Biddeford to Boothbay Harbor is 74.4 miles and takes about 1h 47m via I 295 and Maine Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maine, traveling north through the Northeast region. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you make your way up the coast. It's a straightforward drive, well-suited for a single day trip if you're looking for a relatively short excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.2 miles from Biddeford, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
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
5.1 mi
8m
Boothbay Road
4.7 mi
7m
Bath Road
4 mi
7m
Main Street
2.4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 28.2 mi, about 34m
Traffic on I-295
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 39 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,557 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,064
Quietest
2 AM
~87 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
29.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Biddeford, ME and Boothbay Harbor, ME.
1
Start on US 1 Alternate
0.9 mi·1 min·Main Street
2
Turn left 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
4.9 mi·8 min·Wiscasset Road
17
Enter roundabout onto ME 27
73 ft·1 sec·Wiscasset Road
18
Continue on ME 27
0.2 mi·29 sec·Wiscasset Road
19
Continue on ME 27
1.2 mi·2 min·Townsend Avenue
20
Turn slight right onto ME 27
0.4 mi·1 min·Oak Street
21
Turn left
95 ft·6 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1h 47m, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Biddeford mid-morning should allow you to arrive in Boothbay Harbor with plenty of daylight. With a total distance of just 74.4 miles, you likely won't need extensive stops, but there are opportunities to pull over if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $13, so topping up before you leave Biddeford is a good idea.
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 37.2 miles from Biddeford, ME, or about 45m 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 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.2 miles or 45m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Boothbay Harbor, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Biddeford, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Biddeford, ME
This is one driving day of about 74.4 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Biddeford, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 72.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 North: Portland
Navigation decision point
Toward I 95 North: Portland
8
11.6 mi into trip|~14m 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
39.9 mi into trip|~49m 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
42.3 mi into trip|~53m in|Mill Street
Turn left onto Mill Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
72.7 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|ME 27 / Wiscasset Road
Enter roundabout onto ME 27 / Wiscasset Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.15 one way
$26.30 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$14.41
$28.81
premium
$5.29
$15.49
$30.98
diesel
$5.35
$15.67
$31.34
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
$13
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.3
0
$7.81
$3.57
Efficient EV
18.6
0
$6.51
$2.98
EV Truck/SUV
29.8
0
$10.42
$4.76
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 May 19, 2026
Origin
Biddeford, ME
Evening
in Biddeford on Wednesday
Local time
5:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Clear
S 0 to 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Boothbay Harbor, ME
Evening
in Boothbay Harbor on Wednesday
Local time
5:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Brunswick, ME
37 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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 47m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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 64.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 58% highway, with the longest continuous stretch being 28.2 miles on I 295. You'll transition from the Maine Turnpike and I 295 onto surface streets like Mill Street as you approach your destination. The highway portion offers efficient travel, but be prepared for more local traffic and intersections once you're off the main interstate.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.2 mi on I 295.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
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 2.3 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 74.4 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 2.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
234 ft26 ft
Total Climb
399 ft
Total Descent
418 ft
Highest Point
234 ft
~37.2 mi in
Elevation Range
208 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Biddeford, ME and Boothbay Harbor, ME, road signs point toward Portland, Bath and Coastal Route.
Biddeford is a city located in southern Maine. It was once a booming town full of textile mills, the service and manufacturing industries are the major city employers. Approximately 33% of the population speaks French, due to the influx of French-Canadian immigrants to the city's mills in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
Top landmarks
•Biddeford City Hall — rathaus in Biddeford, United States of America
•Biddeford Main Street Historic District — historic district in Maine, United States
•St. Andre's Parish — historic church in Maine, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 74.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.2 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.53 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 — we found about 2 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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: at 2.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Frances Perkins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Boothbay Harbor, ME before heading back.
