Origin
Portland, ME
Late night in Portland on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Portland, ME to Waterboro, ME
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
34.5 mi
55 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portland, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Waterboro, ME
Corwin Melvin
Trip Overview
This 34.5-mile journey from Portland, ME, to Waterboro, ME, is a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in about 45 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Maine Turnpike and Alfred Road, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stops. With an estimated fuel cost of just $6, it's an economical option for a quick trip within the Northeast region. The mixed drive profile suggests you'll experience a blend of highway speeds and local road travel. This short distance makes it a flexible option for a day trip, allowing ample time for activities at your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Turnpike | 11.6 mi | 12m |
| Alfred Road | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| I 295 | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Waterboro Road | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Biddeford Road | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Alfred Street | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Park Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Maine Turnpike
— 11.6 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portland, ME and Waterboro, ME.
1
Start on Congress Street
484 ft
·
20 sec
·
Congress Street
2
Turn right onto Brown Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Brown Street
3
Turn left onto Cumberland Avenue
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Cumberland Avenue
4
Turn right onto ME 77
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
High Street
5
Turn left onto Park Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Avenue
6
Continue on Congress Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Congress Street
7
Turn left onto Fore River Parkway
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Fore River Parkway
8
Take the ramp onto US 1A
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
US 1A
9
Merge onto I 295; US 1
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
I 295; US 1
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
I 295
11
Merge onto I 95
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Maine Turnpike
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 32
Toward ME 111: Biddeford
13
Turn right onto ME 111
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Alfred Street
14
Continue on ME 111
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Alfred Road
15
Continue on ME 111
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Biddeford Road
16
Turn right onto Kennebunk Road
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Kennebunk Road
17
Continue on US 202; ME 4
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Waterboro Road
18
Continue on US 202; ME 4
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
US 202; ME 4
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.2 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 18.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Brown Street
Turn right onto Brown Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Cumberland Avenue
Turn left onto Cumberland Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
ME 77 / High Street
Turn right onto ME 77 / High Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Fore River Parkway
Turn left onto Fore River Parkway
Navigation decision point
5
18.3 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward ME 111: Biddeford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 32
Toward ME 111: Biddeford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.55 one way
$11.11 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.11 | $12.22 |
| premium | $4.86 | $6.61 | $13.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.62 | $15.23 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.70
Maine Turnpike
(11.6 mi)
$0.70
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.62 | $1.66 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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
Waterboro, ME
Late night in Waterboro on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
45m 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?
The drive features a 48% highway share, meaning you'll spend a notable portion of your 45-minute trip on faster roads like the Maine Turnpike and I-295. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 11.6 miles on the Maine Turnpike, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. As you transition from major highways to local roads like Alfred Road, expect a change in speed and surroundings. This mixed drive profile provides a varied experience, moving from efficient highway travel to more local, potentially slower-paced segments as you approach Waterboro.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.6 mi on Maine Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Brown Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 34.5 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 0.1 miles (Brown Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Cumberland Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (ME 77 / High Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 34.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.6 miles on Maine Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.70 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.
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 Waterboro, ME before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 0.1 miles (Brown Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Cumberland Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (ME 77 / High Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waterboro, 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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