Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from South Portland, ME to Solon, ME

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 14m

Distance

110.8 mi

178 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 5m ★
6 AM
2h 15m
8 AM
2h 33m
10 AM
2h 21m
12 PM
2h 19m
3 PM
2h 22m
5 PM
2h 32m
8 PM
2h 9m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in Cumberland County, Maine, United States

South Portland, ME

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Solon, ME, ME

Solon, ME

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from South Portland, ME to Solon, ME covers 110.8 miles and takes about 2h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 295, Maine Turnpike, South Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.8 miles on I 295. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.84 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

55.4 miles from South Portland, ME

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 295 46.8 mi 53m
Maine Turnpike 30.5 mi 33m
South Main Street 13.3 mi 15m
Skowhegan Road 7.6 mi 11m
Waterville Road 6.8 mi 9m
Madison Avenue 1.6 mi 3m
Casco Bay Bridge 1.1 mi 1m
Broadway 1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 295 — 46.8 mi, about 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between South Portland, ME and Solon, 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

31 mi · 33 min · Maine Turnpike
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 33 sec
Exit 133 Toward US 201: Fairfield, Skowhegan
10

Keep slight right at fork

108 ft · 2 sec
11

Merge onto US 201

7.6 mi · 11 min · Skowhegan Road
12

Continue on US 201

6.8 mi · 9 min · Waterville Road
13

Turn right onto US 2; US 201

206 ft · 7 sec · Main Street
14

Continue on US 2; US 201

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Island Avenue
15

Continue on US 2; US 201

375 ft · 15 sec · Water Street
16

Take the exit

132 ft · 9 sec
17

Turn left onto US 2; US 201

431 ft · 16 sec · Commercial Street
18

Turn right onto US 201

1.6 mi · 3 min · Madison Avenue
19

Continue on US 201

13 mi · 15 min · South Main Street
20

Turn right onto Pleasant Street

352 ft · 9 sec · Pleasant Street
21

Arrive at destination

Pleasant Street

Trip Plan

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 55.4 miles from South Portland, ME, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.8 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 24 miles or 29m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 55.4 miles or 1h 5m 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 48m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Solon, 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 110.8 miles and 2h 14m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from South Portland, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 295 for about 46.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Chelsea, ME, ME

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Chelsea, ME

55 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

Freeport, ME

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Augusta, ME

Meal break

The midpoint is around 55.4 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Freeport Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Freeport, Maine

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 15.8

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+12078695113

Visit website

Ming Lee Chinese Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Waterville, Maine

1.4 mi

Nom Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Portland, Maine

1.5 mi

Freeport Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 15.8

Freeport, Maine

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+12078695113

Visit website

Ming Lee Chinese Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 79.1

Waterville, Maine

Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm

+12078732828

Visit website

Nom Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Portland, Maine

Hours: 9 am–2 pm

+12076139332

Visit website

Thai With Us

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately mile 55.4

Augusta, Maine

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+12074801121

Visit website

Villager Family Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 79.1

Waterville, Maine

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+12078726231

West Gardiner Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Rest Area

0.2 mi from route

Eartha Globe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 15.8

Yarmouth, Maine

Hours: 9 am–3 pm

Maine Day Ventures/ formerly Maine Foodie Tours

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Portland, Maine

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+12072337485

Visit website

The Escape Room

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour

Portland, Maine

Hours: 12–8:15 pm

+12076193775

Visit website

Portland Observatory

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Portland, Maine

+12072531800

Visit website

Maine Historical Society and the Wadsworth-Longfellow House

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour

Portland, Maine

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+12077741822

Visit website

Old Port Historic Tours

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour

Portland, Maine

Hours: 8:30 am–5:30 pm

+12078070009

Visit website

Old Fort Western

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 55.4

Augusta, Maine

+12076262385

Visit website

Maine Military Museum & Learning Center

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

South Portland, Maine

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+12077678227

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 95.7 — 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
80.7 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in

Take the exit toward US 201: Fairfield, Skowhegan

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 133 Toward US 201: Fairfield, Skowhegan
5
81 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
95.7 mi into trip | ~1h 55m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.84 one way

$35.67 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 39 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $19.63 $39.25
premium $4.86 $21.22 $42.44
diesel $5.61 $24.46 $48.93

Estimated Tolls: $8.83

Bay Bridge $7.00
Maine Turnpike (30.5 mi) $1.83

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

$18

Tolls

$9

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 38.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 33.2 0 $11.63 $5.32
Efficient EV 27.7 0 $9.69 $4.43
EV Truck/SUV 44.3 0 $15.51 $7.09

Gas CO2

39 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (67% 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 15, 2026

Origin

South Portland, ME

Afternoon in South Portland on Sunday

Local time

2:06 PM

EDT

Current temp

--

Unavailable

Destination

Solon, ME

Afternoon in Solon on Sunday

Local time

2:06 PM

EDT

Current temp

32°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

50°F

Chelsea, ME

55 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.

Road read

2h 14m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Frances Perkins National Monument

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 38.2
Park Closure: For Current Visitor Information
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

110.8 mi in 2h 14m, mostly highway — 46.8 mi of that is on I 295.

70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.8 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 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Broadway.

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 110.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 (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 80.7 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 Solon, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Skowhegan along the way.

Skowhegan

80.7 mi in | ~1h 33m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 110.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 46.8 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $8.83 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 — we found about 3 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 3.4 miles (I 295; US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.7 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 Solon, 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Solon, ME

Jackman, ME 57.4 mi · 1h 5m

More from South Portland, ME

Calais, ME 226.9 mi · 4h 38m Milo, ME 145.1 mi · 3h 4m Brewer, ME 132.9 mi · 2h 31m Charleston, ME 132.5 mi · 2h 47m Union, ME 81.1 mi · 1h 47m Oxford County, ME 76.9 mi · 2h 6m

More trips to Solon, ME

Sanford, ME 141 mi
Escape planner: South Portland, ME Scenic drives in ME

Explore more options from South Portland, ME or browse trips ending in Solon, ME.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse ME road trips.