How far is Charleston, ME from Saco, ME?

The driving distance from Charleston, ME to Saco, ME is about 145.2 miles (233.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 129.6 miles (208.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 05m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
145.12 mi
03h 02m
Flight
129.57 mi
208.52 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Charleston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
129.57 mi
Kilometers
208.52 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
145.12 mi
Kilometers
233.55 km
Drive Time
03h 02m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Saco
Wed, Sep 23, 2:55 PM EDT
Return by in Charleston
Wed, Sep 23, 5:57 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Charleston
2026-09-23T11:52
Arrive Saco
Wed, Sep 23, 2:55 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:03 AM to 11:03 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:54 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Charleston
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Augusta
ME

County seat in Kennebec County, Maine, USA and Maine federated state capital city

From Charleston
72.5 mi
01h 31m
To Saco
72.6 mi
01h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
65°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Sep 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 mph NE
Destination
Saco Weather
ME
Live fallback forecast
60°F
Wednesday
Using Biddeford as the closest live forecast in the York County weather hub.

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Sep 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Charleston and Saco.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Charleston and Saco.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    55 m · 8 sec

  2. 2

    Turn straight onto Main Road

    4 mi · 7 min · Main Road

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Dover Road

    1721 ft · 29 sec · Dover Road

  4. 4

    Continue on Main Street

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Main Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Exeter Road

    7.2 mi · 13 min · Exeter Road

  6. 6

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Exeter Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Exeter Road

  7. 7

    Continue on Exeter Road

    3.1 mi · 5 min · Exeter Road

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on Exeter Road

    4.3 mi · 8 min · Exeter Road

  9. 9

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Dexter Road

    127 m · 7 sec · Dexter Road

  10. 10

    Continue on Newport Road

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Newport Road

  11. 11

    Continue on Moosehead Trail

    4.7 mi · 7 min · Moosehead Trail

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Ox Bow Road

    43 m · 3 sec · Ox Bow Road

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto Ox Bow Road

    1284 ft · 44 sec · Ox Bow Road

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right

    1648 ft · 40 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight right

    53.5 mi · 58 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick

    50.5 mi · 59 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight left

    2.6 mi · 4 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike

    7.3 mi · 8 min · Maine Turnpike

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward I 195 East: Saco, Old Orchard Beach

    965 ft · 27 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on RT-112 Buxton Rd: Saco, Buxton

    2800 ft · 1 min

  21. 21

    Continue on RT-112 Buxton Rd: Saco, Buxton

    769 ft · 19 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on RT-112 Buxton Rd: Saco, Buxton

    965 ft · 30 sec

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Buxton Road

    65 m · 4 sec · Buxton Road

  24. 24

    Continue on North Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · North Street

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Main Street

    28 m · 3 sec · Main Street

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Charleston and Saco.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
26 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Ox Bow Road
54 mi · 37%
I 295 South
53.2 mi · 37%
Exeter Road
15.7 mi · 11%
Maine Turnpike
7.27 mi · 5%
Moosehead Trail
4.69 mi · 3%
Main Road
4.02 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Ox Bow Road

Merge slight right

53.5 mi · 00h 58m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 02m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+15.6 mi
129.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Augusta
01h 31m from Charleston
Leave By
10:54 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Charleston and Sunny near Saco.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Charleston to Saco?

The road trip is about 145.2 miles (233.6 km) and usually takes 03h 02m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Augusta is a useful midpoint, sitting about 72.5 miles from Charleston and 72.6 miles from Saco.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 129.6 miles (208.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 15.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:54 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.64 one way or $45.28 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 45.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Charleston and Sunny near Saco.

Stop Ideas Near Augusta

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Augusta, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Augusta.

BUS

Augusta, ME

5 mi away
9 Industrial Drive
BUS

Wiscasset, Maine

36 mi away
279 Bath Rd.
BUS

Damariscotta, Maine

37 mi away
167 Main St.
BUS

Waldoboro, Maine

39 mi away
US hwy 1 and hwy 32

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Charleston and Saco. Straight-line distance: 129.57 mi (208.52 km).

Charleston

#1 Charleston

Human settlement in Penobscot County, Maine, United States of America

Population1,675
Coordinates45.0850600, -69.0405900
Altitude149
CountryUnited States
Saco

#2 Saco

City in York County, Maine

Population20,121
Coordinates43.5009200, -70.4428300
Altitude20
CountryUnited States
Start: Charleston (-69.04059, 45.08506)
End: Saco (-70.44283, 43.50092)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 234 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 50m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 37m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 54m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 04m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 48m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.12 gal
19.38 L · about $22.64
Round trip
$45.28
10.24 gal · 38.76 L
Estimated CO2
45.5 kg one way
Round trip: 91 kg / 201 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.42 $22.64 $45.28
Mid-grade $4.96 $25.42 $50.83
Premium $5.44 $27.86 $55.73
Diesel $6.52 $33.36 $66.72

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Maine · Sep 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Charleston and Saco. The current time is 11:52:38.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.