If you are planning a trip from Smithfield to South Portland, you can expect an efficient journey covering 81.1 miles. The drive typically takes about 1 hour and 47 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You will primarily navigate via Smithfield Road before transitioning onto the major corridors of I-95 and I-295. Budgeting approximately $13 for fuel should cover your needs for this Northeast transit. Because of the manageable duration, you won't need to worry about overnight logistics, allowing you maximum flexibility at your destination. This route offers a straightforward path between these two Maine locations, prioritizing speed and reliability over complex navigation.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.5 miles from Smithfield, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
46.5 mi
52m
I 95
8.8 mi
9m
Smithfield Road
5.5 mi
9m
Village Road
4 mi
9m
Augusta Road
3.6 mi
4m
Oakland Road
3.2 mi
4m
Civic Center Drive
3.1 mi
4m
Belgrade Road
2.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 46.5 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smithfield, ME and South Portland, ME.
1
Start on Mikes Lane
340 ft·27 sec·Mikes Lane
2
Turn right onto ME 8; ME 137
4.0 mi·9 min·Village Road
3
Continue on ME 8
5.5 mi·9 min·Smithfield Road
4
Continue on ME 11; ME 8
3.2 mi·4 min·Oakland Road
5
Turn left onto ME 8; ME 11; ME 27
3.6 mi·4 min·Augusta Road
6
Continue on ME 8; ME 11; ME 27
2.1 mi·2 min·Belgrade Road
7
Continue on ME 8; ME 11; ME 27
3.1 mi·4 min·Civic Center Drive
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
9
Merge onto I 95
8.8 mi·9 min·I 95
10
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.
11
Take the exit onto US 1A
0.4 mi·1 min·US 1A
Exit 7Toward US 1AUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto Marginal Way
0.5 mi·1 min·Marginal Way
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on State Street
1.0 mi·1 min·State Street
14
Continue on ME 77
1.1 mi·1 min·Casco Bay Bridge
15
Continue on ME 77
1.0 mi·1 min·Broadway
16
Turn sharp right onto Pine Street
60 ft·2 sec·Pine Street
17
Arrive at destination
Pine Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip under two hours, you have the advantage of being able to leave whenever fits your schedule best. I recommend checking traffic patterns before departing, especially as you approach the busier I-295 corridor. Because there are no mandatory stops built into this 81.1-mile route, you have the freedom to drive straight through without needing to plan for long rest breaks. Keep your $13 fuel budget in mind, and ensure your tank is topped off before hitting the interstate to avoid unnecessary detours. Given the highway-heavy nature of the drive, stay alert during the long 46.5-mile stretch on I-295 to maintain focus behind the wheel.
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 40.5 miles from Smithfield, ME, or about 58m 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 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.5 miles or 58m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Portland, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Smithfield, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Smithfield, ME
This is one driving day of about 81.1 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Smithfield, 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 0.1 and 81.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|ME 8; ME 137 / Village Road
Turn right onto ME 8; ME 137 / Village Road
Navigation decision point
9
30.6 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
77 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
77.4 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|Marginal Way
Turn right onto Marginal Way
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
81.1 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|Pine Street
Turn sharp right onto Pine Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.06 one way
$26.11 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$14.36
$28.73
premium
$4.86
$15.53
$31.06
diesel
$5.61
$17.91
$35.81
Estimated Tolls: $7.00
Bay Bridge
$7.00
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
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.3
0
$8.52
$3.89
Efficient EV
20.3
0
$7.10
$3.24
EV Truck/SUV
32.4
0
$11.35
$5.19
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.
Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026
Origin
Smithfield, ME
Morning
in Smithfield on Sunday
Local time
7:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
South Portland, ME
Morning
in South Portland on Sunday
Local time
7:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Light Rain
S 10 to 15 mph85% chanceLive forecast
46°F
Brunswick, ME
41 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
6 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 47m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 69% of your time spent on high-speed thoroughfares. You will start on local lanes before merging onto the interstate system for the bulk of your travel. The drive features a significant 46.5-mile stretch on I-295, which serves as your longest uninterrupted segment. Expect a steady, predictable pace once you reach the highway, as the route is designed for efficient transit rather than winding backroads. While you begin with the feel of a local Maine drive, the experience quickly shifts into a standard interstate commute as you head toward South Portland.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 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 I 95. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near ME 8; ME 137 / Village Road.
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 47m 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 0.1 miles (ME 8; ME 137 / Village Road): Navigation decision point; at 30.6 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77 miles (US 1A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Smithfield, ME to South Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Brunswick along the way.
Brunswick
30.6 mi in|~46m|via I 295
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 81.1 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.
Expect about $7.00 in tolls one way, starting with Bay Bridge. 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: at 0.1 miles (ME 8; ME 137 / Village Road): Navigation decision point; at 30.6 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77 miles (US 1A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at South Portland, ME before heading back.
