Union, ME to South Portland, ME is 80.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 48 minutes via I 295 and Rockland Road, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, moving from one part of Maine to another. Expect a blend of highway cruising and surface road travel as you make your way south. It's a manageable drive, suitable for a single day's travel without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.3 miles from Union, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
42.7 mi
48m
Rockland Road
8.4 mi
11m
Augusta Road
5 mi
7m
Brunswick Avenue
4.8 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
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 42.7 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union, ME and South Portland, ME.
1
Start on Common Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Common Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto ME 17; ME 131
3.3 mi·4 min·Heald Highway
3
Continue on ME 17
2.2 mi·3 min·Rockland Road
4
Continue on ME 17
3.5 mi·4 min·Augusta Road
5
Continue on ME 17
6.2 mi·8 min·Rockland Road
6
Continue on ME 17; ME 32
4.1 mi·6 min·Augusta-Rockland Road
7
Continue on ME 17
0.9 mi·1 min·Augusta Road
8
Continue on ME 17
1.1 mi·1 min·Eastern Avenue
9
Continue on ME 17
0.6 mi·59 sec·Augusta Road
10
Turn left onto ME 226
3.7 mi·6 min·Togus Road
11
Continue on ME 226
1.7 mi·3 min·Windsor Street
12
Turn right onto ME 27; ME 126
0.2 mi·35 sec·Water Street
13
Turn left onto ME 9; ME 27; ME 126
0.5 mi·48 sec·Bridge Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Continue on US 201
4.8 mi·7 min·Brunswick Avenue
15
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
16
Merge onto I 295
43 mi·48 min·I 295
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the exit onto US 1A
0.4 mi·1 min·US 1A
Exit 7Toward US 1AUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn right onto Marginal Way
0.5 mi·1 min·Marginal Way
Use the right lane.
19
Continue on State Street
1.0 mi·1 min·State Street
20
Continue on ME 77
1.1 mi·1 min·Casco Bay Bridge
21
Continue on ME 77
1.0 mi·1 min·Broadway
22
Turn sharp right onto Pine Street
60 ft·2 sec·Pine Street
23
Arrive at destination
Pine Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under 2 hours, this is a flexible trip that can be done at any time of day. You'll want to keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is around $13, and there are no specific stops noted for refueling. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid any potential early commuter traffic in the South Portland area. The longest continuous stretch on I 295 is over 40 miles, so plan your comfort breaks accordingly.
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 40.3 miles from Union, ME, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.7 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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.3 miles or 59m 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 South Portland, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Union, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Union, ME
This is one driving day of about 80.7 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Union, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 295 for about 42.7 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 28.3 and 80.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
28.3 mi into trip|~43m in|ME 9; ME 27; ME 126 / Bridge Street
Turn left onto ME 9; ME 27; ME 126 / Bridge Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
34 mi into trip|~52m in|I 295
Merge onto I 295
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
76.6 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|US 1A
Take the exit onto US 1A toward US 1A
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 7
Toward US 1A
5
77 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|Marginal Way
Turn right onto Marginal Way
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
80.7 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|Pine Street
Turn sharp right onto Pine Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.99 one way
$25.98 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$14.29
$28.59
premium
$4.86
$15.45
$30.91
diesel
$5.61
$17.82
$35.64
Estimated Tolls: $7.00
Bay Bridge
$7.00
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
$13
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.2
0
$8.47
$3.87
Efficient EV
20.2
0
$7.06
$3.23
EV Truck/SUV
32.3
0
$11.30
$5.16
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Union, ME
Late night
in Union on Tuesday
Local time
5:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
South Portland, ME
Late night
in South Portland on Tuesday
Local time
5:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Scattered Rain And Snow Showers
NW 5 mph30% chanceLive forecast
51°F
Brunswick, ME
40 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
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 48m on the road
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.
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 41.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is a mixed highway and surface road experience, with 53% of the drive on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 42.7 miles on I 295 before transitioning to surface roads. Be prepared for varied driving conditions as you move between faster-paced highway sections and local roads.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.7 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 28.3 miles in near ME 9; ME 27; ME 126 / Bridge 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 48m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 28.3 miles (ME 9; ME 27; ME 126 / Bridge Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 34 miles (I 295): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 76.6 miles (US 1A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 42.7 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $7.00 in tolls one way, starting with Bay Bridge. 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 — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 28.3 miles (ME 9; ME 27; ME 126 / Bridge Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 34 miles (I 295): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 76.6 miles (US 1A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 South Portland, ME before heading back.
