Saco, ME to Waldoboro, ME is 78.7 miles and takes about 1h 49m 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 Northeast region of the state to another part of the Northeast. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on highways, making it a convenient option for a short, direct trip. You'll find it's an easy day trip, with plenty of time to get to your destination and still have the afternoon free.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.3 miles from Saco, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
28.2 mi
34m
Route 1
19 mi
26m
Mill Street
9.2 mi
13m
Maine Turnpike
8.8 mi
9m
Bath Road
4 mi
7m
Atlantic Highway
3 mi
4m
Main Street
1.5 mi
3m
North Street
1.4 mi
2m
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 Saco, ME and Waldoboro, 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
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
3.0 mi·4 min·Atlantic Highway
17
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Jefferson Street
18
Turn left onto ME 220
7 ft·0 sec·Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
ME 220
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of about 1 hour and 49 minutes, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Saco mid-morning should get you to Waldoboro in the early afternoon, leaving you with plenty of daylight. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, you won't need to worry about frequent stops for gas. Plan for one brief stop to stretch your legs, perhaps around the halfway point, to break up the drive comfortably. Keep an eye out as you transition from I 295 to Route 1, as this is where the driving pace will change.
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 39.3 miles from Saco, ME, or about 48m 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 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.3 miles or 48m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waldoboro, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Saco, ME
This is one driving day of about 78.7 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Saco, 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 41.5 — 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
8
39 mi into trip|~47m 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
41.5 mi into trip|~52m in|Mill Street
Turn left onto Mill Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.19 one way
$28.38 round trip
$4.58/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.98
$15.43
$30.86
premium
$5.35
$16.59
$33.18
diesel
$5.52
$17.11
$34.23
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
$14
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-25.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.6
0
$8.26
$3.78
Efficient EV
19.7
0
$6.89
$3.15
EV Truck/SUV
31.5
0
$11.02
$5.04
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
4:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
SW 0 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Waldoboro, ME
Afternoon
in Waldoboro on Wednesday
Local time
4:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Sunny
S 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
51°F
Brunswick, ME
39 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
3 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
1h 49m 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 mostly highway, with 71% of the route on high-speed roads. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch on I 295 for 28.2 miles. The transition to surface roads will likely feel noticeable as you move from the interstate environment to more local travel. Expect a mix of faster cruising and slower, more developed areas as you approach your destination.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 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?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and Route 1. You will hit about 9 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 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 78.7 miles you will encounter 9 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
144 ft-1 ft
Total Climb
390 ft
Total Descent
386 ft
Highest Point
144 ft
~73.1 mi in
Elevation Range
145 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Saco, ME and Waldoboro, ME, road signs point toward Portland, Bath and Coastal Route.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 78.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
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 Waldoboro, ME before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waldoboro, ME before heading back.
