Presque Isle to Scarborough is 294.2 miles and takes about 5h 39m via I 95 and I 295, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Maine, moving from the Northeast region down to the Northeast region. Expect a route that is primarily highway driving, making it a straightforward option for a single-day trip. It’s a practical choice if you need to get from northern Maine to the southern coast efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
147.1 miles from Presque Isle, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
198.2 mi
3h 26m
I 295
50.5 mi
58m
Houlton Road
10.3 mi
14m
Route 1
10.3 mi
16m
Main Road
6.7 mi
10m
North Road
5.8 mi
8m
North Street
3.1 mi
5m
Scarborough Connector
2.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 198.2 mi, about 3h 26m
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
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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 Presque Isle, ME and Scarborough, ME.
1
Start on State Street
100 ft·5 sec·State Street
2
Turn right onto US 1
1.3 mi·3 min·Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Continue on US 1
10 mi·14 min·Houlton Road
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 1
2.0 mi·3 min·Presque Isle Road
5
Continue on US 1
0.7 mi·2 min·Benjamin Street
6
At end of road, turn right onto US 1
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
7
Continue on US 1
0.3 mi·40 sec·Military Road
8
Continue on US 1
2.7 mi·4 min·Route 1
9
Continue on US 1
6.7 mi·10 min·Main Road
10
Continue on US 1
6.4 mi·10 min·Route 1
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Continue on US 1
0.7 mi·54 sec·US Highway 1
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Continue on US 1
5.8 mi·8 min·North Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 1
3.1 mi·5 min·North Street
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
15
Merge onto I 95
198 mi·3 hr 26 min·I 95
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
51 mi·58 min·I 295
Exit 103Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, BrunswickUse the straight lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto Scarborough Connector
2.1 mi·2 min·Scarborough Connector
Exit 2Toward Scarborough, Old Orchard
18
Turn straight onto US 1; ME 9
1.2 mi·2 min·Route 1
19
Turn left onto ME 207
1.2 mi·2 min·Black Point Road
20
Turn left onto Highland Avenue
267 ft·7 sec·Highland Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
Highland Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 39m estimated drive time, leaving Presque Isle in the morning should allow you to reach Scarborough with plenty of daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Consider fueling up before you leave Presque Isle, as the $49 fuel cost is an estimate and prices can vary. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 198.2-mile stretch on I 95, where services might be less frequent than in more populated areas.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 147.1 miles from Presque Isle, ME, or about 2h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 198.2 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 65 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147.1 miles or 2h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 35m
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 Presque Isle, 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 Presque Isle, ME
This is one driving day of about 294.2 miles and 5h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Presque Isle, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 198.2 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 0 and 289.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 1 / Main Street
Turn right onto US 1 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
14.4 mi into trip|~23m in|US 1 / Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 1 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
40.6 mi into trip|~1h 4m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
9
239.1 mi into trip|~4h 32m in|I 295
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Exit 103
Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Bru...
7
289.6 mi into trip|~5h 31m in|Scarborough Connector
Keep slight right at fork onto Scarborough Connector toward Scarborough, Old Orchard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 2
Toward Scarborough, Old Orchard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.17 one way
$92.34 round trip
$3.99/gal25.4 MPG avg103 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$51.84
$103.69
premium
$4.81
$55.74
$111.47
diesel
$4.80
$55.55
$111.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.3
1
$30.89
$14.12
Efficient EV
73.6
0
$25.74
$11.77
EV Truck/SUV
117.7
1
$41.19
$18.83
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Presque Isle, ME
Night
in Presque Isle on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Clear
SW 3 to 12 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 2:06AM EDT until July 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Caribou ME
Destination
Scarborough, ME
Night
in Scarborough on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 2:06AM EDT until July 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Caribou ME
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 39m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
National Monument
Spread across a wild landscape offering spectacular views of Katahdin, Katahdin Woods and Waters invites discovery of its rivers, streams, woods, flora, fauna, geology, and the night skies that have a...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 81.2
Park Closure: Loop Road and North Entrance Seasonal Closures
Park Closure: Katahdin Overlook Construction Closure
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...
18 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 243.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 88% of the 294.2 miles on high-speed roads. You'll spend the longest stretch, 198.2 miles, on I 95. The final leg will transition to surface roads as you approach your destination, likely with more frequent exits and local traffic. Expect a generally rural cruising feel for much of the drive.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 198.2 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 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 US 1 / Main Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 294.2 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 (US 1 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.4 miles (US 1 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
496 ft29 ft
Total Climb
211 ft
Total Descent
635 ft
Highest Point
496 ft
~63 mi in
Elevation Range
467 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 Presque Isle, ME to Scarborough, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Brunswick along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 39m. Total distance: 294.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 198.2 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Scarborough, ME before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 (US 1 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.4 miles (US 1 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and Frances Perkins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Scarborough, ME before the return drive.
