Trip from Arundel, ME to Scarborough, ME

Drive Time

36m

Distance

23.2 mi

37 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min
4 AM
0h 33m ★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m

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

Downtown Scarborough, ME, ME

Scarborough, ME

David Roberts

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick excursion in Maine, the 23.2-mile journey from Arundel to Scarborough is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 36 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, allowing you to easily complete the drive in under an hour. With fuel costs estimated at around $4, it remains a budget-friendly way to navigate the Northeast corridor. You will transition between the Maine Turnpike, Log Cabin Road, and Portland Road to reach your destination. Since both towns reside within the same region, you can expect a consistent atmosphere throughout your time on the road. It is a practical, no-nonsense connection that gets you from point A to point B without requiring an overnight stay.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

11.6 miles from Arundel, ME

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a mixed driving experience that balances highway efficiency with local road navigation. You will spend 57% of your travel time on the highway, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 10.3 miles on the Maine Turnpike. This section allows for steady cruising before you transition onto the more localized Portland Road and Log Cabin Road. The character of the drive shifts noticeably as you move from the higher speeds of the Turnpike into the more standard pace of the secondary roads. This combination keeps the drive engaging, as you navigate the varying road types that make up this 36-minute transit.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Maine Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 10.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 7 miles in near Precourt Street.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 23.2 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: at 7 miles (Precourt Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
7 mi into trip | ~12m in | Precourt Street

Turn left onto Precourt Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
8 mi into trip | ~14m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 North Toll: Portland, Augusta

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 95 North Toll: Portland, Augusta
5
18.5 mi into trip | ~26m in

Take the exit toward Scarborough

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 42 Toward Scarborough
4
20.5 mi into trip | ~30m in | US 1; ME 9 / Route 1

Turn left onto US 1; ME 9 / Route 1

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
4
21.9 mi into trip | ~33m in | ME 207 / Black Point Road

Turn right onto ME 207 / Black Point Road

Navigation decision point

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Arundel, ME to Scarborough, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Augusta along the way.

Augusta

8 mi in | ~14m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Maine Turnpike 10.3 mi 11m
Log Cabin Road 3.5 mi 6m
Portland Road 2.7 mi 4m
Haigis Parkway 1.4 mi 2m
Route 1 1.4 mi 3m
Black Point Road 1.2 mi 2m
Precourt Street 0.8 mi 1m
Elm Street 0.8 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Maine Turnpike — 10.3 mi, about 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Arundel, ME and Scarborough, ME.

1

Start on Log Cabin Road

3.5 mi · 6 min · Log Cabin Road
2

Turn right onto US 1

2.7 mi · 4 min · Portland Road
3

Continue on US 1

0.8 mi · 1 min · Elm Street
4

Turn left onto Precourt Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · Precourt Street
Use the left lane.
5

Continue on this road

0.1 mi · 57 sec · this road
Use the left / straight lanes.
6

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 33 sec
Toward I 95 North Toll: Portland, Augusta
7

Merge onto I 95

10 mi · 11 min · Maine Turnpike
8

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 42 Toward Scarborough
9

Continue on Haigis Parkway

1.4 mi · 2 min · Haigis Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
10

Turn left onto US 1; ME 9

1.4 mi · 3 min · Route 1
Use the left / straight lanes.
11

Turn right onto ME 207

1.2 mi · 2 min · Black Point Road
12

Turn left onto Highland Avenue

267 ft · 7 sec · Highland Avenue
13

Arrive at destination

Highland Avenue

Trip Plan

Since this is a short 23.2-mile drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, as traffic is unlikely to force a rigid schedule. You will not need to plan for any formal stops, given the modest duration of the trip. Keep in mind that while the Maine Turnpike serves as the primary artery for the longest stretch of your journey, staying alert for the transition onto Log Cabin Road is key to staying on track. Budgeting $4 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire trip, making this a simple and economical route to navigate. Use the short length to your advantage by planning your arrival in Scarborough exactly when you need to be there, without worrying about lengthy rest breaks.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 11.6 miles from Arundel, ME, or about 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10.3 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 23.2 miles or 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 11.6 miles or 18m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scarborough, ME than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Arundel, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Arundel, ME

This is one driving day of about 23.2 miles and 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Arundel, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Maine Turnpike for about 10.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 11.6 mi from Arundel, ME · 18m into the drive

Downtown Lawrence, MA, MA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lawrence, MA

12 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

Lawrence, MA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 23.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Boston, MA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 11.6 miles from Arundel, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Scarborough, ME

The final approach into Scarborough, ME usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Scarborough, ME.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.71 one way

$7.43 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 8 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.46 $4.07 $8.14
premium $4.83 $4.41 $8.82
diesel $5.64 $5.15 $10.31

Estimated Tolls: $0.62

Maine Turnpike (10.3 mi) $0.62

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$4

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 8.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7 0 $2.44 $1.11
Efficient EV 5.8 0 $2.03 $0.93
EV Truck/SUV 9.3 0 $3.25 $1.48

Gas CO2

8 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (63% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Arundel, ME

Night in Arundel on Sunday

Local time

9:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

--

Unavailable

Destination

Scarborough, ME

Night in Scarborough on Sunday

Local time

9:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

52°F

Lawrence, MA

12 mi in

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

36m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Arundel, ME to Scarborough, ME covers 23.2 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Maine Turnpike, Log Cabin Road, Portland Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.6 miles from Arundel, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.71 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 23.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 7 miles (Precourt Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
On the drive from Arundel, ME to Scarborough, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Augusta along the way.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Scarborough, ME to Arundel, ME

Plan the drive back the other way.

23.8 mi 36m

Explore more options from Arundel, ME or browse trips ending in Scarborough, ME.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse ME road trips.

Explore maps for Arundel, ME or Scarborough, ME on MapSof.net.