Origin
Wiscasset, ME
Late night in Wiscasset on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wiscasset, ME to City of 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
48.8 mi
78 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wiscasset, ME
Jonathan Valdes
City of Portland, ME
Brett Sayles
Trip Overview
This 48.8-mile drive from Wiscasset to the City of Portland, Maine, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 29 minutes. With a modest fuel cost of around $8, it's a budget-friendly option for a single day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight stays. The route primarily utilizes I-295, Leeman Highway, and Route 1, offering a mix of driving experiences. Given its short distance and reasonable duration, this journey is perfect for a spontaneous outing within the Northeast region.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 295 | 21.1 mi | 24m |
| Leeman Highway | 9.2 mi | 13m |
| Route 1 | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| Bath Road | 4 mi | 7m |
| Portland - Peaks Island | 2.5 mi | 20m |
| Pleasant Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| US 1A | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 21.1 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wiscasset, ME and City of Portland, ME.
1
Start on US 1; ME 27
457 ft
·
17 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn straight onto US 1
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Bath Road
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 1
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Route 1
4
Continue on US 1
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
5
Continue on US 1
9.2 mi
·
13 min
·
Leeman Highway
6
Turn right onto US 1
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Pleasant Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
8
Keep slight left at fork
1.6 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 295 South: Freeport, Portland
9
Merge onto I 295
21 mi
·
24 min
·
I 295
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit onto US 1A
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
US 1A
Exit 7
Toward US 1A
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on Maine State Pier
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Maine State Pier
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn slight right
187 ft
·
13 sec
13
Turn straight onto Portland - Peaks Island
2.5 mi
·
20 min
·
Portland - Peaks Island
14
Continue
213 ft
·
15 sec
15
Continue on Welch Street
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
Welch Street
16
Turn right onto Oakland Avenue
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Oakland Avenue
17
Turn slight left onto Whitehead Street
351 ft
·
15 sec
·
Whitehead Street
18
Continue on Seashore Avenue
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Seashore Avenue
19
Continue on Seashore Avenue
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Seashore Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Seashore Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.4 miles from Wiscasset, 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 19.2 and 47.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
19.2 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
US 1 / Pleasant Street
Turn right onto US 1 / Pleasant Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
21.1 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 295 South: Freeport, Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 295 South: Freeport, Portland
5
22.7 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
I 295
Merge onto I 295
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
43.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m 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
47.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
Oakland Avenue
Turn right onto Oakland Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.86 one way
$15.71 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $8.64 | $17.29 |
| premium | $4.86 | $9.35 | $18.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.77 | $21.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.12 | $2.34 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.27 | $1.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.83 | $3.12 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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
City of Portland, ME
Late night in City of Portland on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Brunswick, ME
24 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.
Temperature spread
12 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
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?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 56% of it being on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 21.1 miles on I-295, providing a good opportunity for steady progress. As you transition between I-295, Leeman Highway, and Route 1, the road's character will shift, moving from faster highway speeds to potentially more varied conditions on the local roads. This blend means you'll experience both efficient travel and glimpses of the local landscape.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.1 mi on I 295.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 19.2 miles in near US 1 / Pleasant Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 48.8 miles you will encounter 7 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: at 19.2 miles (US 1 / Pleasant Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.7 miles (I 295): 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 Wiscasset, ME to City of Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Portland along the way.
Portland
21.1 mi in
|
~33m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 48.8 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 (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.1 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at City of Portland, ME before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 19.2 miles (US 1 / Pleasant Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 21.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.7 miles (I 295): 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 City of 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 City of Portland, ME
More from Wiscasset, ME
More trips to City of Portland, ME
Explore more options from Wiscasset, ME or browse trips ending in City of Portland, ME.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse ME road trips.