Saco, ME to Old Town, ME is 156.5 miles and takes about 3 hours 2 minutes via Maine Turnpike and I-295, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, starting and ending in Maine. Given its predominantly highway profile and manageable distance, it's a straightforward drive, ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it an efficient way to cover the ground between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
78.3 miles from Saco, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Maine Turnpike
98.5 mi
1h 47m
I 295
52.5 mi
1h 1m
Stillwater Avenue
2.6 mi
7m
North Street
1.4 mi
2m
Center Street
0.7 mi
2m
Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Beach Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Maine Turnpike
— 98.5 mi, about 1h 47m
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 Saco, ME and Old Town, 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 44Toward Downtown PortlandUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 95
90 mi·1 hr 38 min·Maine Turnpike
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Exit 193Toward Stillwater Avenue, Stillwater, Old Town
9
Turn right onto Stillwater Avenue
2.6 mi·7 min·Stillwater Avenue
Use the right lane.
10
Turn straight onto US 2A
0.7 mi·2 min·Center Street
11
Turn right onto US 2
240 ft·4 sec·Main Street
12
Arrive at destination
US 2
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 3-hour drive, consider departing in the late morning to avoid the peak rush hour. With only one recommended stop and a short duration, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits you best. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the 98.5-mile stretch on the Maine Turnpike, as services can be spread out. The transition from I-295 to local roads as you near Old Town is your primary navigational point to be aware of.
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 78.3 miles from Saco, ME, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.5 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 34 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.3 miles or 1h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Old Town, 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 156.5 miles and 3h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Saco, 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 Maine Turnpike for about 98.5 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 153.3 — 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
153.1 mi into trip|~2h 52m in
Take the exit toward Stillwater Avenue, Stillwater, Old Town
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 193
Toward Stillwater Avenue, Stillwater, Old Town
4
153.3 mi into trip|~2h 53m in|Stillwater Avenue
Turn right onto Stillwater Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.66 one way
$55.33 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$30.30
$60.60
premium
$5.29
$32.59
$65.18
diesel
$5.35
$32.96
$65.93
Estimated Tolls: $5.92
Maine Turnpike
(98.5 mi)$5.92
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
$28
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47
0
$16.43
$7.51
Efficient EV
39.1
0
$13.69
$6.26
EV Truck/SUV
62.6
0
$21.91
$10.02
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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 Jun 3, 2026
Origin
Saco, ME
Afternoon
in Saco on Wednesday
Local time
3:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
SW 0 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Old Town, ME
Afternoon
in Old Town on Wednesday
Local time
3:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
SW 1 to 8 mph3% chanceLive forecast
51°F
Augusta, ME
78 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 2m 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 route is overwhelmingly highway, with 96% of the drive on interstates. You'll experience a long stretch of 98.5 miles on the Maine Turnpike before transitioning. The final leg will involve surface roads, including Stillwater Avenue, as you approach Old Town. Expect a high volume of exits and merging traffic for much of the drive.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.5 mi on Maine Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and I 295. 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 Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 2m drive. You will face about 8 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
277 ft40 ft
Total Climb
303 ft
Total Descent
266 ft
Highest Point
277 ft
~123 mi in
Elevation Range
237 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 Old Town, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Portland along the way.
The longest stretch is about 98.5 miles on Maine Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.92 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 7 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: 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 — Frances Perkins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Old Town, ME, but most travelers stay overnight.
