time behind the wheel on well-maintained roads, making for a predictable and smooth experience throughout the state.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.3 mi on I 295.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and US 1. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Elm Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 183.8 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 (Elm Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (Cumberland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (US 1A / Franklin Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
521 ft35 ft
Total Climb
654 ft
Total Descent
693 ft
Highest Point
521 ft
~84.2 mi in
Elevation Range
486 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 Portland, ME to Addison, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Belfast along the way.
Belfast
57.2 mi in|~1h 5m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 58m. Total distance: 183.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.3 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.59 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Addison, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. 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 (Elm Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (Cumberland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (US 1A / Franklin Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Acadia National Park and Frances Perkins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Addison, ME, but most travelers stay overnight.
