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Trip from Saco, ME to Newport, ME

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 17m

Distance

118.2 mi

190 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 8m ★
6 AM
2h 17m
8 AM
2h 36m
10 AM
2h 24m
12 PM
2h 22m
3 PM
2h 25m
5 PM
2h 35m
8 PM
2h 11m

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

city in York County, Maine, United States

Saco, ME

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Newport, ME, ME

Newport, ME

Efrem Efre

Trip Overview

The drive from Saco, ME to Newport, ME covers 118.2 miles and takes about 2h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Maine Turnpike, I 295, North Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 62.3 miles on Maine Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.03 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

59.1 miles from Saco, ME

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Maine Turnpike 62.3 mi 1h 7m
I 295 52.5 mi 1h 1m
North Street 1.4 mi 2m
Main Street 0.6 mi 1m
Ox Bow Road 0.5 mi 1m
Beach Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Maine Turnpike — 62.3 mi, about 1h 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saco, ME and Newport, 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

52 mi · 1 hr 1 min · I 295
Exit 44 Toward Downtown Portland Use the slight right lane.
7

Merge onto I 95

54 mi · 58 min · Maine Turnpike
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec
Exit 157 Toward ME 11, ME 100: Newport, Dexter
9

Keep slight left at fork

112 ft · 6 sec
10

Turn left onto ME 11; ME 100

0.5 mi · 1 min · Ox Bow Road
11

Turn slight right

228 ft · 7 sec
12

Turn slight right onto US 2; ME 7; ME 100

0.6 mi · 1 min · Main Street
13

Arrive at destination

US 2; ME 7; ME 100

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 59.1 miles from Saco, ME, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.3 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 26 miles or 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 59.1 miles or 1h 9m 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 51m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Newport, 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.

+

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 Saco, ME

This is one driving day of about 118.2 miles and 2h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Saco, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Maine Turnpike for about 62.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brunswick, ME

59 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

Portland, ME

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Chelsea, ME

Meal break

The midpoint is around 59.1 miles from Saco, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Maine Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.3 miles.

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 117.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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
6
116.8 mi into trip | ~2h 13m in

Take the exit toward ME 11, ME 100: Newport, Dexter

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 157 Toward ME 11, ME 100: Newport, Dexter
5
117.1 mi into trip | ~2h 13m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$19.03 one way

$38.06 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 41 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $20.94 $41.87
premium $4.86 $22.63 $45.27
diesel $5.61 $26.10 $52.19

Estimated Tolls: $3.74

Maine Turnpike (62.3 mi) $3.74

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

$19

Tolls

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 41.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 35.5 0 $12.41 $5.67
Efficient EV 29.6 0 $10.34 $4.73
EV Truck/SUV 47.3 0 $16.55 $7.56

Gas CO2

41 kg

EV CO2

14 kg (66% 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

Afternoon in Saco on Saturday

Local time

4:50 PM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Newport, ME

Afternoon in Newport on Saturday

Local time

4:50 PM

EDT

Current temp

34°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

46°F

Brunswick, ME

59 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

8 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

2h 17m 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?

118.2 mi in 2h 17m, mostly highway — 62.3 mi of that is on Maine Turnpike.

97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.3 mi on Maine Turnpike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and I 295. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near ME 112 / Beach Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

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

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 118.2 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: 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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

315 ft 17 ft

Total Climb

413 ft

Total Descent

270 ft

Highest Point

315 ft

~76 mi in

Elevation Range

298 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 Saco, ME to Newport, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Portland along the way.

Portland

10.8 mi in | ~13m | via I 295

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 118.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 62.3 miles on Maine Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $3.74 in tolls one way, starting with Maine Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

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 (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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Newport, 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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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