Lexington to Portland (Boston: to live in, mall, safer)

[gk90]

We live on Long Island and will be spending several days in Lexington, just a few minutes off I-95.
We were planning day trips, and according to Google Maps driving time from Lexington to Portland ME via I-95 is 2 hours. Does this sound realistic?
If you had a choice of doing it on Friday or Saturday--which of those days would be preferable, what would rush hour traffic or beach traffic be like?

Any suggestions would be welcome, thanks in advance!

[NotAPrincess]

Without traffic 2 hours is about right. Beach traffic does exist, but it'll be less horrible than the Friday rush hour traffic. On the other hand, Portland itself will likely be more crowded with tourists on Saturday than Friday. Also, summer rush hour traffic on Fridays is really unpredictable. Sometimes it starts as early as noon! I guess all things considered I'd suggest going up on Saturday.

[lrfox]

I used to live in Portland. Lexington to Portland is completely realistic in 2 hours. In fact, with minimal traffic you can do it in closer to 1.5 (I've done Boston to Portland late at night in 1.5 hours).

Saturday is the safer bet for getting out of Boston (Friday you deal with rush hour plus weekend tourists to Northern New England). Traffic in Portland is almost non-existent. Maine vacation traffic can be slow at the York toll on 95, but it's worse on secondary highways (i.e. Route 1, 1a, 302, etc). You should breeze right into Portland on either day, but you'll have more traffic leaving Lexington on Friday.

Beach traffic isn't an issue on that route (it's almost all highway).

If you want a little tip, here's a good one... The goolge directions will almost undoubtedly tell you to take 95 North to 295 North to get to Portland. Both are toll roads and you'll have to pay another toll as soon as you merge onto 295. Instead of getting off at 295, go one exit further (it's only 1/4 mile further than the 295 exit) to the "Maine Mall Road" exit and take that one. It's a small little connector roadway. You'll almost immediately (it's the second ramp off of the connector) see a ramp on the right for "295 North." Take that one and you'll get right onto 295 just beyond the toll both so you can save a few bucks. It's MAYBE an additional minute longer than taking the first 295 ramp directly from 95.