Pick a road. Find a town. Start your story.

Saco is one of those towns people usually fly past on the way to somewhere else – but honestly? That’s their loss.

This little stretch of southern Maine has beach days, old mill history, mini golf, cinnamon rolls the size of your head, and some very strong “classic New England summer” energy. It’s the kind of place where you can spend the whole day bouncing between the beach, ice cream, and random roadside stops without really needing a plan.

And honestly, those are usually the best kinds of days.

Saco has been quietly shaping itself along the Saco River since the early 1600s. What started as part of a larger colonial settlement eventually grew into a mill town powered by the river and built around textile production.

Today, that history still shows up in the brick downtown streets and old industrial bones – but it blends into a coastal New England rhythm of beaches, summer crowds, and small-town energy.

It’s one of those places where history and vacation town overlap in the best way.

Sun Outdoors Saco Old Orchard Beach
Seasonal (May–October). RV sites, cabin rentals, pool, hot tub, dog park, and family-friendly activities. Basically a full-on summer basecamp.

Saco Bay Hotel
Close to Old Orchard Beach, Camp Ellis, Ferry Beach, and downtown Biddeford—so you can explore a bunch of southern Maine without turning every outing into a road trip.

Rapid Ray’s
A true local classic. Burgers, fries, onion rings, and absolutely no unnecessary fuss.

Sweets & Co.
A gluten-free bakery that somehow makes baked goods taste like the “real thing.” The cinnamon rolls are ridiculous in the best possible way.

Martel’s Ice Cream & Mini Golf
Layla-approved and one of our favorite summer stops. Two mini golf courses plus ice cream—including old-school Rocky Road with walnuts and actual mini marshmallows instead of marshmallow swirl. (Yes, this matters 😂)

Ferry Beach State Park
Quiet trails, sandy beach access, and one of the best places in town to just slow down for a bit. Seasonal (late spring–fall).

Funtown Splashtown USA
Peak childhood nostalgia for a lot of New Englanders. Seasonal (summer only).

Silverball Tavern
Pinball arcade + bar energy with a fun local vibe year-round.

Saco changes completely depending on the season.

Summer brings beach traffic, mini golf nights, campground chaos, and ice cream lines. The off-season slows everything down and gives the town a quieter, more local feel.

If you’re here in summer:

• hit the beach early
• mini golf before sunset
• and always leave room for ice cream afterward

Seriously. Don’t skip the ice cream.

Every town connects to the next by road—not by chance.

• Interstate 95
  North → Scarborough ME
  South → Biddeford ME
• Interstate 195
  East → Old Orchard Beach ME
• US Route 1
  North → Scarborough ME
  South → Biddeford ME
• ME Route 5
  North → Dayton ME
  South → Old Orchard Beach ME
• ME Route 9
  East → Old Orchard Beach ME
  West → Biddeford
• ME Route 98
  East → Old Orchard Beach ME
• ME Route 112
  North → Buxton ME
• ME Route 117
  North → Buxton ME

Saco may not be the flashiest town on the Maine coast – but honestly, that’s part of the charm.

It’s the kind of place where you can have a really good day without spending a fortune or planning every second of it. Beach in the morning, burgers for lunch, mini golf at night, and somehow you end the day covered in sand and smelling vaguely like sunscreen and fried dough.

And honestly? That’s a pretty solid Maine summer.

We have Biddeford covered as part of our southbound coastal journey toward Connecticut. (Check out our Travel Journal Post Friday!)

So from here, Saco becomes a crossroads.

From Saco, we’ve got four real directions on the map:

• 🌊 East toward Old Orchard Beach
• 🛣️ North toward Scarborough
• 🌲 West toward Buxton
• 🚜 Inland toward Dayton

👇 This is your Travel Tuesday decision – cast your vote and we’ll take the winning road next.