West Scarborough to Friendship is 81.5 miles and takes about 2 hours 7 minutes 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, taking you from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the interstate, but it transitions to a more scenic, coastal road as you get closer to Friendship. It's a straightforward drive, ideal for a single-day excursion without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.7 miles from West Scarborough, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
26.2 mi
31m
Route 1
19.2 mi
27m
Mill Street
9.2 mi
13m
Friendship Road
7 mi
16m
US 1
4.1 mi
8m
Bath Road
4 mi
7m
Atlantic Highway
3 mi
4m
Waldoboro Road
2.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 26.2 mi, about 31m
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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 West Scarborough, ME and Friendship, 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
26 mi·31 min·I 295
6
Take the exit
1.3 mi·2 min
Exit 28Toward US 1: Brunswick, Bath, Coastal RouteUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on US 1
1.2 mi·2 min·Pleasant Street
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left onto Mill Street
9.2 mi·13 min·Mill Street
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on US 1
1.0 mi·2 min·Main Street
10
Continue on US 1
4.9 mi·6 min·Route 1
11
Continue on US 1
4.0 mi·7 min·Bath Road
12
Continue on US 1; ME 27
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
13
Continue on US 1; ME 27
8.7 mi·12 min·Route 1
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1
5.4 mi·7 min·Route 1
15
Continue on US 1
3.0 mi·4 min·Atlantic Highway
16
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Jefferson Street
17
Continue on ME 220
7.0 mi·16 min·Friendship Road
18
Continue on ME 220
2.3 mi·5 min·Waldoboro Road
19
At end of road, turn right onto Harbor Road
35 ft·1 sec·Harbor Road
20
Arrive at destination
Harbor Road
Trip Plan
Since this drive is under 3 hours, you have a lot of flexibility for when you want to depart. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Friendship and explore before evening. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, you won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops, but it's always wise to top off before you leave West Scarborough. Pay attention to the transition from I 295 to Route 1; this is where the driving pace will change, so be ready to adjust your speed accordingly.
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 40.7 miles from West Scarborough, ME, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.2 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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.7 miles or 56m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Friendship, 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 81.5 miles and 2h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from West Scarborough, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 295 for about 26.2 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 63.3 — 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
8
32.5 mi into trip|~42m 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
34.9 mi into trip|~47m in|Mill Street
Turn left onto Mill Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
63.3 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|US 1 / Route 1
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1 / Route 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.22 one way
$28.45 round trip
$4.43/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.93
$15.83
$31.66
premium
$5.30
$17.01
$34.02
diesel
$6.18
$19.83
$39.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.5
0
$8.56
$3.91
Efficient EV
20.4
0
$7.13
$3.26
EV Truck/SUV
32.6
0
$11.41
$5.22
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 10, 2026
Origin
West Scarborough, ME
Afternoon
in West Scarborough on Saturday
Local time
2:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Clear
W 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 10 at 2:02AM EDT until October 11 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gray ME
Destination
Friendship, ME
Afternoon
in Friendship on Saturday
Local time
2:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Clear
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 10 at 2:02AM EDT until October 11 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gray ME
36°F
Brunswick, ME
41 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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 7m 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?
About 61% of this drive is on highways, primarily I 295. You'll experience a longest stretch of 26.2 miles on I 295 before transitioning to Route 1. Expect a shift from interstate cruising to more local traffic and potentially some slower speeds as you approach your destination. This means you'll notice the exits becoming more frequent and the scenery changing as you move from highway driving to surface roads.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.2 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 8 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 81.5 miles you will encounter 8 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 32.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
294 ft13 ft
Total Climb
562 ft
Total Descent
500 ft
Highest Point
294 ft
~69.8 mi in
Elevation Range
281 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 Friendship, ME, road signs point toward Bath and Coastal Route.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 7m. Total distance: 81.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.2 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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, 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 32.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Friendship, ME before heading back.
