West Scarborough to Dedham is 149.7 miles and takes about 2 hours 58 minutes via Maine Turnpike and I-295, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within Maine, moving you from the northeastern coastal region inland. With over 90% of the route on highways, it's a straightforward trip for those prioritizing speed and efficiency. This is a practical option if you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
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
74.9 miles from West Scarborough, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Maine Turnpike
79.2 mi
1h 25m
I 295
50.4 mi
58m
Main Road
4.8 mi
8m
I 395
4.1 mi
4m
US 1
4.1 mi
8m
Lower Dedham Road
3.5 mi
6m
Scarborough Connector
2.1 mi
2m
Wilson Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Maine Turnpike
— 79.2 mi, about 1h 25m
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 West Scarborough, ME and Dedham, ME.
1
Start on this road
25 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto US 1
0.2 mi·29 sec·Route 1
3
Continue on US 1; ME 9
4.1 mi·8 min·US 1; ME 9
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto Scarborough Connector
2.1 mi·2 min·Scarborough Connector
5
Merge onto I 295
50 mi·58 min·I 295
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 95
79 mi·1 hr 25 min·Maine Turnpike
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Exit 182AToward I 395 South, ME 15 South: Bangor, Brewer
8
Merge onto I 395; ME 15
0.7 mi·55 sec·I 395; ME 15
9
Continue on I 395; ME 9; ME 15
3.4 mi·4 min·I 395; ME 9; ME 15
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 6AToward US 1A East: Coastal Route, Ellsworth, Bar Harbor
11
Merge onto US 1A
0.3 mi·26 sec·Wilson Street
12
Continue on US 1A
4.8 mi·8 min·Main Road
13
Turn right onto Lower Dedham Road
3.5 mi·6 min·Lower Dedham Road
14
Turn right onto South Road
0.1 mi·29 sec·South Road
15
Arrive at destination
South Road
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short drive time of under 3 hours, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid potential rush hour traffic leaving the greater Portland area. The most significant stretch without a convenient exit is 79.2 miles on the Maine Turnpike, so ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that segment. There's one designated stop on this route, providing an opportunity to stretch your legs or refuel if needed.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.9 miles from West Scarborough, ME, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.2 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 33 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.9 miles or 1h 29m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dedham, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Scarborough, 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 West Scarborough, ME
This is one driving day of about 149.7 miles and 2h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from West Scarborough, 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 79.2 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 140.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 1 / Route 1
Turn left onto US 1 / Route 1
Navigation decision point
4
4.2 mi into trip|~8m in|Scarborough Connector
Keep slight left at fork onto Scarborough Connector
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
6.3 mi into trip|~11m in|I 295
Merge onto I 295
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
135.9 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Take the exit toward I 395 South, ME 15 South: Bangor, Brewer
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 182A
Toward I 395 South, ME 15 South: Bangor, Brewer
6
140.5 mi into trip|~2h 41m in
Take the exit toward US 1A East: Coastal Route, Ellsworth, Bar Harbor
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 6A
Toward US 1A East: Coastal Route, Ellsworth, Ba...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.46 one way
$52.93 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$28.99
$57.97
premium
$5.29
$31.17
$62.34
diesel
$5.35
$31.53
$63.06
Estimated Tolls: $4.75
Maine Turnpike
(79.2 mi)$4.75
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
$26
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.9
0
$15.72
$7.19
Efficient EV
37.4
0
$13.10
$5.99
EV Truck/SUV
59.9
0
$20.96
$9.58
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (65% 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 1, 2026
Origin
West Scarborough, ME
Afternoon
in West Scarborough on Wednesday
Local time
3:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Chance Rain Showers
NE 5 mph68% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Dedham, ME
Afternoon
in Dedham on Wednesday
Local time
3:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Patchy Frost
NE 3 mph1% chanceLive forecast
51°F
Augusta, ME
75 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
8 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
2h 58m 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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 46.5
Acadia National Park protects the natural beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the United States, an abundance of habitats, and a rich cultural heritage. At 4 million...
28 mi from route
~71 min detour
$6
near mile 149.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 92% of the 149.7 miles on high-speed roads like the Maine Turnpike and I-295. You'll encounter your longest stretch of uninterrupted highway cruising at 79.2 miles on the Maine Turnpike. Expect a significant portion of the drive to involve passing numerous exits as you move through more populated areas before transitioning to less-developed segments.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.2 mi on Maine Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and I 295. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 1 / Route 1.
Driving Effort5/10
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 149.7 miles you will encounter 10 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 / Route 1): Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles (Scarborough Connector): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 6.3 miles (I 295): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
379 ft15 ft
Total Climb
466 ft
Total Descent
430 ft
Highest Point
379 ft
~117.7 mi in
Elevation Range
364 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between West Scarborough, ME and Dedham, ME, road signs point toward Brewer, Ellsworth and Bar Harbor.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 58m. Total distance: 149.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.2 miles on Maine Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.75 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 (US 1 / Route 1): Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles (Scarborough Connector): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 6.3 miles (I 295): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Frances Perkins National Monument and Acadia National Park. 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 Dedham, ME before heading back.
