Traveling from South Portland Gardens to Guilford covers 132.4 miles of Maine landscape, typically taking about 2 hours and 41 minutes behind the wheel. This trip is perfectly manageable as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You will rely primarily on the Maine Turnpike, I-295, and North Dexter Road to navigate your way north. Budgeting approximately $21 for fuel should keep you covered for the journey. Since both points are situated within the Northeast region, you can expect a consistent New England travel experience throughout the drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
66.2 miles from South Portland Gardens, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Maine Turnpike
53.6 mi
58m
I 295
49.9 mi
57m
North Dexter Road
9.4 mi
14m
Dexter Road
5.9 mi
8m
Moosehead Trail
4.7 mi
7m
Newport Road
1.4 mi
2m
Water Street
1.2 mi
1m
Corinna Road
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Maine Turnpike
— 53.6 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Portland Gardens, ME and Guilford, ME.
1
Start on Devereaux Circle
0.2 mi·50 sec·Devereaux Circle
2
Turn right onto Westbrook Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·Westbrook Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto ME 9
208 ft·7 sec·Western Avenue
4
Continue on ME 9
0.1 mi·15 sec·Westbrook Street
5
Take the ramp
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 295 North: Portland
6
Merge onto I 295
50 mi·57 min·I 295
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 95
54 mi·58 min·Maine Turnpike
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 157Toward ME 11, ME 100: Newport, Dexter
9
Keep slight left at fork
112 ft·6 sec
10
Turn left onto ME 11; ME 100
0.5 mi·1 min·Ox Bow Road
11
Enter roundabout onto ME 7; ME 11
120 ft·2 sec·Moosehead Trail
12
Continue on ME 7; ME 11
4.7 mi·6 min·Moosehead Trail
13
Continue on ME 7; ME 11
1.4 mi·2 min·Newport Road
14
Continue on ME 7; ME 11; ME 43
5.9 mi·8 min·Dexter Road
15
Continue on ME 7
1.2 mi·1 min·Corinna Road
16
Continue on ME 7
1.0 mi·1 min·Spring Street
17
Continue on Church Street
0.2 mi·21 sec·Church Street
18
Turn left onto ME 23
290 ft·4 sec·Dam Street
19
Continue on ME 23
0.6 mi·52 sec·Grove Street
20
Continue on Crockett Road
418 ft·7 sec·Crockett Road
21
Turn straight onto ME 23
9.4 mi·14 min·North Dexter Road
22
Continue on ME 23
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
23
Continue on ME 23
0.1 mi·18 sec·Bridge Street
24
Turn left onto ME 6; ME 15; ME 16
1.2 mi·1 min·Water Street
25
Arrive at destination
ME 6; ME 15; ME 16; ME 150
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. With only one recommended stop required to complete the 132.4-mile trek, you can easily pace yourself to avoid fatigue. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving the major interstate corridors, as the final leg on North Dexter Road may have fewer service options than the Maine Turnpike. Planning your single stop near the transition between the highway and local roads can help you stay refreshed for the final approach. Taking advantage of the route's simplicity allows you to focus on a smooth, predictable arrival in Guilford.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.2 miles from South Portland Gardens, ME, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 29 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.2 miles or 1h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Guilford, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving South Portland Gardens, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from South Portland Gardens, ME
This is one driving day of about 132.4 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from South Portland Gardens, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Maine Turnpike for about 53.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 105.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Westbrook Street
Turn right onto Westbrook Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|ME 9 / Western Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto ME 9 / Western Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in|I 295
Merge onto I 295
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
104.8 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward ME 11, ME 100: Newport, Dexter
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 157
Toward ME 11, ME 100: Newport, Dexter
5
105.1 mi into trip|~2h in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.31 one way
$42.63 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$23.45
$46.90
premium
$4.86
$25.35
$50.71
diesel
$5.61
$29.23
$58.46
Estimated Tolls: $3.21
Maine Turnpike
(53.6 mi)$3.21
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.7
0
$13.90
$6.36
Efficient EV
33.1
0
$11.58
$5.30
EV Truck/SUV
53
0
$18.54
$8.47
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
South Portland Gardens, ME
Late night
in South Portland Gardens on Sunday
Local time
12:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Guilford, ME
Late night
in Guilford on Sunday
Local time
12:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Augusta, ME
66 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 41m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Frances Perkins National Monument
National Monument
Known as the first woman to hold a presidential cabinet position and the “Woman behind the New Deal,” Frances Perkins championed many labor rights that Americans enjoy today, including safety standard...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 41.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused journey, as 78% of your travel time will be spent on major roads. The experience begins with a high-speed pace, featuring a longest uninterrupted stretch of 53.6 miles along the Maine Turnpike. Once you transition off the primary interstates, the character of the drive shifts as you navigate toward Guilford. While the majority of the route moves quickly, the final segments involve local roads that offer a different rhythm compared to the early interstate portions. It is a functional drive that trades scenic variety for efficient, steady progress.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.6 mi on Maine Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and I 295. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Westbrook Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 41m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Westbrook Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (ME 9 / Western Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.4 miles (I 295): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
260 ft40 ft
Total Climb
220 ft
Total Descent
24 ft
Highest Point
260 ft
~66.2 mi in
Elevation Range
220 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from South Portland Gardens, ME to Guilford, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Dexter along the way.
Dexter
104.8 mi in|~1h 59m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 41m. Total distance: 132.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 53.6 miles on Maine Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.21 in tolls one way, starting with Maine Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through ME can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Westbrook Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (ME 9 / Western Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 1.4 miles (I 295): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Frances Perkins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Guilford, ME before heading back.
