South Portland, ME to Hodgdon, ME is 255.3 miles and takes about 4h 37m via Maine Turnpike and I 295, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, starting and ending in Maine. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making for a straightforward drive. With a total distance of just over 255 miles and a projected driving time under five hours, this route is easily manageable for a single day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
127.7 miles from South Portland, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Maine Turnpike
198.3 mi
3h 26m
I 295
46.8 mi
53m
Calais Road
2.5 mi
3m
Court Street
2 mi
2m
Casco Bay Bridge
1.1 mi
1m
Broadway
1 mi
1m
Hodgdon Mills Road
0.9 mi
2m
North Street
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Maine Turnpike
— 198.3 mi, about 3h 26m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,306 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,679
Quietest
1 AM
~48 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
27.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Portland, ME and Hodgdon, 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
198 mi·3 hr 26 min·Maine Turnpike
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 302Toward US 1: Houlton, Presque Isle
10
Turn slight right
176 ft·4 sec
11
Turn straight onto US 1
0.9 mi·1 min·North Street
12
Continue on US 1; US 2
0.1 mi·18 sec·Kendall Street
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 1; US 2
365 ft·12 sec·Military Street
14
Turn right onto US 1
2.0 mi·2 min·Court Street
15
Continue on US 1
2.5 mi·3 min·Calais Road
16
Turn right onto Hodgdon Mills Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Hodgdon Mills Road
17
Arrive at destination
Hodgdon Mills Road
Trip Plan
Leaving South Portland in the morning should allow you to reach Hodgdon with plenty of daylight remaining. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your departure time. The longest stretch without a break is nearly 200 miles on the Maine Turnpike, so plan a fuel stop before you hit that segment if your tank is low. Given the relatively short duration, you can easily make this drive without an overnight stay, keeping your travel plans simple.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 127.7 miles from South Portland, ME, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 198.3 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 56 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.7 miles or 2h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hodgdon, 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 255.3 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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 198.3 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 249.9 — 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
248.5 mi into trip|~4h 26m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Houlton, Presque Isle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 302
Toward US 1: Houlton, Presque Isle
6
249.9 mi into trip|~4h 28m in|US 1; US 2 / Military Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 1; US 2 / Military Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.06 one way
$80.13 round trip
$3.99/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$44.99
$89.98
premium
$4.81
$48.37
$96.73
diesel
$4.80
$48.21
$96.41
Estimated Tolls: $18.90
Maine Turnpike
(198.3 mi)$11.90
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
$40
Tolls
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.6
0
$26.81
$12.25
Efficient EV
63.8
0
$22.34
$10.21
EV Truck/SUV
102.1
1
$35.74
$16.34
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
South Portland, ME
Night
in South Portland on Saturday
Local time
9:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 18 at 2:42AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Gray ME
Destination
Hodgdon, ME
Night
in Hodgdon on Saturday
Local time
9:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Partly Cloudy
S 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 18 at 2:42AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Gray ME
57°F
Pittsfield, ME
128 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
8 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
4h 37m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
National Monument
Spread across a wild landscape offering spectacular views of Katahdin, Katahdin Woods and Waters invites discovery of its rivers, streams, woods, flora, fauna, geology, and the night skies that have a...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 211.3
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely highway, with 96% of the drive on major roads like the Maine Turnpike and I 295. You'll experience a significant stretch of 198.3 miles on the Maine Turnpike before transitioning to surface roads toward Hodgdon. Expect a steady cruising pace for the majority of your travel, with the highway portion offering a consistent driving experience.
96% 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: 198.3 mi on Maine Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 37m 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.
The longest stretch is about 198.3 miles on Maine Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $18.90 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 — we found about 10 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 3.1 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 — Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and Frances Perkins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Hodgdon, ME, but most travelers stay overnight.
