How far is City of Portland, ME from Saco, ME?

The driving distance from City of Portland, ME to Saco, ME is about 21.7 miles (35 km), with a travel time of about 04h 29m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 17 miles (27.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 58m 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
21.73 mi
04h 29m
Flight
17.06 mi
27.45 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from City of Portland.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
17.06 mi
Kilometers
27.45 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
21.73 mi
Kilometers
34.97 km
Drive Time
04h 29m

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 04h 29m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Saco
Sun, Apr 19, 1:44 PM EDT
Return by in City of Portland
Sun, Apr 19, 6:13 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave City of Portland
2026-04-19T09:15
Arrive Saco
Sun, Apr 19, 1:44 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 29m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:29 AM to 12:29 PM EDT

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

Leave by
8:02 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in City of Portland
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
South Portland Gardens
ME

City in Cumberland County, Maine, United States of America

From City of Portland
10.3 mi
02h 14m
To Saco
11.4 mi
02h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
City of Portland Weather
ME
Live fallback forecast
48°F
Sunday
Using Portland as the closest live forecast in the Cumberland County weather hub.

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SW
Destination
Saco Weather
ME
Live fallback forecast
50°F
Sunday
Using Biddeford as the closest live forecast in the York County weather hub.

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between City of Portland and Saco.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between City of Portland and Saco.

  1. 1

    Start on Seashore Avenue

    3044 ft · 2 min · Seashore Avenue

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Seashore Avenue

    1046 ft · 46 sec · Seashore Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on Whitehead Street

    107 m · 15 sec · Whitehead Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Oakland Avenue

    594 ft · 32 sec · Oakland Avenue

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Welch Street

    1291 ft · 1 min · Welch Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Portland - Peaks Island

    2.5 mi · 20 min · Portland - Peaks Island

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    57 m · 14 sec

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Maine State Pier

    23 m · 31 sec · Maine State Pier

  9. 9

    Continue on Maine State Pier

    656 ft · 34 sec · Maine State Pier

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Commercial Street

    1.9 mi · 4 min · Commercial Street

  11. 11

    Continue on Fore River Parkway

    678 ft · 11 sec · Fore River Parkway

  12. 12

    Continue on Veterans Memorial Bridge

    2169 ft · 39 sec · Veterans Memorial Bridge

  13. 13

    Continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway

    2069 ft · 35 sec · Blue Star Memorial Highway

  14. 14

    Take the ramp slight right

    2229 ft · 54 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    1.2 km · 1 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left

    2.6 mi · 4 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike

    7.3 mi · 8 min · Maine Turnpike

  18. 18

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

    965 ft · 27 sec

  19. 19

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

    2800 ft · 1 min

  20. 20

    Continue on RT-112 Buxton Rd: Saco, Buxton

    769 ft · 19 sec

  21. 21

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

    965 ft · 30 sec

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Buxton Road

    65 m · 4 sec · Buxton Road

  23. 23

    Continue on North Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · North Street

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Main Street

    28 m · 3 sec · Main Street

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between City of Portland and Saco.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
25 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
115.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Maine Turnpike
7.27 mi · 33%
Blue Star Memorial Highway
4.19 mi · 19%
Portland - Peaks Island
2.57 mi · 12%
Commercial Street
1.91 mi · 9%
North Street
1.73 mi · 8%
RT-112 Buxton Rd
0.86 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Maine Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike

7.27 mi · 00h 08m

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
04h 29m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.7 mi
17 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
South Portland Gardens
02h 14m from City of Portland
Leave By
8:02 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving City of Portland and Rain Showers Likely near Saco.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from City of Portland to Saco?

The road trip is about 21.7 miles (35 km) and usually takes 04h 29m 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?

South Portland Gardens is a useful midpoint, sitting about 10.3 miles from City of Portland and 11.4 miles from Saco.

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

The direct path is about 17 miles (27.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.7 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 8:02 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.04 one way or $6.08 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around City of Portland and Rain Showers Likely near Saco.

Stop Ideas Near South Portland Gardens

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around South Portland Gardens, 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 South Portland Gardens.

RAIL

Portland Transportation Center

2 mi away
100 Thompson's Point Road
RAIL

Old Orchard Beach

15 mi away
11 First Street
RAIL

Saco Transportation Center

19 mi away
130 Main Street
RAIL

Freeport

29 mi away
36 Depot Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between City of Portland and Saco. Straight-line distance: 17.06 mi (27.45 km).

City of Portland

#1 City of Portland

The twenty-eighth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Portland metropolitan area.

Population653,115
Coordinates43.6470800, -70.1682300
Altitude36
CountryUnited States
Saco

#2 Saco

City in York County, Maine

Population20,121
Coordinates43.5009200, -70.4428300
Altitude20
CountryUnited States
Start: Seashore Avenue (-70.181795, 43.65347)
End: Main Street (-70.442839, 43.500924)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 35 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.77 gal
2.9 L · about $3.04
Round trip
$6.08
1.54 gal · 5.8 L
Estimated CO2
6.8 kg one way
Round trip: 13.7 kg / 30 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $3.04 $6.08
Mid-grade $4.46 $3.43 $6.86
Premium $4.86 $3.74 $7.48
Diesel $6.00 $4.62 $9.24

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 · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between City of Portland and Saco. The current time is 09:15:27.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

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