Driving to Maine: Tips, Tricks, and Laws

Visiting some of the picturesque sites and towns that Maine has to offer? Brush up on the best and worst routes and driving laws before you go!
Written by Pat Roache
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The quaint state of Maine offers a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of congested traffic—but not so much the rattle and recoil of unkempt infrastructure.
This New England state is a nature lover's dream. From an expansive collection of picturesque small towns dotting the coast to mountains, forests, and waterfalls scattered across the inland—any combination of stops has the makings for a perfect, peaceful getaway. Just make sure you know what you’re getting into if your route takes you off the Maine highway! 
We're here to help you prepare your ideal Maine road trip—we’ll break down the best ways to travel the state, as well as all the laws, tolls, and insider tips you’ll need to know for a smooth and
hassle-free trip
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The best routes for driving to Maine

Traveling to the Pine Tree State offers a wide variety of opportunities to explore different regions of the continental United States—and beyond!
Portland
and
Augusta
are must-stops for your itinerary, but they’re definitely not the only Maine destinations you’ll want to visit.
Here are some of the state’s most popular destinations and some of the coolest routes to get to them: 
  • Nashville
    —Camden (20 hours): Escape the Southeast with a breathtaking route up I-81 through the Appalachian Mountains, a pit stop in New York City, and a final stretch on Maine’s scenic Route 1 tracing the Atlantic Coast.
  • Chicago
    —Ogunquit (17 hours): Residents of one of the most inclusive cities in the country will surely enjoy the LGBTQ+ getaway town of Ogunquit—and the drive to get there! Get ready for views of Lake Erie, rural New York, and historic New England.
  • Detroit
    —Bar Harbor (16 hours): Make sure you have a passport for this one—the most direct route from the Motor City to Maine takes you up through Canada. Pass around Toronto and Montreal, and take in the Northern shore of Lake Ontario as you make your way to one of Maine’s finest small towns on the coast.
  • New York City
    —Caribou (11 hours): Why not escape the city for some peace and calm in one of Maine’s most northern cities? The route is almost a straight shot up the state’s main interstate—I-95—with plenty of scenic stopping opportunities along the way. 

How good are Maine’s roads?

Unfortunately, Maine’s roadways are not doing so hot these days. Almost half of its road network is in a subpar condition, and its backroads rank as some of the worst in the country. It’s so bad that there’s even an annual contest to name the worst Maine road of the year.
As bad as it may sound, don’t let the road conditions discourage you from your Maine road trip. Avoid rural roads and bridges if you can—or at least be prepared for a bumpy ride.

Does Maine have toll roads?

Yes! Maine has a toll road—the Maine Turnpike covers the stretch of I-95 from Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Augusta, Maine. The exact toll will depend on where you enter and where you leave, and the cost ranges from $1 to $8 for cash payers.
Are tolls putting a cramp on your style? If you have an
EZ Pass
, you’ll be charged a reduced rate—between $0.50 and $6.70. The Turnpike also runs close to State Highway 1, I-195, and I-295 if you would rather avoid the tolls altogether.
Here’s a map of the
Maine Turnpike
to help you plan your trip, as well as information on the Turnpike’s
service centers
.

How bad is Maine traffic?

Despite its suffering infrastructure, traffic and congestion are not major concerns in Maine. The state has some of the best traffic conditions when it comes to the number of drivers on the road. Saturdays in summer are likely to see the highest peak—but it’s really not that bad!
On average, Maine commuters only spend 24 minutes every day traveling to and from work—that’s only a 12-minute drive from home to the office!
Less extensive commutes across the state remove a lot of risk for heavy congestion on the highways. In fact, you may face more traffic on smaller scenic roadways that cut through small towns and neighborhoods than on the interstate.
Key Takeaway Maine has arguably one of the worst infrastructures in the country, but on the upside, it also has some of the lightest traffic!
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What are Maine’s speeding laws?

Maine law outlines a few general important speeding restrictions that you’ll want to be familiar with before trying any backroads. Obviously, you’ll want to prioritize posted speed limits, but if a road doesn’t have a posted sign, refer to the following conditional speed limits
  • Driving in a school zone:15 mph during school recess, opening and closing hours, or anytime a school zone speed limit sign is flashing
  • Approaching an intersection with an obstructed view:15 mph unless there is a stop sign or traffic light giving preference to your flow of traffic
  • Driving in a business or residential district: 25 mph unless otherwise posted
  • Driving on all other roads without posted speed limits:45 mph

Fines for speeding in Maine

Maine determines its speeding fines based on the difference between your speed and the posted speed limit:
  • 1 to 9 mph over the limit:$114
  • 10 to 14 mph over:$129
  • 15 to 19 mph over:$170
  • 20 to 24 mph over:$230
  • 25 to 29 mph over:$270
It is up to the discretion of the officer if they consider your speed to constitute
reckless driving
—which carries fines of $575 to $1,000, potential jail time, and license suspension. 
And the penalties don’t stop there. Getting
points from a speeding violation
on your driving record will also result in a higher insurance premium. If you’re hurting for a lower rate, the
Jerry
app can help find you the lowest rates available to your situation in the blink of an eye.

What are Maine’s alcohol laws?

Maine’s speed limits may take a moment to digest, but the alcohol laws are simple: anyone found driving under the influence of an intoxicating substance or with a BAC of 0.08% or higher is guilty of an OUI—
Maine’s version of a DUI
.
Even one drink can impair your ability to operate a vehicle, so it's best practice to utilize a designated driver or rideshare service whether you’ve had a single drink or more. If you don’t, you could face up to $2,000 in fines, up to a year in jail, a 150-day license suspension, and more.
Let’s say you haven’t been drinking, but you’ve got some bottles in the car for your various road trip stops. Maine’s
open container laws
restrict any open containers of alcohol—whether any of its contents have been removed or not—in the passenger area of your vehicle. Keep those bottles secure in the trunk and out of your car’s main cabin to follow all of Maine’s alcohol laws.

Can you use headphones while driving in Maine?

There are no laws in Maine restricting the use of headphones while driving. However, your sense of hearing can be just as important as your sense of sight in an emergency, so keep that in mind before you pop in your earbuds.

What are some of Maine’s best road trips?

Laws? Check! What to expect from the roads? Also check! Now you’re really ready to map out your trip with the best routes and stops that Maine has to offer. Check out our article on the best road trips in Maine to find what speaks to you and narrow down your options.
As you’ll see from our expert road trip planners, Maine has a little bit of fun for every type of adventurer—from tours of scenic waterfalls and haunted backroads to visually stunning views along Highway 1 and Golden Road. There are even some
impressive castles
scattered throughout the state for the history and architecture buffs in your family!

How to find affordable car insurance in Maine

If you plan on tackling some of Maine’s notorious backroads during your trip, you should probably make sure you have roadside assistance before hitting the road. Need to update your plan? The
trustworthy super app
and licensed car insurance broker
Jerry
can help you find all the coverage you need at the lowest rate available!
Here’s all you need to do: download Jerry’s top-rated app, complete a 45-second sign-up, then choose your favorite policy from Jerry’s top cheapest picks sourced from over 50 providers. We’ll do all the hard work to cancel old policies and start up your new one so you can stay focused on planning your trip.
The best part? The savings are real! The average Jerry driver saves over $800 on car insurance—now that’s gonna look great for your travel budget!
Jerry
was fast and easy to use. Their customer service was so helpful in helping me navigate the situation my state is dealing with. Now I’m saving an extra $100 every 6 months!” —Tony C.
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FAQs

All of Maine’s cities are relatively easy to drive in, given the lack of any major traffic congestion across the state. Just be wary of Maine’s neglected infrastructure and unpaved backroads across the state’s smaller towns.
To cross the state, you can take I-95 from its entry point in Kittery to its last stop (before entering Canada) in Houlton—covering 295 miles in a little more than 4 hours.
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