Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
57.1 mi
92 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gardiner, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Scarborough, ME
David Roberts
This straightforward 57.1-mile drive from Gardiner to Scarborough, Maine, will take you about 1 hour and 10 minutes to complete. It's an ideal day trip, especially considering the estimated fuel cost of $9. The route primarily utilizes major highways, making it a quick and efficient journey through the Northeast region of Maine. You'll spend most of your time on I-295, so expect a highway-focused experience. This trip is perfect for a quick transfer or an easy outing without the need for an overnight stay.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 295 | 49 mi | 56m |
| Scarborough Connector | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Lewiston Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Black Point Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Route 1 | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Water Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Cobbossee Avenue | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Central Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Gardiner, ME and Scarborough, ME.
Start on Arcade Street
Turn right onto Water Street
Continue on Central Street
Continue on Lewiston Road
Continue on Cobbossee Avenue
Continue on Lewiston Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 295
Keep slight right at fork onto Scarborough Connector
Turn straight onto US 1; ME 9
Turn left onto ME 207
Turn left onto Highland Avenue
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 28.5 miles from Gardiner, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 57 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Water Street
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 295
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto Scarborough Connector toward Scarborough, Old Orchard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto Highland Avenue
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$9.19 one way
$18.38 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $10.11 | $20.23 |
| premium | $4.86 | $10.93 | $21.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.61 | $25.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.1 | 0 | $6.00 | $2.74 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.99 | $3.65 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Gardiner on Tuesday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Morning in Scarborough on Tuesday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
52°F
Yarmouth, ME
29 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
With 88% of this drive on highways, you'll find it to be a predominantly high-speed experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 49 miles on I-295, allowing for consistent travel. You'll navigate using I-295, the Scarborough Connector, and Lewiston Road, which are all geared towards efficient travel. This highway-focused profile means you're in for a direct and relatively uninterrupted journey, designed for getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and Scarborough Connector. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Water Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 10m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Water Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles (I 295): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
311 ft
Total Descent
311 ft
Highest Point
195 ft
~28.5 mi in
Elevation Range
172 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Gardiner, ME to Scarborough, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Old Orchard along the way.
Old Orchard
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 57.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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