Origin
Portland, ME
Night in Portland on Saturday
Local time
10:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Portland, ME to Benton, ME
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 35m
Distance
80.3 mi
129 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 28m
★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 50m
10 AM
1h 41m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 41m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portland, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Benton, ME
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Trip Overview
Portland, ME to Benton, ME is 80.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 35 minutes via I 295 and Maine Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This northeastern drive stays entirely within Maine, offering a straightforward journey north. With a high percentage of highway driving, it's a quick connection between points in the state. Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience, making it an efficient option for getting from one location to the other without extensive detours. This route is best suited for travelers prioritizing speed and simplicity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.2 miles from Portland, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 295 | 46.3 mi | 52m |
| Maine Turnpike | 29.3 mi | 32m |
| Neck Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Western Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Bridge Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Franklin Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Cumberland Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| US 1A | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 46.3 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portland, ME and Benton, 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
29 mi
·
32 min
·
Maine Turnpike
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 132
Toward ME 139: Fairfield, Benton
9
Turn right onto ME 139
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Western Avenue
10
Turn right onto Newhall Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Newhall Street
11
At end of road, turn left onto Lawrence Avenue
498 ft
·
15 sec
·
Lawrence Avenue
12
Continue on ME 11; ME 100; ME 139
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Bridge Street
13
Continue on ME 11; ME 100; ME 139
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Neck Road
14
Turn left onto ME 11; ME 100; ME 139
460 ft
·
12 sec
·
Clinton Avenue
15
Turn right onto ME 139
64 ft
·
1 sec
·
Sebasticook Bridge Road
16
Arrive at destination
ME 139
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 35 minutes, this trip offers great flexibility; you can easily depart at your leisure. Since the total distance is only 80.3 miles and the fuel cost is estimated at $13, you won't need to worry extensively about frequent refueling stops. The longest stretch on I 295 is over 46 miles, so plan any necessary breaks before or after this segment. Consider making your departure during off-peak hours to avoid any potential traffic congestion as you leave the Portland area.
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 40.2 miles from Portland, ME, or about 46m 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 18 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.2 miles or 46m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benton, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Portland, ME
This is one driving day of about 80.3 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Portland, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 295 for about 46.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.2 miles from Portland, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 78 — 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.
6
76.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward ME 139: Fairfield, Benton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 132
Toward ME 139: Fairfield, Benton
6
78 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
|
Lawrence Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Lawrence Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.93 one way
$25.85 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $14.22 | $28.45 |
| premium | $4.86 | $15.38 | $30.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.73 | $35.46 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.76
Maine Turnpike
(29.3 mi)
$1.76
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
$13
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.43 | $3.85 |
| Efficient EV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.03 | $3.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.1 | 0 | $11.24 | $5.14 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Benton, ME
Night in Benton on Saturday
Local time
10:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Brunswick, ME
40 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
16 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 35m 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 heavily highway-focused, with 94% of the drive utilizing major roadways like I 295 and the Maine Turnpike. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 46.3 miles on I 295, allowing for consistent progress. The character of the drive is predominantly that of a swift, efficient highway journey, designed for covering distance quickly. While Neck Road is part of the itinerary, the bulk of the experience is on high-speed thoroughfares.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 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?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and Maine Turnpike. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Elm Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 80.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 (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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 80.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 $1.76 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.
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 (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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Benton, 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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