How far is Southwest Harbor, ME from Saco, ME?
The driving distance from Southwest Harbor, ME to Saco, ME is about 174.8 miles (281.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 45m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 118.4 miles (190.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 31m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 45m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Town in Waldo County, Maine, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Southwest Harbor and Saco.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southwest Harbor and Saco.
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1
Start on Clark Point Road
72 m · 8 sec · Clark Point Road
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2
Turn right onto Main Street
7 mi · 10 min · Main Street
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3
Continue on State Highway 102
3.5 mi · 5 min · State Highway 102
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4
Continue on Triangle Road
696 ft · 18 sec · Triangle Road
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5
At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 3
739 ft · 16 sec · State Highway 3
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6
Continue on Bar Harbor Road
6.7 mi · 12 min · Bar Harbor Road
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7
Continue on High Street
1.1 km · 2 min · High Street
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8
Turn left onto Beechland Road
1 mi · 2 min · Beechland Road
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9
At the end of the road, turn right onto Bayside Road
1 mi · 2 min · Bayside Road
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10
Continue on Water Street
1.3 km · 1 min · Water Street
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11
Turn left onto West Main Street
806 ft · 10 sec · West Main Street
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12
Keep slight right to continue on Main Street
85 m · 4 sec · Main Street
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13
Continue on Bucksport Road
8.5 mi · 10 min · Bucksport Road
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14
Continue on Acadia Highway
9.4 mi · 11 min · Acadia Highway
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15
Continue on Route 1
1.6 km · 1 min · Route 1
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16
Continue on Main Street
41 m · 9 sec · Main Street
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17
Turn left onto Route 1
682 ft · 17 sec · Route 1
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18
Continue on US Highway 1
1.2 mi · 3 min · US Highway 1
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19
Continue on Route 1
13.4 mi · 16 min · Route 1
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20
Continue on Searsport Avenue
2.7 mi · 5 min · Searsport Avenue
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21
Continue on Route 1
1.1 km · 1 min · Route 1
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22
Take the exit slight right
1414 ft · 39 sec
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23
Keep slight right
114 m · 12 sec
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24
Merge slight left onto Belmont Avenue
3.9 mi · 5 min · Belmont Avenue
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25
Continue on Augusta Road
4.8 mi · 5 min · Augusta Road
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26
Continue on Belfast Augusta Road East
3.4 mi · 4 min · Belfast Augusta Road East
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27
Continue on Acadia Highway
4 mi · 4 min · Acadia Highway
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28
Continue on Belfast Augusta Road
17.6 mi · 21 min · Belfast Augusta Road
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29
Continue on Belfast Road
1077 ft · 17 sec · Belfast Road
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30
Continue on North Belfast Avenue
8.1 mi · 12 min · North Belfast Avenue
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31
Turn left onto North Belfast Avenue
1.6 km · 2 min · North Belfast Avenue
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32
At the end of the road, turn left onto Bangor Street
2936 ft · 53 sec · Bangor Street
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33
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Cony Circle
49 m · 3 sec · Memorial Drive
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34
Exit the rotary onto Memorial Drive
1.1 km · 2 min · Memorial Drive
-
35
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Memorial Circle
122 m · 7 sec · State Street
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36
Exit the rotary onto State Street
1007 ft · 19 sec · State Street
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37
Turn right onto Capitol Street
1.3 km · 1 min · Capitol Street
-
38
Turn straight onto Armory Street
915 ft · 20 sec · Armory Street
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39
Turn left onto Western Avenue
1.1 km · 1 min · Western Avenue
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40
Take the exit slight right toward I 95: Portland, Waterville, Bangor
1829 ft · 44 sec
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41
Keep slight left to continue on I-95 South: Portland, Kittery
3262 ft · 1 min
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42
Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike
5.9 mi · 6 min · Maine Turnpike
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43
Keep slight right to continue on I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick
50.5 mi · 59 min
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44
Keep slight left
2.6 mi · 4 min
-
45
Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike
7.3 mi · 8 min · Maine Turnpike
-
46
Take the exit slight right toward I 195 East: Saco, Old Orchard Beach
965 ft · 27 sec
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47
Keep slight left to continue on RT-112 Buxton Rd: Saco, Buxton
2800 ft · 1 min
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48
Continue on RT-112 Buxton Rd: Saco, Buxton
769 ft · 19 sec
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49
Keep slight right to continue on RT-112 Buxton Rd: Saco, Buxton
965 ft · 30 sec
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50
Turn left onto Buxton Road
65 m · 4 sec · Buxton Road
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51
Continue on North Street
1.7 mi · 3 min · North Street
-
52
Turn left onto Main Street
28 m · 3 sec · Main Street
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53
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Main Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Southwest Harbor and Saco.
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.
I 295 South
Keep slight right to continue on I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick
50.5 mi · 00h 59m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Southwest Harbor and Sunny near Saco.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Southwest Harbor to Saco?
The road trip is about 174.8 miles (281.3 km) and usually takes 03h 45m 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?
Palermo is a useful midpoint, sitting about 87.2 miles from Southwest Harbor and 87.6 miles from Saco.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 118.4 miles (190.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 56.4 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 9:28 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.71 one way or $53.42 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Southwest Harbor and Sunny near Saco.
Stop Ideas Near Palermo
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Waterville Opera House
Augusta City Hall
Inn At City Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Palermo.
Augusta, ME
Waldoboro, Maine
Belfast, Maine
Camden/Rockport, Maine
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Southwest Harbor and Saco. Straight-line distance: 118.38 mi (190.52 km).
#1 Southwest Harbor
City in Hancock County, Maine, United States of America
| Population | 1,793 |
| Coordinates | 44.2798000, -68.3250200 |
| Altitude | 13 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Saco
City in York County, Maine
| Population | 20,121 |
| Coordinates | 43.5009200, -70.4428300 |
| Altitude | 20 |
| Country | United States |
End: Saco (-70.44283, 43.50092)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 281 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 49m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 22m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 29m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 54m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 29m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 10m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.33 | $26.71 | $53.42 |
| Mid-grade | $4.89 | $30.18 | $60.37 |
| Premium | $5.36 | $33.07 | $66.14 |
| Diesel | $6.43 | $39.67 | $79.33 |
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 · Oct 22, 2026