Freeport Cafe
Around the midpoint, short detour
Freeport, Maine
Hours: 7 am–2 pm
+12078695113
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 22, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 59m
Distance
85.7 mi
138 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saco, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Warren, ME
PhotoShoot Studio | Candid, Birthday Pre Wedding, Baby, Maternity & Child Photographer in Pune Ps Studio
Saco to Warren is 85.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 59 minutes via I 295 and Route 1, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Maine, traveling from the Northeast region of the state to another part of the Northeast. Expect a straightforward drive primarily on major roads, making it a good option for a quick escape or an easy addition to a larger trip. The route is generally considered a same-day trip, so you can easily plan your departure and arrival without needing overnight accommodations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.9 miles from Saco, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 295 | 28.2 mi | 34m |
| Route 1 | 19 mi | 26m |
| Mill Street | 9.2 mi | 13m |
| Atlantic Highway | 9.1 mi | 13m |
| Maine Turnpike | 8.8 mi | 9m |
| Bath Road | 4 mi | 7m |
| Main Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| North Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
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
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Saco, ME and Warren, ME.
Start on US 1 Alternate
Turn right onto ME 112
Continue on ME 5; ME 112
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
Take the exit
Continue on US 1
Turn left onto Mill Street
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1; ME 27
Continue on US 1; ME 27
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Turn left onto ME 90
Turn right onto Union Street
Arrive at destination
For this 1 hour 59 minute drive, consider leaving Saco in the morning to maximize your daylight hours. Since the total distance is only 85.7 miles and the fuel cost is estimated at $14, you don't need to worry too much about extensive stops. The longest stretch without a significant break is 28.2 miles on I 295, so plan for a quick stretch break before or after that segment if needed. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 295 to Route 1, as this is where the driving experience will change from highway speeds to more local road conditions.
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.
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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.9 miles or 54m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Warren, ME than in the middle of the route.
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 85.7 miles and 1h 59m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 42.9 miles from Saco, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Best coffee break · early in the drive
Freeport, Maine
Around the midpoint, short detour
Hours: 7 am–2 pm
+12078695113
Nom Cafe
Portland, Maine
Artemisia Cafe
Portland, Maine
Around the midpoint, short detour
Freeport, Maine
Hours: 7 am–2 pm
+12078695113
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 9 am–2 pm
+12076139332
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 11 AM–1:30 PM
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
South Portland, Maine
Hours: 1–7 pm
+12072746007
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
South Portland, Maine
Hours: 4–8 pm
+12078087696
Visit websiteLater in the drive, right off the route
Wiscasset, Maine
Hours: Closed
+12078827169
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Portland, Maine
+12072531800
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
South Portland, Maine
Hours: 11 am–5 pm
+12077678227
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+12072337485
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 12–8:15 pm
+12076193775
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Wiscasset, Maine
+12078826861
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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.
Turn right onto ME 112 / Beach Street
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 95 North: Portland
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 toward Downtown Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Turn left onto Mill Street
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$14.82 one way
$29.64 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.90 | $16.53 | $33.06 |
| premium | $5.27 | $17.78 | $35.57 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $21.18 | $42.35 |
Estimated Tolls: $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
$15
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: 30 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.7 | 0 | $9.00 | $4.11 |
| Efficient EV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.50 | $3.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.3 | 0 | $12.00 | $5.48 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Saco on Thursday
Local time
7:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Warren on Thursday
Local time
7:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
35°F
Partly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
53°F
Brunswick, ME
43 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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.
This drive is mostly highway, with 65% of the 85.7 miles on major roads like I 295. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 28.2 miles on I 295 before transitioning to surface roads. After leaving the interstate, you'll navigate Route 1, which will feel more like rural cruising with potential for slower traffic and more frequent exits as you approach your destination. The shift from highway to surface street driving will be noticeable as you get closer to Warren.
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.
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 85.7 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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
581 ft
Total Descent
612 ft
Highest Point
223 ft
~79.6 mi in
Elevation Range
226 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Saco, ME and Warren, ME, road signs point toward Portland, Bath and Coastal Route.
Portland
Bath
Coastal Route
Founded 1630
Saco is a town in Maine.
Top landmarks
Founded 1736
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 85.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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