Origin
Vassalboro, ME
Morning in Vassalboro on Sunday
Local time
9:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Vassalboro, ME to South Portland, 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 29m
Distance
72.6 mi
117 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 44m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Vassalboro, ME
PhotoShoot Studio | Candid, Birthday Pre Wedding, Baby, Maternity & Child Photographer in Pune Ps Studio
South Portland, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Vassalboro, ME to South Portland, ME is 72.6 miles and takes about 1h 29m via I 295 and I 95, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Northeast region, specifically Maine, offering a straightforward journey. It's a practical option for a quick trip, mainly utilizing major highways. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without extensive detours or complex navigation. The relatively short distance and predictable travel time make it ideal for a single-day excursion.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 295 | 46.5 mi | 52m |
| I 95 | 9.9 mi | 10m |
| Riverside Drive | 9.7 mi | 14m |
| Augusta Bypass | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Casco Bay Bridge | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| State Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Broadway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Marginal Way | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 46.5 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Vassalboro, ME and South Portland, ME.
1
Start on US 201; ME 100
9.7 mi
·
14 min
·
Riverside Drive
2
Turn right onto ME 3
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Augusta Bypass
3
Enter roundabout onto ME 3
100 ft
·
1 sec
·
Augusta Bypass
4
Continue on ME 3
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Augusta Bypass
5
Enter roundabout
2 ft
·
0 sec
6
Continue
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
7
Merge onto I 95
9.9 mi
·
10 min
·
I 95
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
46 mi
·
52 min
·
I 295
Exit 103
Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit onto US 1A
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
US 1A
Exit 7
Toward US 1A
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto Marginal Way
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Marginal Way
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on State Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
12
Continue on ME 77
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Casco Bay Bridge
13
Continue on ME 77
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway
14
Turn sharp right onto Pine Street
60 ft
·
2 sec
·
Pine Street
15
Arrive at destination
Pine Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.3 miles from Vassalboro, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 11.9 and 72.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
11.9 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
9
22.2 mi into trip
|
~29m 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
68.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m 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
69 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
Marginal Way
Turn right onto Marginal Way
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
72.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
|
Pine Street
Turn sharp right onto Pine Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.69 one way
$23.37 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $12.86 | $25.72 |
| premium | $4.86 | $13.90 | $27.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.03 | $32.06 |
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
$12
Tolls
$7
Total
$19
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.62 | $3.48 |
| Efficient EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.35 | $2.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29 | 0 | $10.16 | $4.65 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
South Portland, ME
Morning in South Portland on Sunday
Local time
9:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
52°F
Freeport, ME
36 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 29m 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 trip is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 78% of the journey on major interstates like I 295 and I 95. You'll experience stretches of faster-paced driving, including a continuous segment of 46.5 miles on I 295. Riverside Drive offers a brief change of pace before you rejoin the interstate system. Expect consistent road conditions suitable for maintaining steady speeds for most of the route. The overall character is one of efficiency and directness, minimizing time spent on slower, local roads.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 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 11.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 29m 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 11.9 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 22.2 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.6 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.
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 Vassalboro, ME to South Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Brunswick along the way.
Brunswick
22.2 mi in
|
~29m
|
via I 295
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 72.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 11.9 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 22.2 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.6 miles (US 1A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 South Portland, 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
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From South Portland, ME
More trips to South Portland, ME
Explore more options from Vassalboro, ME or browse trips ending in South Portland, ME.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse ME road trips.