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Trip from Woolwich, 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 14m

Distance

39.5 mi

64 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 8m ★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 11m

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

town in Sagadahoc County, Maine, United States

Woolwich, ME

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown City of Portland, ME, ME

City of Portland, ME

Brett Sayles

Trip Overview

Traveling from Woolwich to Portland covers 39.5 miles of Maine’s coastline, making for a straightforward trek that takes about 1 hour and 14 minutes. Because the duration is quite short, you can easily handle this as a one-day trip without needing an overnight stay. Your fuel budget will remain minimal, costing around $6 for the journey. The route primarily connects two key points within the Northeast, transitioning from the quiet charm of Woolwich into the vibrant hub of Portland. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick excursion, the simplicity of this trip makes it a stress-free option for your weekend plans.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 295 21.1 mi 24m
Leeman Highway 9.2 mi 13m
Portland - Peaks Island 2.5 mi 20m
Pleasant Street 1.4 mi 2m
US 1A 1.1 mi 2m
Seashore Avenue 0.8 mi 2m
Main Street 0.7 mi 1m
Welch Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 295 — 21.1 mi, about 24m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Woolwich, ME and City of Portland, ME.

1

Start on this road

36 ft · 7 sec · this road
2

Turn left

64 ft · 6 sec
3

Turn right onto US 1

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street
4

Continue on US 1

9.2 mi · 13 min · Leeman Highway
5

Turn right onto US 1

1.4 mi · 2 min · Pleasant Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
6

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 41 sec
7

Keep slight left at fork

1.6 mi · 2 min
Toward I 295 South: Freeport, Portland
8

Merge onto I 295

21 mi · 24 min · I 295
Use the straight lane.
9

Take the exit onto US 1A

1.1 mi · 2 min · US 1A
Exit 7 Toward US 1A Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on Maine State Pier

0.1 mi · 29 sec · Maine State Pier
Use the straight lane.
11

Turn slight right

187 ft · 13 sec
12

Turn straight onto Portland - Peaks Island

2.5 mi · 20 min · Portland - Peaks Island
13

Continue

213 ft · 15 sec
14

Continue on Welch Street

0.2 mi · 49 sec · Welch Street
15

Turn right onto Oakland Avenue

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Oakland Avenue
16

Turn slight left onto Whitehead Street

351 ft · 15 sec · Whitehead Street
17

Continue on Seashore Avenue

0.2 mi · 46 sec · Seashore Avenue
18

Continue on Seashore Avenue

0.6 mi · 2 min · Seashore Avenue
19

Arrive at destination

Seashore Avenue

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Freeport, ME, ME

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Freeport, ME

20 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

South Portland, ME

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Freeport, ME

Meal break

The midpoint is around 19.8 miles from Woolwich, 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 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 38.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

6
11.8 mi into trip | ~18m 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
13.4 mi into trip | ~21m in | I 295

Merge onto I 295

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
34.5 mi into trip | ~45m 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
38.6 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in | Oakland Avenue

Turn right onto Oakland Avenue

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.36 one way

$12.72 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $7.00 $13.99
premium $4.86 $7.56 $15.13
diesel $5.61 $8.72 $17.44

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.9 0 $4.15 $1.90
Efficient EV 9.9 0 $3.46 $1.58
EV Truck/SUV 15.8 0 $5.53 $2.53

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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

Woolwich, ME

Late night in Woolwich on Sunday

Local time

12:29 AM

EDT

Current temp

37°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

City of Portland, ME

Late night in City of Portland on Sunday

Local time

12:29 AM

EDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

52°F

Freeport, ME

20 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

6 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a mixed driving experience as you navigate this 39.5-mile path, which relies on a 56% highway share to keep things moving. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-295, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 21.1 miles that offers a consistent pace. The route also incorporates the Leeman Highway and the connection toward Portland and Peaks Island. While the interstate sections allow for steady travel, the transition into local roads requires you to stay alert as the environment shifts. It is a functional drive that balances efficiency with the necessary local access to reach your final destination.

56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 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?

7/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 39.5 miles you will encounter 8 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: Navigation decision point; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.4 miles (I 295): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

256 ft -5 ft

Total Climb

507 ft

Total Descent

541 ft

Highest Point

256 ft

~14.1 mi in

Elevation Range

262 ft

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 Woolwich, ME to City of Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Portland along the way.

Portland

11.8 mi in | ~18m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 39.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 14m 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.4 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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