The drive from Saco, ME to Boothbay, ME covers 71.7 miles and takes about 1h 41m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 295, Mill Street, Maine Turnpike for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 28.2 miles on I 295.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.54 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.9 miles from Saco, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 43m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 71.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The drive from Saco, ME to Boothbay, ME covers 71.7 miles and takes about 1h 41m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 295 is the longest continuous segment at about 28.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near ME 112 / Beach Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 41m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (ME 112 / Beach Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 10.8 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|ME 112 / Beach Street
Turn right onto ME 112 / Beach Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.5 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 North: Portland
Navigation decision point
Toward I 95 North: Portland
8
10.8 mi into trip|~13m in|I 295
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 toward Downtown Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 44
Toward Downtown Portland
8
39 mi into trip|~47m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Brunswick, Bath, Coastal Route
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 28
Toward US 1: Brunswick, Bath, Coastal Route
5
41.5 mi into trip|~52m in|Mill Street
Turn left onto Mill Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Saco, ME and Boothbay, ME, road signs point toward Portland, Bath and Coastal Route.
Portland
10.8 mi in|~13m|via I 295
Bath
39 mi in|~47m
Coastal Route
39 mi in|~47m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
28.2 mi
34m
Mill Street
9.2 mi
13m
Maine Turnpike
8.8 mi
9m
Route 1
6 mi
8m
Wiscasset Road
4.8 mi
8m
Boothbay Road
4.7 mi
7m
Bath Road
4 mi
7m
Main Street
1.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 28.2 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saco, ME and Boothbay, ME.
1
Start on US 1 Alternate
92 ft·8 sec·Main Street
2
Turn right onto ME 112
162 ft·5 sec·Beach Street
3
Continue on ME 5; ME 112
1.4 mi·2 min·North Street
4
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 North: Portland
5
Merge onto I 95
8.8 mi·9 min·Maine Turnpike
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
28 mi·34 min·I 295
Exit 44Toward Downtown PortlandUse the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 28Toward US 1: Brunswick, Bath, Coastal RouteUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 1
1.2 mi·2 min·Pleasant Street
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto Mill Street
9.2 mi·13 min·Mill Street
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on US 1
1.0 mi·2 min·Main Street
11
Continue on US 1
4.9 mi·6 min·Route 1
12
Continue on US 1
4.0 mi·7 min·Bath Road
13
Continue on US 1; ME 27
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
14
Continue on US 1; ME 27
1.1 mi·1 min·Route 1
15
Turn slight right onto ME 27
4.7 mi·7 min·Boothbay Road
16
Continue on ME 27
4.8 mi·8 min·Wiscasset Road
17
Arrive at destination
ME 27
Trip Plan
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 35.9 miles from Saco, ME, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.2 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 16 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.9 miles or 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Boothbay, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saco, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Saco, ME
This is one driving day of about 71.7 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Saco, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 295 for about 28.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Frances Perkins National Monument
National Monument
Known as the first woman to hold a presidential cabinet position and the “Woman behind the New Deal,” Frances Perkins championed many labor rights that Americans enjoy today, including safety standard...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 61.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.54 one way
$23.09 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$12.70
$25.40
premium
$4.86
$13.73
$27.46
diesel
$5.61
$15.83
$31.66
Estimated Tolls: $0.53
Maine Turnpike
(8.8 mi)$0.53
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
$12
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.5
0
$7.53
$3.44
Efficient EV
17.9
0
$6.27
$2.87
EV Truck/SUV
28.7
0
$10.04
$4.59
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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 Dec 18, 2023
Origin
Saco, ME
Morning
in Saco on Friday
Local time
11:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Boothbay, ME
Morning
in Boothbay on Friday
Local time
11:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Brunswick, ME
36 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.
Temperature spread
5 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 41m 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 Saco, ME to Boothbay, ME covers 71.7 miles and takes about 1h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 295, Mill Street, Maine Turnpike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.9 miles from Saco, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.54 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 is a straightforward 1h 41m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (ME 112 / Beach Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 10.8 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Saco, ME and Boothbay, ME, road signs point toward Portland, Bath and Coastal Route.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Frances Perkins National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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.
