Origin
South Portland, ME
Morning in South Portland on Sunday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Trip from South Portland, ME to Hallowell, ME
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
56.6 mi
91 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Portland, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Hallowell, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
South Portland, ME to Hallowell, ME is 56.6 miles and takes about 1h 9m via I 295 and Maine Avenue, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region and entirely within Maine, making it a straightforward drive for locals or visitors. The route is primarily highway-focused, offering a quick connection between these two points. Given its short duration, it's ideal for a same-day excursion, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination. Plan for a smooth journey with minimal travel time.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 295 | 45.6 mi | 51m |
| Maine Avenue | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Water Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Lewiston Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Casco Bay Bridge | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Broadway | 1 mi | 1m |
| High Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Cobbossee Avenue | 0.7 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 45.6 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Portland, ME and Hallowell, 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
46 mi
·
51 min
·
I 295; US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 51
Toward ME 9, ME 126: Litchfield, Gardiner
9
Turn right onto ME 9; ME 126
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Lewiston Road
10
Continue on Cobbossee Avenue
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
·
Cobbossee Avenue
11
Continue on Lewiston Road
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Lewiston Road
12
Continue on Central Street
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Central Street
13
Turn straight onto Water Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Water Street
14
Turn left onto US 201
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Bridge Street
15
Turn left onto US 201; ME 27
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Maine Avenue
16
Continue on US 201; ME 27
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Water Street
17
Turn left onto Central Street
189 ft
·
8 sec
·
Central Street
18
Arrive at destination
Central Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.3 miles from South 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 52.3 — 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
4
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 295 North, US 1 North: Falmouth
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 295 North, US 1 North: Falmouth
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
49 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward ME 9, ME 126: Litchfield, Gardiner
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 51
Toward ME 9, ME 126: Litchfield, Gardiner
4
52.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
US 201 / Bridge Street
Turn left onto US 201 / Bridge Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.11 one way
$18.22 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $10.03 | $20.05 |
| premium | $4.86 | $10.84 | $21.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.50 | $24.99 |
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.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$7
Total
$16
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17 | 0 | $5.94 | $2.72 |
| Efficient EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.95 | $2.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.6 | 0 | $7.92 | $3.62 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Hallowell, ME
Morning in Hallowell on Sunday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Freeport, ME
28 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.
Road read
1h 9m 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 drive leans heavily on highway travel, with 81% of the route utilizing major highways like I 295. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 45.6 miles on I 295, which means consistent speed and fewer turns for a good portion of the journey. While the profile is highway-focused, the latter part of the drive transitions to Maine Avenue and Water Street, offering a change of pace as you approach Hallowell. Expect a mix of efficient highway driving and a more localized feel as you reach your destination.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.6 mi on I 295.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and Maine Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Broadway.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 9m drive. You will face about 9 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 3.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.4 miles (I 295; US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
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 Hallowell, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Gardiner along the way.
Gardiner
49 mi in
|
~57m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 56.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.6 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: near the start (Broadway): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 3.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.4 miles (I 295; US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Hallowell, 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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