The Cost of a Road Trip from Brunswick, Maine to Palermo, Maine in Today’s Gas Prices

If you are planning a road trip from Brunswick, Maine to Palermo, Maine, it is important to consider the cost of gas. The price of gas in Maine can fluctuate, so it is important to keep that in mind when budgeting for your trip. In this article, we will look at the different possible routes to travel between Brunswick and Palermo, the distance, cost, and time it takes to travel each route, and ultimately recommend the best route for your trip.

Brunswick to Palermo: The Possible Routes

There are several possible routes you can take when traveling from Brunswick to Palermo. Route selection depends on a few factors, such as the distance covered, the amount of time you have for the journey, and, most importantly, gas prices. Here are the possible routes to follow:

Route 1

This route starts from Brunswick and takes you northeast on Route 1. You’ll get to Wiscasset, Maine, then turn right onto Route 218. Follow the route until you get to Augusta. From here, take the US Route 202 westbound which then merges onto Route 3. Stay on the Route 3 passing through Palermo, Maine.

This route covers about 34 miles with an estimated travel time of 43 minutes with normal traffic.

Route 2

The following route covers only 29 miles but has a shorter estimated travel time. This one starts on Route 201, taking you directly from Brunswick to Gardiner. When you reach Gardiner, turn left onto Water Street then take a right onto Route 24, which leads to Palermo.

Route 3

This route is a bit longer, and it goes from Brunswick to Augusta then to Palermo. Start at Brunswick and take Route 24 westward to Bowdoinham. Pass Bowdoinham and continue straight, going past Richmond Five Corners. At the Richmond Four Corners, turn right onto Route 197 towards the east. Cross the Kennebec River, continue straight to the major intersection at the north end of Augusta and then take a right onto State Street. This leads you to Fort Western which is in the center of Augusta. After this, turn left onto Western Avenue then straight to State Street. After State Street merges with Route 3, follow it for about four miles until you hit Palermo.

The third route is the longest, covering approximately 48 miles. It takes an estimated 1 hour and 2 minutes to travel under normal traffic.

Cost of the Different Routes

Now that you know the possible routes available, it's important to look at the cost of each route. The cost is mainly dependent on the price of gas in Maine. Since the price varies constantly, we computed the cost based on the average gas price in Maine.

Assuming a gas price of $2.75 per gallon, here is the cost you can expect for each route.

Route 1 Cost

Route 1 is the shortest route, covering 34 miles from Brunswick to Palermo. With an average of 25 miles per gallon, you’ll need to spend about a gallon and a half of gas for the trip. This will cost roughly $4.13 for the one-way trip from Brunswick to Palermo.

Route 2 Cost

Route 2 is the shortest distance-wise, covering 29 miles from Brunswick to Palermo. Again, assuming an average of 25 miles per gallon, this trip will require approximately one and a sixth gallons of gas. This will cost around $3.21 for a one-way trip.

Route 3 Cost

Since Route 3 is the longest, covering a distance of 48 miles, it will require about two gallons (approximately 2.2 gallons) of gas one way. This adds up to about $6.05 at the average Maine gas price of $2.75 per gallon.

Comparing the Routes

Comparing the available routes, Route 2 is the cheapest and takes the shortest time. However, while the cost of Route 3 is higher, it may be more convenient if your starting point is near the Richmond area since it passes through Route 24.

Conclusion

Based on the different routes and their costs, it is advisable to take Route 2. Though it takes a bit longer than Route 1, the difference in travel time is only a few minutes, and the cost of gas is significantly lower. Depending on how heavy traffic is and how fast you drive, it would take an estimated 40 to 45 minutes to travel from Brunswick to Palermo. Keep in mind, however, that an increase or decrease in gas prices could make a difference in the estimated cost of any route. Nonetheless, Route 2 remains the most cost-effective and efficient route.