Traveling from Southwest Harbor to South Portland Gardens covers 179.2 miles of Maine’s coastal landscape. Expect a travel time of approximately 3 hours and 12 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate local roads, including Main Street, Highway 102, and Triangle Road, rather than relying on major interstates. With a fuel budget of about $29, this journey is an affordable way to cross the Northeast region. It’s a straightforward drive for those who prefer local scenery over high-speed transit. Plan for one designated stop to break up the drive comfortably.
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
81.3 miles from Southwest Harbor, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
50.2 mi
58m
Belfast Augusta Road
17.6 mi
21m
Route 1
15.2 mi
18m
Acadia Highway
13.4 mi
15m
North Belfast Avenue
9.1 mi
13m
Bucksport Road
8.5 mi
9m
Main Street
7 mi
10m
Bar Harbor Road
6.7 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 50.2 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southwest Harbor, ME and South Portland Gardens, ME.
1
Start on Clark Point Road
236 ft·8 sec·Clark Point Road
2
Turn right onto Main Street
7.0 mi·10 min·Main Street
3
Continue on ME 102; ME 198
3.5 mi·5 min·State Highway 102
4
Continue on ME 102
0.1 mi·17 sec·Triangle Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
At end of road, turn left onto ME 3
0.1 mi·15 sec·State Highway 3
Use the left / right lanes.
6
Continue on ME 3
6.7 mi·11 min·Bar Harbor Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on ME 3
0.7 mi·1 min·High Street
8
Turn left onto Beechland Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Beechland Road
Use the left lane.
9
At end of road, turn right onto ME 230
1.0 mi·1 min·Bayside Road
10
Continue on ME 230
0.8 mi·1 min·Water Street
11
Turn left onto US 1; ME 3
0.2 mi·10 sec·West Main Street
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; ME 3
278 ft·3 sec·Main Street
13
Continue on US 1; ME 3
8.5 mi·9 min·Bucksport Road
14
Continue on US 1; ME 3
9.4 mi·10 min·Acadia Highway
15
Continue on US 1; ME 3; ME 15
1.0 mi·1 min·Route 1
16
Continue on US 1; ME 3; ME 15
135 ft·9 sec·Main Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto US 1; ME 3
0.1 mi·16 sec·Route 1
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on US 1; ME 3
1.2 mi·2 min·US Highway 1
19
Continue on US 1; ME 3
13 mi·15 min·Route 1
20
Continue on US 1; ME 3
2.7 mi·4 min·Searsport Avenue
21
Continue on US 1; ME 3
0.7 mi·1 min·Route 1
22
Take the exit onto ME 3
0.3 mi·38 sec·ME 3
23
Keep slight right at fork onto ME 3
373 ft·12 sec·ME 3
24
Merge onto ME 3
3.9 mi·4 min·Belmont Avenue
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on ME 3
4.8 mi·5 min·Augusta Road
26
Continue on ME 3
3.4 mi·3 min·Belfast Augusta Road East
27
Continue on ME 3
4.0 mi·4 min·Acadia Highway
28
Continue on ME 3
18 mi·21 min·Belfast Augusta Road
Use the straight lane.
29
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
0.2 mi·16 sec·Belfast Road
30
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
8.1 mi·11 min·North Belfast Avenue
31
Turn left onto US 202; ME 9
1.0 mi·1 min·North Belfast Avenue
Use the left lane.
32
At end of road, turn left onto US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100
0.6 mi·52 sec·Bangor Street
33
Enter roundabout onto US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100
159 ft·3 sec·Memorial Drive
34
Continue on US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100
0.7 mi·1 min·Memorial Drive
35
Enter roundabout onto US 201; ME 27
401 ft·7 sec·State Street
36
Continue on US 201; ME 27
0.2 mi·19 sec·State Street
37
Turn right onto Capitol Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Capitol Street
38
Turn straight onto Armory Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·Armory Street
39
Turn left onto US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 100
0.7 mi·1 min·Western Avenue
40
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 95: Portland, Waterville, Bangor
41
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I-95 South: Portland, Kittery
42
Merge onto I 95
5.9 mi·6 min·Maine Turnpike
43
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
50 mi·58 min·I 295
Exit 103Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, BrunswickUse the straight lane.
44
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 3Toward ME 9: Jetport
45
Keep slight right at fork
489 ft·15 sec
Exit 3Toward ME 9: Jetport
46
Turn straight onto ME 9
0.1 mi·21 sec·Westbrook Street
47
Turn slight right
224 ft·8 sec
48
Turn straight onto Westbrook Street
0.1 mi·20 sec·Westbrook Street
49
Turn left onto Devereaux Circle
0.2 mi·50 sec·Devereaux Circle
50
Arrive at destination
Devereaux Circle
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3-hour and 12-minute trip, aim to depart early in the morning to avoid local traffic congestion. Since this route is entirely composed of local roads, keep your eyes peeled for changing speed limits as you move through different communities. A single, well-timed stop will help you stay refreshed, especially since the turn-heavy nature of the drive can be more taxing than standard highway cruising. Budgeting $29 for fuel is a solid baseline, but keep an eye on your gauge early on to ensure you have enough for the full duration. Because this is a single-day journey, you have the flexibility to adjust your itinerary on the fly if you find a quiet spot to stretch your legs.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 81.3 miles from Southwest Harbor, ME, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.2 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 36 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.3 miles or 1h 48m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Portland Gardens, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Southwest Harbor, 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 Southwest Harbor, ME
This is one driving day of about 162.5 miles and 3h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Southwest Harbor, 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 I 295 for about 50.2 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.6 and 161.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
10.6 mi into trip|~15m in|ME 3 / State Highway 3
At end of road, turn left onto ME 3 / State Highway 3
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
6
18.1 mi into trip|~29m in|Beechland Road
Turn left onto Beechland Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
40.1 mi into trip|~56m in|US 1; ME 3 / Route 1
Turn left onto US 1; ME 3 / Route 1
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
9
111.5 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|I 295
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Exit 103
Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Bru...
7
161.9 mi into trip|~3h 28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward ME 9: Jetport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 3
Toward ME 9: Jetport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.16 one way
$52.32 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$28.78
$57.57
premium
$4.86
$31.12
$62.24
diesel
$5.61
$35.88
$71.76
Estimated Tolls: $0.36
Maine Turnpike
(5.9 mi)$0.36
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
$26
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.8
0
$17.06
$7.80
Efficient EV
40.6
0
$14.22
$6.50
EV Truck/SUV
65
0
$22.75
$10.40
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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 Dec 18, 2023
Origin
Southwest Harbor, ME
Night
in Southwest Harbor on Saturday
Local time
9:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
28°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
South Portland Gardens, ME
Night
in South Portland Gardens on Saturday
Local time
9:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Washington, ME
81 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
25 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 30m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features a 0% highway share, keeping you on surface roads for the entirety of the 179.2-mile journey. You will navigate a series of winding sections that require consistent focus, especially as you transition between local corridors like Triangle Road and Highway 102. The lack of high-speed highway stretches means your pace remains steady but deliberate. Driving this path offers a tactile, engaging experience through the Maine countryside that feels far more personal than a standard highway cruise.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
50 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.2 mi on I 295.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.6 miles in near ME 3 / State Highway 3.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 162.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.6 miles (ME 3 / State Highway 3): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.1 miles (Beechland Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 40.1 miles (US 1; ME 3 / Route 1): 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.
Between Southwest Harbor, ME and South Portland Gardens, ME, road signs point toward Waterville, Bangor, Kittery and Brunswick.
Waterville
104.6 mi in|~2h 21m
Bangor
104.6 mi in|~2h 21m
Kittery
105 mi in|~2h 21m
Brunswick
111.5 mi in|~2h 29m|via I 295
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 30m. Total distance: 162.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.2 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.36 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at South Portland Gardens, ME before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 10.6 miles (ME 3 / State Highway 3): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.1 miles (Beechland Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 40.1 miles (US 1; ME 3 / Route 1): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at South Portland Gardens, ME, but most travelers stay overnight.
