If you are planning a trip from South Portland Gardens to Union, expect a straightforward journey covering 82.1 miles. You will spend about 1 hour and 49 minutes behind the wheel, making this a very manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. Your travel budget should account for approximately $13 in fuel costs for the one-way excursion. Navigating through the Northeast, you will transition from the busier suburban areas near South Portland into the quieter, inland landscapes of Maine. This route is ideal for those who prefer a single-day commitment over a multi-day haul, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of time to spare.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.1 miles from South Portland Gardens, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
48.7 mi
55m
Rockland Road
8.4 mi
11m
Augusta Road
5 mi
7m
Augusta-Rockland Road
4.1 mi
6m
Togus Road
3.7 mi
6m
Heald Highway
3.3 mi
4m
Windsor Street
1.7 mi
3m
Lewiston Road
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 48.7 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Portland Gardens, ME and Union, 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
49 mi·55 min·I 295
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Exit 51Toward ME 9, ME 126: Litchfield, Gardiner
8
Turn right onto ME 9; ME 126
1.1 mi·1 min·Lewiston Road
9
Continue on Cobbossee Avenue
0.7 mi·59 sec·Cobbossee Avenue
10
Continue on Lewiston Road
0.1 mi·10 sec·Lewiston Road
11
Continue on Central Street
0.2 mi·15 sec·Central Street
12
Turn straight onto Water Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Water Street
13
Turn left onto US 201
0.5 mi·49 sec·Bridge Street
14
At end of road, turn right onto ME 27; ME 126
0.2 mi·33 sec·Water Street
15
Turn left onto ME 226
1.7 mi·3 min·Windsor Street
16
Continue on ME 226
3.7 mi·6 min·Togus Road
17
At end of road, turn right onto ME 17
0.6 mi·52 sec·Augusta Road
18
Continue on ME 17
1.1 mi·1 min·Eastern Avenue
19
Continue on ME 17
0.9 mi·1 min·Augusta Road
20
Continue on ME 17
4.1 mi·6 min·Augusta-Rockland Road
21
Continue on ME 17; ME 32
1.3 mi·1 min·Rockland Road
22
Continue on ME 17; ME 32
4.9 mi·6 min·Rockland Road
23
Continue on ME 17
3.5 mi·4 min·Augusta Road
24
Continue on ME 17
2.2 mi·3 min·Rockland Road
25
Continue on ME 17
3.3 mi·4 min·Heald Highway
26
Turn right onto Common Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Common Road
27
Arrive at destination
Common Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 1 hour and 49-minute drive, you have the advantage of total schedule flexibility. You can easily complete the entire 82.1-mile distance without needing to plan for formal rest stops, though it is always wise to fuel up before merging onto I-295 to avoid any mid-trip stress. Because the route relies heavily on major arteries like Augusta Road, keep an eye on traffic reports if you are departing during peak commuting hours. Given the $13 estimated fuel cost, you won't need to worry much about your budget, allowing you to focus on the road ahead. Try to time your departure to avoid the morning or evening rush on the highway segments to ensure a smooth, uninterrupted ride.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.1 miles from South Portland Gardens, ME, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.7 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.1 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from South Portland Gardens, ME
This is one driving day of about 82.1 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from South Portland Gardens, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 295 for about 48.7 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 59.5 — 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
50.1 mi into trip|~59m in
Take the exit toward ME 9, ME 126: Litchfield, Gardiner
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 51
Toward ME 9, ME 126: Litchfield, Gardiner
5
59.5 mi into trip|~1h 16m in|ME 17 / Augusta Road
At end of road, turn right onto ME 17 / Augusta Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.22 one way
$26.43 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$14.54
$29.08
premium
$4.86
$15.72
$31.44
diesel
$5.61
$18.13
$36.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.6
0
$8.62
$3.94
Efficient EV
20.5
0
$7.18
$3.28
EV Truck/SUV
32.8
0
$11.49
$5.25
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
12:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Union, ME
Late night
in Union on Sunday
Local time
12:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Brunswick, ME
41 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
1h 49m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed driving profile that keeps things interesting as you transition between road types. You will spend 59% of your time on highways, beginning with a significant 48.7-mile stretch on I-295 that allows for steady cruising. As you move off the interstate, the journey continues along Augusta Road and Rockland Road, shifting the pace from high-speed highway travel to more moderate local roads. The contrast between these segments provides a nice variety for the driver, moving from the fast-paced interstate lanes to the more localized feel of the secondary roads. It is a balanced experience that blends efficient travel with the feeling of navigating the Maine countryside.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.7 mi on I 295.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Westbrook Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 49m 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.
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 Union, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Gardiner along the way.
Gardiner
50.1 mi in|~59m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 82.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 48.7 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Union, ME before heading back.
