Route 1 in Maine runs about 526 miles, from the Memorial Bridge at Kittery to the Canadian border at Fort Kent. It is called the Coastal Route, but it does not stay on the coast, and a good part of it is nowhere near the water. This guide gives you the mileposts for every major town, what each section is like, which parts are worth the time, and what happens after the road turns inland toward Aroostook County.
Route 1 in Maine at a glance
- Length: 526.05 miles in Maine, according to Wikipedia’s route description. Down East magazine rounds it to 527.
- South end: the Memorial Bridge over the Piscataqua River at Kittery, at the New Hampshire line.
- North end: the Clair–Fort Kent Bridge at the Canadian border in Fort Kent.
- Counties: nine, which are York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, Waldo, Hancock, Washington and Aroostook.
- Nickname: the “Coastal Route.” The Maine Atlas notes it doesn’t strictly follow the coastline.
- Age: Route 1 turned 100 in 2026, according to the Maine Atlas.
Is Route 1 in Maine worth driving?
Some of it is, and some of it isn’t. In our view the best stretch is Penobscot Bay, and the Portland-to-Brunswick section is the easiest to skip. Here is how we would break it up:
- Worth the time: Wiscasset to Belfast. This is about 63 miles by milepost, passing through Waldoboro, Thomaston, Rockland, Camden and Belfast along Penobscot Bay. It is the stretch most people have in mind when they talk about a Route 1 drive.
- Worth it with a purpose: the southern coast. Kittery to Portland passes Cape Neddick, Ogunquit, Wells and Kennebunk. Use it to reach specific stops, since it is a busy road with a lot of town traffic.
- Easy to skip: Portland to Brunswick. Route 1 runs through Falmouth, Yarmouth and Freeport beside I-295 and I-95, and the interstate is usually the faster way. Get off the interstate for a stop, not for the drive.
- A commitment: Ellsworth to Calais. It is about 122 miles by milepost, and according to Wikipedia the Atlantic is less often visible here. It makes sense if you are heading to Machias, Lubec or the border, not as a sightseeing drive.
- A different trip: Calais to Fort Kent. The road turns inland, and the scenery changes to forest, farmland and the St. John River.
If you only have a day, pick one stretch and drive it well. Our one-week Maine road trip shows how to fit Route 1 into a longer itinerary, and our driving distances page has door-to-door times.
Route 1 mileposts: where each Maine town sits
These milepost figures come from the junction table in Wikipedia’s article on U.S. Route 1 in Maine. They measure distance along the highway from Kittery, not door-to-door driving, and they can differ slightly from signs.
- Kittery: mile 0.
- Portland: about mile 49.
- Brunswick: mile 73.9.
- Bath: mile 83.0.
- Wiscasset: mile 90.7.
- Rockland: mile 127.2.
- Camden: mile 135.8.
- Belfast: mile 153.9.
- Bucksport: mile 172.7.
- Ellsworth: mile 191.7, where Route 3 heads to Mount Desert Island and Acadia.
- Machias: mile 255.8.
- Calais: mile 313.8.
- Houlton: mile 404.4.
- Presque Isle: mile 446.2.
- Caribou: mile 455.8.
- Fort Kent: mile 525.0.
Gaps worth knowing: Portland to Ellsworth is about 142 miles of Route 1, Ellsworth to Calais is about 122, Calais to Houlton is about 91, and Houlton to Fort Kent is about 121.
Kittery to Portland: the southern coast
Route 1 follows the sandy coast through Cape Neddick, Ogunquit, Wells, Kennebunk, Biddeford, Saco and Scarborough. In South Portland it merges with I-295 and runs through downtown Portland, where the road is known as the Charles Loring Highway. Many people use this stretch to reach beaches and towns. See our Southern Maine guide, Ogunquit and Nubble Lighthouse for stops.
Portland to Bath: the old road beside the interstate
East of Portland, Route 1 crosses rivers at Falmouth, Yarmouth and Freeport, then runs through Brunswick. The Brunswick-to-Bath section is a four-lane freeway, and Route 1 crosses the Kennebec River at Bath. Worth a stop: Portland, Portland Head Light, Freeport, Desert of Maine, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park and Brunswick.
Wiscasset to Rockland: the famous bottleneck
Wiscasset, at mile 90.7, has long been Route 1’s best-known summer bottleneck. A Bangor Daily News report from 2012 described a two-lane downtown road with four crosswalks and a railroad crossing, and summer lines that could stretch for miles. That article is old, so check current conditions before you plan around it. Rockland’s Main Street is also Route 1, and the report noted congestion there too. Route 1A serves as a downtown bypass in Rockland.
This stretch passes through Waldoboro and Thomaston on the way to Rockland. For food, our lobster roll guide covers the best-known stops, including Red’s Eats in Wiscasset. See our Midcoast Maine guide for peninsula detours.
Rockland to Ellsworth: Penobscot Bay
From Rockland, Route 1 passes Rockport, Camden and Belfast, then crosses the Penobscot River at Bucksport. The route continues through Orland to Ellsworth. The Penobscot Narrows Bridge, which links Prospect and Verona Island, is worth a stop. The bridge has a public observatory in one of its towers. See our Fort Knox and Penobscot Narrows Observatory guide for hours and tickets.
Ellsworth to Calais: Downeast
Past Ellsworth, Route 1 goes through Sullivan, Cherryfield, Harrington, Machias and Whiting, then runs along Passamaquoddy Bay to Calais. The Atlantic is less often visible than it is farther south, so the draw is quiet towns and the easternmost corner of the country. Machias is at mile 255.8 and Calais at mile 313.8. See our Downeast Maine guide and West Quoddy Head Lighthouse guide, and Lubec if you are going that far.
Calais to Houlton: Route 1 turns inland
From Calais, Route 1 follows the St. Croix River and then turns inland. It shares the road with Route 9 from Calais to Baileyville, then passes Baring, Topsfield and Danforth. It passes Princeton and runs on to Houlton. Houlton, at mile 404.4, is also where I-95 ends its run through Maine, so most drivers from the south reach it by interstate, not by Route 1.
Houlton to Fort Kent: Aroostook County and America’s First Mile
The northern end passes through Aroostook County’s potato fields and the eight-mile Million Dollar Scenic Byway, with views of the Chiputneticook lakes, Katahdin and Peekaboo Mountain, according to the Maine Atlas. Along the way are Presque Isle (mile 446.2) and Caribou (mile 455.8).
In Fort Kent, the town calls the road’s end “America’s First Mile.” There are three granite monuments and a plaza overlooking the Canadian border, and it is a common photo stop. Past Fort Kent the St. John River runs along the border, in an area with a strong Acadian and Franco-American heritage.
A short history of Route 1 in Maine
- The section south of Calais was originally part of the Atlantic Highway. It became Route 1 in 1922 under the New England road-marking system.
- A 1925 plan put U.S. 1 on the inland route between Bangor and Houlton and U.S. 2 on the coast. The final 1926 plan reversed that.
- The Waldo–Hancock Bridge opened in 1931, which let Route 1 bypass Bangor.
Route 1 in Maine FAQ
How long is Route 1 in Maine? About 526 miles, from Kittery to Fort Kent, according to Wikipedia. Down East magazine rounds it to 527.
Where does Route 1 start and end in Maine? At the Memorial Bridge in Kittery on the New Hampshire line, and at the Clair–Fort Kent Bridge on the Canadian border. The southern end is the one most visitors use.
Does Route 1 follow the coast the whole way? No. It is called the Coastal Route, but it often runs inland, especially between Ellsworth and Calais, and then turns inland entirely toward Aroostook County.
Is Route 1 worth it from Portland to Bar Harbor? Only part of it. Portland to Ellsworth is about 142 miles of Route 1, and the best stretch is Wiscasset to Belfast along Penobscot Bay. The Portland-to-Brunswick section runs beside the interstate. From Ellsworth you leave Route 1 for Route 3 to reach Bar Harbor.
Is there a bottleneck on Route 1? Wiscasset is the best-known one in summer, and Rockland’s Main Street is also Route 1. A 2012 news report described both, so check current conditions.
Does Route 1 run alongside I-95? In places. Between Portland and Brunswick it runs beside I-295 and I-95, and the two roads come together again near Houlton.
Sources: Wikipedia on U.S. Route 1 in Maine (length, mileposts, route description, history), the Maine Atlas page on Route One, Down East magazine, and a 2012 Bangor Daily News report on Route 1 traffic. Checked November 9, 2026. Mileposts measure the highway, not door-to-door driving, and conditions change.