Biddeford to South Thomaston is 95 miles and takes about 2 hours 15 minutes via I-295 and Route 1, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maine, moving from the southern part of the state up the coast towards the Midcoast region. The route offers a mix of quicker highway driving and more scenic surface roads. It's a straightforward drive that’s manageable for a single day, making it a good option if you're looking for an efficient way to cover some distance along the Maine coast.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.4 miles from Biddeford, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
28.2 mi
34m
Route 1
19 mi
26m
Atlantic Highway
13.4 mi
18m
Mill Street
9.2 mi
13m
Maine Turnpike
8.8 mi
9m
Main Street
4.2 mi
7m
Bath Road
4 mi
7m
Westbrook Street
1.9 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 28.2 mi, about 34m
Traffic on I-295
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 78 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,550 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,104
Quietest
2 AM
~86 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
29.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 South Thomaston, 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
8.7 mi·12 min·Route 1
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1
5.4 mi·7 min·Route 1
16
Continue on US 1
13 mi·18 min·Atlantic Highway
17
Continue on US 1
1.8 mi·2 min·Main Street
18
Turn right onto ME 131
0.5 mi·51 sec·High Street
19
Continue on ME 131
1.2 mi·2 min·Saint George Road
20
Turn left onto Westbrook Street
1.9 mi·7 min·Westbrook Street
21
At end of road, turn left onto ME 73
26 ft·0 sec·Spruce Head Road
22
Arrive at destination
ME 73
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour-plus drive, leaving in the morning is a good idea to maximize your daylight. Since it's a shorter trip, you have flexibility with stops; consider breaking up the drive around the halfway point if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move onto Route 1, as services can become more spread out in certain sections. The $13 fuel cost estimate suggests filling up before you depart or at a convenient point along I-295 is advisable.
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 47.4 miles from Biddeford, ME, or about 1h 1m 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 21 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.4 miles or 1h 1m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Thomaston, 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.
+
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 Biddeford, ME
This is one driving day of about 94.9 miles and 2h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 70.7 — 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
70.7 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|US 1 / Route 1
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1 / Route 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.56 one way
$33.13 round trip
$4.43/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.93
$18.43
$36.87
premium
$5.30
$19.81
$39.61
diesel
$6.18
$23.09
$46.17
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
$17
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.5
0
$9.96
$4.56
Efficient EV
23.7
0
$8.30
$3.80
EV Truck/SUV
38
0
$13.29
$6.07
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (67% 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Biddeford, ME
Morning
in Biddeford on Saturday
Local time
8:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Cloudy
W 5 to 10 mph62% chanceLive forecast
Destination
South Thomaston, ME
Morning
in South Thomaston on Saturday
Local time
8:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
W 10 to 15 mph53% chanceLive forecast
57°F
Bath, ME
47 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
1 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 15m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 59% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on I-295. The longest uninterrupted stretch on the highway is 28.2 miles. Expect the transition to surface roads like Route 1 and the Atlantic Highway to introduce more local traffic and varied speed limits. The profile is mixed highway and surface, so be prepared for changes in driving pace as you move between these road types.
59% 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 10 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 94.9 miles you will encounter 10 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
182 ft30 ft
Total Climb
361 ft
Total Descent
396 ft
Highest Point
182 ft
~81.3 mi in
Elevation Range
152 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 South Thomaston, 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 2h 15m. Total distance: 94.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). 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, 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: 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 South Thomaston, ME before heading back.
