Origin
Portland, ME
Morning in Portland on Tuesday
Local time
6:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Portland, ME to Waterville, ME
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
74.5 mi
120 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portland, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Waterville, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to head north from Portland to Waterville, you are looking at a straightforward 74.5-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 27 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the distance is manageable enough that you won't need to worry about an overnight stay. Budgeting approximately $12 for fuel should cover your transit, making this an economical choice for a quick Maine getaway. Because the route stays entirely within the Northeast region, you can expect a familiar, consistent driving experience from start to finish. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that prioritizes efficiency over sightseeing, ideal for when you simply need to get from point A to point B without unnecessary complications.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 295 | 46.3 mi | 52m |
| Maine Turnpike | 24.2 mi | 26m |
| Kennedy Memorial Drive | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Silver Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Elm Street | 0.6 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 Waterville, 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
24 mi
·
26 min
·
Maine Turnpike
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 127
Toward ME 11, ME 137: Waterville, Oakland
9
Turn right onto ME 11; ME 137
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Kennedy Memorial Drive
10
Continue on ME 11; ME 104; ME 137 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Silver Street
11
Turn slight left onto ME 11; ME 104
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Elm Street
12
Turn right onto Post Office Square
42 ft
·
1 sec
·
Post Office Square
13
Arrive at destination
Post Office Square
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.2 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 71.6 — 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
71.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward ME 11, ME 137: Waterville, Oakland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 127
Toward ME 11, ME 137: Waterville, Oakland
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.99 one way
$23.99 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $13.20 | $26.39 |
| premium | $4.86 | $14.27 | $28.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.45 | $32.90 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.45
Maine Turnpike
(24.2 mi)
$1.45
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$1
Total
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.82 | $3.58 |
| Efficient EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.52 | $2.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.43 | $4.77 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Waterville, ME
Morning in Waterville on Tuesday
Local time
6:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Light Rain
S 10 mph
98% chance
Live forecast
51°F
Brunswick, ME
37 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.
Temperature spread
12 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 27m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient commute, as 95% of this route is comprised of highway driving. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-295 and the Maine Turnpike, which provide a fast, consistent pace for the majority of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 46.3 miles on I-295, allowing you to settle into a steady rhythm behind the wheel. As you transition off the main arteries onto Kennedy Memorial Drive to reach your final destination, the character of the road shifts from high-speed interstate to local traffic. This drive is designed for those who prefer a streamlined, highway-focused experience rather than the winding, technical roads found in more rural parts of the state.
95% 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: 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 8 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 74.5 miles you will encounter 8 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
283 ft
27 ft
Total Climb
446 ft
Total Descent
411 ft
Highest Point
283 ft
~58.5 mi in
Elevation Range
255 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Portland, ME
Full guide →Portland is on a peninsula in Casco Bay on the Southern Maine coast approximately 100 miles (161 km) north of Boston, Massachusetts. It has more than 65,000 inhabitants, making it the largest city in Maine. Portland is a small seaside city with a high concentration of shops, restaurants, museums, galleries, tours and many things to see and do. Many people commute to Portland to work, and the city's population significantly increases in the summertime.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 74.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). 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 $1.45 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 Waterville, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to Waterville, ME
Explore more options from Portland, ME or browse trips ending in Waterville, ME.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse ME road trips.