Traveling from Unity to South Portland covers 95.3 miles across Maine, typically taking about 1 hour and 41 minutes. Because this is a relatively short distance, it functions perfectly as a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You should budget approximately $15 for fuel to complete the journey. Navigating this route involves a mix of local roads like School Street, Waterville Road, and State Route 139 rather than major interstates. It is a straightforward transit within the Northeast region that connects rural areas to the coastal hubs of the south. This drive is ideal if you prefer a direct, local transit experience over high-speed highway travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.5 miles from Unity, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
46.5 mi
52m
I 95
29.1 mi
31m
Unity Road
6 mi
9m
State Route 139
2.2 mi
3m
Waterville Road
2.2 mi
3m
Neck Road
1.7 mi
3m
Casco Bay Bridge
1.1 mi
1m
School Street
1.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 46.5 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Unity, ME and South Portland, ME.
1
Start on US 202; ME 9
65 ft·7 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto ME 139
1.1 mi·2 min·School Street
3
Continue on ME 139
2.2 mi·3 min·Waterville Road
4
Continue on ME 139
2.2 mi·3 min·State Route 139
5
Continue on ME 139
6.0 mi·9 min·Unity Road
6
Turn right onto ME 139
0.2 mi·35 sec·Sebasticook Bridge Road
7
Turn left onto ME 11; ME 100; ME 139
299 ft·7 sec·Clinton Avenue
8
Turn slight right onto ME 11; ME 100; ME 139
1.7 mi·3 min·Neck Road
9
Continue on ME 11; ME 100; ME 139
0.4 mi·1 min·Bridge Street
10
Turn right onto US 201; ME 139
0.2 mi·44 sec·Main Street
11
Turn left onto ME 139
1.1 mi·2 min·Western Avenue
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
13
Merge onto I 95
29 mi·31 min·I 95
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
46 mi·52 min·I 295
Exit 103Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, BrunswickUse the straight lane.
15
Take the exit onto US 1A
0.4 mi·1 min·US 1A
Exit 7Toward US 1AUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto Marginal Way
0.5 mi·1 min·Marginal Way
Use the right lane.
17
Continue on State Street
1.0 mi·1 min·State Street
18
Continue on ME 77
1.1 mi·1 min·Casco Bay Bridge
19
Continue on ME 77
1.0 mi·1 min·Broadway
20
Turn sharp right onto Pine Street
60 ft·2 sec·Pine Street
21
Arrive at destination
Pine Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a 1-hour and 41-minute drive without any scheduled stops, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, plan for a steady, focused drive rather than relying on cruise control. Make sure you fuel up before you head out, as the $15 estimated cost is based on a direct transit without major detours. If you get tired, remember that this is a short enough trip that you can easily pull over at any local town along the way to stretch your legs. Keep a close eye on your GPS, as the transition between School Street, Waterville Road, and State Route 139 requires careful navigation.
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 47.5 miles from Unity, ME, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.5 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 21 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.5 miles or 1h 2m 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 37m
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 Unity, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Unity, ME
This is one driving day of about 95 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Unity, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 295 for about 46.5 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 95 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|ME 139 / School Street
Turn left onto ME 139 / School Street
Navigation decision point
9
44.5 mi into trip|~59m 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
90.9 mi into trip|~1h 52m 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
91.3 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|Marginal Way
Turn right onto Marginal Way
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
95 mi into trip|~1h 59m in|Pine Street
Turn sharp right onto Pine Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.29 one way
$30.59 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$16.83
$33.65
premium
$4.86
$18.19
$36.38
diesel
$5.61
$20.97
$41.95
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
$15
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.5
0
$9.98
$4.56
Efficient EV
23.8
0
$8.31
$3.80
EV Truck/SUV
38
0
$13.30
$6.08
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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 15, 2026
Origin
Unity, ME
Late night
in Unity on Sunday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
South Portland, ME
Late night
in South Portland on Sunday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
46°F
Brunswick, ME
48 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.
Road read
1h 59m 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 52.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind. With 0% highway share, you will remain on smaller roads for the entirety of the 95.3-mile trip. This profile demands more attention behind the wheel as you navigate the constant turns and intersections inherent to local road travel. Because there are no long, uninterrupted highway stretches, the pace remains consistent and slower compared to typical cross-state travel. You will experience a very hands-on driving environment from start to finish, keeping you engaged with the road layout throughout the duration of your trip.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.5 mi on I 295.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and I 95. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near ME 139 / School Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 95 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (ME 139 / School Street): Navigation decision point; at 44.5 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 90.9 miles (US 1A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
344 ft25 ft
Total Climb
355 ft
Total Descent
550 ft
Highest Point
344 ft
~20.4 mi in
Elevation Range
318 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 Unity, ME to South Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Brunswick along the way.
Brunswick
44.5 mi in|~59m|via I 295
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 95 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.5 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. 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: near the start (ME 139 / School Street): Navigation decision point; at 44.5 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 90.9 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.
