Nom Cafe
Near the start, short detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 9 am–2 pm
+12076139332
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 54m
Distance
85.8 mi
138 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Scarborough, ME
David Roberts
Union, ME
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Scarborough, ME to Union, ME covers 85.8 miles and takes about 1h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 295, Rockland Road, Augusta Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 49.2 miles on I 295. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.81 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.9 miles from Scarborough, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 85.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
The drive from Scarborough, ME to Union, ME covers 85.8 miles and takes about 1h 54m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
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 0.1 miles in near ME 207 / Black Point Road.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 54m 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 0.1 miles (ME 207 / Black Point Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (Scarborough Connector): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.5 miles (I 295): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto ME 207 / Black Point Road
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork onto Scarborough Connector
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Merge onto I 295
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
At end of road, turn right onto ME 17 / Augusta Road
Navigation decision point
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Scarborough, ME to Union, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Gardiner along the way.
Gardiner
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 295 | 49.2 mi | 56m |
| 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 |
| Scarborough Connector | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Windsor Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Scarborough, ME and Union, ME.
Start on Highland Avenue
Turn right onto ME 207
Turn right onto US 1; ME 9
Keep slight left at fork onto Scarborough Connector
Merge onto I 295
Take the exit
Turn right onto ME 9; ME 126
Continue on Cobbossee Avenue
Continue on Lewiston Road
Continue on Central Street
Turn straight onto Water Street
Turn left onto US 201
At end of road, turn right onto ME 27; ME 126
Turn left onto ME 226
Continue on ME 226
At end of road, turn right onto ME 17
Continue on ME 17
Continue on ME 17
Continue on ME 17
Continue on ME 17; ME 32
Continue on ME 17; ME 32
Continue on ME 17
Continue on ME 17
Continue on ME 17
Turn right onto Common Road
Arrive at destination
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.
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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.9 miles or 51m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union, ME than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Scarborough, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Scarborough, ME
This is one driving day of about 85.8 miles and 1h 54m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.9 mi from Scarborough, ME · 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 42.9 miles from Scarborough, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Union, ME usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Portland, Maine
Near the start, short detour
Hours: 9 am–2 pm
+12076139332
Freeport Cafe
Freeport, Maine
Near the start, short detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 9 am–2 pm
+12076139332
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Freeport, Maine
Hours: 7 am–2 pm
+12078695113
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South Portland, Maine
Hours: 11 am–5 pm
+12077678227
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Yarmouth, Maine
Hours: 9 am–3 pm
Near the start, short detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 12–8:15 pm
+12076193775
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
South Portland, Maine
Hours: 1–7 pm
+12072746007
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+12072337485
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+12077741822
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
South Portland, Maine
Hours: 4–8 pm
+12078087696
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Portland, Maine
+12072531800
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$13.81 one way
$27.62 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $15.20 | $30.39 |
| premium | $4.86 | $16.43 | $32.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.94 | $37.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.7 | 0 | $9.01 | $4.12 |
| Efficient EV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.51 | $3.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.3 | 0 | $12.01 | $5.49 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Scarborough on Saturday
Local time
5:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Union on Saturday
Local time
5:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
46°F
Brunswick, ME
43 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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