If you are planning to travel from South Portland to Charleston, expect a straightforward journey covering 132.5 miles across the state of Maine. With a driving time of approximately 2 hours and 47 minutes, this trip is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion. You will primarily utilize the Maine Turnpike, I-295, and Exeter Road to navigate between these two Northeast locations. Budgeting around $21 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-way trip. Because of the manageable duration, there is no need to split this into an overnight stay, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of time to spare.
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
66.3 miles from South Portland, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Maine Turnpike
53.6 mi
58m
I 295
46.8 mi
53m
Exeter Road
15.7 mi
27m
Moosehead Trail
4.7 mi
7m
Main Road
4 mi
7m
Main Street
1.5 mi
2m
Newport Road
1.4 mi
2m
Casco Bay Bridge
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Maine Turnpike
— 53.6 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Portland, ME and Charleston, ME.
1
Start on Pine Street
60 ft·9 sec·Pine Street
2
Turn sharp left onto Broadway
1.0 mi·1 min·Broadway
3
Continue on ME 77
1.1 mi·1 min·Casco Bay Bridge
4
Turn straight onto ME 77
0.1 mi·18 sec·York Street
5
Turn left onto ME 77
0.9 mi·1 min·High Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 295 North, US 1 North: Falmouth
7
Merge onto I 295; US 1
47 mi·53 min·I 295; US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 95
54 mi·58 min·Maine Turnpike
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 157Toward ME 11, ME 100: Newport, Dexter
10
Keep slight left at fork
112 ft·6 sec
11
Turn left onto ME 11; ME 100
0.5 mi·1 min·Ox Bow Road
12
Enter roundabout onto ME 7; ME 11
120 ft·2 sec·Moosehead Trail
13
Continue on ME 7; ME 11
4.7 mi·6 min·Moosehead Trail
14
Continue on ME 7; ME 11
1.4 mi·2 min·Newport Road
15
Continue on ME 7; ME 11; ME 43
416 ft·8 sec·Dexter Road
16
Turn right onto ME 11; ME 43
7.4 mi·13 min·Exeter Road
17
Continue on ME 11; ME 43
1.1 mi·2 min·Exeter Road
18
Continue on ME 11; ME 43
7.2 mi·12 min·Exeter Road
19
At end of road, turn left onto ME 11; ME 15; ME 43
1.5 mi·2 min·Main Street
20
Continue on ME 11; ME 15
0.3 mi·29 sec·Dover Road
21
Turn right onto ME 11
4.0 mi·7 min·Main Road
22
Turn left onto School Road
174 ft·10 sec·School Road
23
Turn sharp left
53 ft·2 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 2-hour and 47-minute drive, try to depart during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the busier highway sections. Since the route only requires one planned stop, you have the flexibility to choose a location that fits your schedule rather than being forced into a rigid itinerary. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge when entering the final, more rural segments of the trip to ensure you aren't caught short. Because this is a relatively short haul, you can easily adapt your pace to match your energy levels. A helpful tip for this specific route is to prepare for the transition from the fast-paced Maine Turnpike to the secondary roads like Exeter Road, as the change in speed limits happens quickly.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.3 miles from South Portland, ME, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.6 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 29 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.3 miles or 1h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charleston, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving South 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 South Portland, ME
This is one driving day of about 132.5 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from South 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 Maine Turnpike for about 53.6 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 132.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Broadway
Turn sharp left onto Broadway
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
3.4 mi into trip|~6m 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
103.8 mi into trip|~1h 57m in
Take the exit toward ME 11, ME 100: Newport, Dexter
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 157
Toward ME 11, ME 100: Newport, Dexter
5
104.1 mi into trip|~1h 58m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
132.5 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Turn sharp left
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.33 one way
$42.66 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$23.47
$46.94
premium
$4.86
$25.37
$50.75
diesel
$5.61
$29.25
$58.51
Estimated Tolls: $10.21
Bay Bridge
$7.00
Maine Turnpike
(53.6 mi)$3.21
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
$21
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.8
0
$13.91
$6.36
Efficient EV
33.1
0
$11.59
$5.30
EV Truck/SUV
53
0
$18.55
$8.48
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026
Origin
South Portland, ME
Late night
in South Portland on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Light Rain
S 10 to 15 mph85% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Charleston, ME
Late night
in Charleston on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Augusta, ME
66 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
9 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
2h 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Frances Perkins National Monument
National Monument
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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 41.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused drive keeps you moving efficiently, with 76% of the journey spent on major high-speed roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm on the Maine Turnpike, which features your longest uninterrupted stretch of 53.6 miles. As you transition from the interstate corridors onto Exeter Road, the character of the drive shifts from high-volume traffic to a more localized pace. It is a functional, no-nonsense route that prioritizes speed and directness over technical maneuvers. Expect a consistent experience behind the wheel that allows you to cover the distance without significant navigational complexity.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.6 mi on Maine Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and I 295. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Broadway.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 47m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Broadway): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 3.4 miles (I 295; US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 103.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 South Portland, ME to Charleston, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Dexter along the way.
Dexter
103.8 mi in|~1h 57m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 132.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 53.6 miles on Maine Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $10.21 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, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 (Broadway): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 3.4 miles (I 295; US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 103.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Frances Perkins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Charleston, ME before heading back.
