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Trip from Saco, ME to Warren, ME

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Compiled 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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 51m ★
6 AM
2h 0m
8 AM
2h 17m
10 AM
2h 6m
12 PM
2h 4m
3 PM
2h 7m
5 PM
2h 16m
8 PM
1h 55m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in York County, Maine, United States

Saco, ME

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Warren, ME, ME

Warren, ME

PhotoShoot Studio | Candid, Birthday Pre Wedding, Baby, Maternity & Child Photographer in Pune Ps Studio

Trip Overview

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 .

Main Roads

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
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

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

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 Saco, ME and Warren, 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 44 Toward Downtown Portland Use the slight right lane.
7

Take the exit

1.3 mi · 2 min
Exit 28 Toward US 1: Brunswick, Bath, Coastal Route Use 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

9.1 mi · 13 min · Atlantic Highway
17

Turn left onto ME 90

1.1 mi · 1 min · Camden Road
18

Turn right onto Union Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Union Street
19

Arrive at destination

Main Street

Trip Plan

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.

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 42.9 miles from Saco, ME, or about 54m 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 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.

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 85.7 miles and 1h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 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.

town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brunswick, ME

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Portland, ME

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brunswick, ME

Meal break

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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best coffee break · early in the drive

Freeport Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Freeport, Maine

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch · 43min in 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+12078695113

Visit website

Nom Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Portland, Maine

2.3 mi

Artemisia Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Portland, Maine

2.3 mi

Freeport Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Freeport, Maine

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+12078695113

Visit website

Nom Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Portland, Maine

Hours: 9 am–2 pm

+12076139332

Visit website

Artemisia Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30

Portland, Maine

Hours: 11 AM–1:30 PM

Visit website

Rest Area

0 mi from route

Service Plaza

1.4 mi from route

Maine Escape Games

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

South Portland, Maine

Hours: 1–7 pm

+12072746007

Visit website

Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

South Portland, Maine

Hours: 4–8 pm

+12078087696

Visit website

Castle Tucker

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Wiscasset, Maine

Hours: Closed

+12078827169

Visit website

Portland Observatory

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Portland, Maine

+12072531800

Visit website

Maine Military Museum & Learning Center

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

South Portland, Maine

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+12077678227

Visit website

Maine Day Ventures/ formerly Maine Foodie Tours

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Portland, Maine

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+12072337485

Visit website

The Escape Room

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Portland, Maine

Hours: 12–8:15 pm

+12076193775

Visit website

Monkey C Monkey Do

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Wiscasset, Maine

+12078826861

Visit website

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

$14.82 one way

$29.64 round trip

$4.39/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
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

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

$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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Oct 20, 2026

Origin

Saco, ME

Morning in Saco on Thursday

Local time

7:19 AM

EDT

Current temp

37°F

Partly Cloudy

NE 0 to 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Warren, ME

Morning in Warren on Thursday

Local time

7:19 AM

EDT

Current temp

35°F

Partly Cloudy then Patchy Fog

NW 0 to 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

2 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 59m 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

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...

2 mi from route ~4 min detour Free near mile 65
Park Closure: For Current Visitor Information
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

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.

65% 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?

5/10

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 Effort 5/10

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 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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

223 ft -3 ft

Total Climb

581 ft

Total Descent

612 ft

Highest Point

223 ft

~79.6 mi in

Elevation Range

226 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 Warren, ME, road signs point toward Portland, Bath and Coastal Route.

Portland

10.8 mi in | ~13m | via I 295

Bath

39 mi in | ~47m

Coastal Route

39 mi in | ~47m

About the Cities

Starting in Saco, ME

Full guide →

Founded 1630

Saco is a town in Maine.

Top landmarks

  • • Grant Family House — historic house in Maine, United States
  • • Saco City Hall — rathaus in Saco, United States of America

Arriving in Warren, ME

Full guide →

Founded 1736

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

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.

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. 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 Warren, ME before heading back.

How this page is built

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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