How far is City of Portland, ME from Chelsea, ME?

The driving distance from City of Portland, ME to Chelsea, ME is about 56.9 miles (91.6 km), with a travel time of about 01h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 47.3 miles (76.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 01m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
56.94 mi
01h 30m
Flight
47.34 mi
76.18 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from City of Portland.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
47.34 mi
Kilometers
76.18 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
56.94 mi
Kilometers
91.64 km
Drive Time
01h 30m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chelsea
Sun, May 31, 5:25 AM EDT
Return by in City of Portland
Sun, May 31, 6:56 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave City of Portland
2026-05-31T03:54
Arrive Chelsea
Sun, May 31, 5:25 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:31 AM to 11:31 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:28 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in City of Portland
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Topsham
ME

Town in Maine, United States

From City of Portland
28.5 mi
00h 45m
To Chelsea
28.5 mi
00h 45m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
City of Portland Weather
ME
Live fallback forecast
60°F
Sunday
Using Portland as the closest live forecast in the Cumberland County weather hub.

Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S
Destination
67°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between City of Portland and Chelsea.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between City of Portland and Chelsea.

  1. 1

    Start on Seashore Avenue

    3044 ft · 2 min · Seashore Avenue

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Seashore Avenue

    1046 ft · 46 sec · Seashore Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on Whitehead Street

    107 m · 15 sec · Whitehead Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Oakland Avenue

    594 ft · 32 sec · Oakland Avenue

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Welch Street

    1291 ft · 1 min · Welch Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Portland - Peaks Island

    2.5 mi · 20 min · Portland - Peaks Island

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    57 m · 14 sec

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Maine State Pier

    23 m · 31 sec · Maine State Pier

  9. 9

    Continue on Maine State Pier

    656 ft · 31 sec · Maine State Pier

  10. 10

    Continue on Franklin Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · Franklin Street

  11. 11

    Take the ramp slight right

    1614 ft · 39 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    45 mi · 51 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward ME 9, ME 126: Litchfield, Gardiner

    1774 ft · 50 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Lewiston Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Lewiston Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Cobbossee Avenue

    1.1 km · 60 sec · Cobbossee Avenue

  16. 16

    Continue on Lewiston Road

    642 ft · 11 sec · Lewiston Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Central Street

    916 ft · 15 sec · Central Street

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto Water Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · Water Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Bridge Street

    2616 ft · 49 sec · Bridge Street

  20. 20

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Water Street

    974 ft · 34 sec · Water Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Windsor Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Windsor Street

  22. 22

    Continue on Togus Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Togus Road

  23. 23

    Turn sharp left onto Hankerson Road

    17 m · 2 sec · Hankerson Road

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Hankerson Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between City of Portland and Chelsea.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
24 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
42.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Franklin Street
46.1 mi · 81%
Portland - Peaks Island
2.57 mi · 5%
Windsor Street
1.74 mi · 3%
Lewiston Road
1.23 mi · 2%
Togus Road
1.21 mi · 2%
Water Street
1.08 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Franklin Street

Merge slight left

45 mi · 00h 51m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 30m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.6 mi
47.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Topsham
00h 45m from City of Portland
Leave By
3:28 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving City of Portland and Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Chelsea.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from City of Portland to Chelsea?

The road trip is about 56.9 miles (91.6 km) and usually takes 01h 30m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Topsham is a useful midpoint, sitting about 28.5 miles from City of Portland and 28.5 miles from Chelsea.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 47.3 miles (76.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:28 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.93 one way or $15.86 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 17.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around City of Portland and Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Chelsea.

Stop Ideas Near Topsham

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Topsham, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Topsham.

BUS

Brunswick Maine Street Station

4 mi away
101 Bath Rd.
RAIL

Freeport

13 mi away
36 Depot Street
BUS

Bath, Maine

13 mi away
10 State Rd
BUS

Wiscasset, Maine

24 mi away
279 Bath Rd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between City of Portland and Chelsea. Straight-line distance: 47.34 mi (76.18 km).

City of Portland

#1 City of Portland

The twenty-eighth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Portland metropolitan area.

Population653,115
Coordinates43.6470800, -70.1682300
Altitude36
CountryUnited States
Chelsea

#2 Chelsea

Town in Maine, US

Population2,753
Coordinates44.2503500, -69.7172700
Altitude55
CountryUnited States
Start: City of Portland (-70.16823, 43.64708)
End: Chelsea (-69.71727, 44.25035)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 92 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 53m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 56m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 42m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.01 gal
7.61 L · about $7.93
Round trip
$15.86
4.02 gal · 15.22 L
Estimated CO2
17.9 kg one way
Round trip: 35.7 kg / 79 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $7.93 $15.86
Mid-grade $4.46 $8.96 $17.92
Premium $4.86 $9.76 $19.53
Diesel $6.00 $12.05 $24.11

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Maine · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between City of Portland and Chelsea. The current time is 03:54:40.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.