Origin
South Portland Gardens, ME
Night in South Portland Gardens on Wednesday
Local time
10:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Portland Gardens, ME to Mexico, ME
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 42m
Distance
77.8 mi
125 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 35m
★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 58m
10 AM
1h 48m
12 PM
1h 46m
3 PM
1h 49m
5 PM
1h 57m
8 PM
1h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Portland Gardens, ME
Brett Sayles
Mexico, ME
Osvaldo Samuel Rendon
Trip Overview
The drive from South Portland Gardens, ME to Mexico, ME covers 77.8 miles and takes about 1h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Maine Turnpike, Auburn Road, Washington Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 28.3 miles on Maine Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.52 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
38.9 miles from South Portland Gardens, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from South Portland Gardens, ME to Mexico, ME covers 77.8 miles and takes about 1h 42m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Maine Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 28.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near Skyway Drive.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.8 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 1.8 miles (Skyway Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 30.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Skyway Drive
Turn left onto Skyway Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
30.6 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward US 202, ME 4, ME 100: Auburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 202, ME 4, ME 100: Auburn
5
36 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
ME 4 / Center Street
Merge onto ME 4 / Center Street
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
76.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
|
US 2; ME 17 / River Road
At end of road, turn left onto US 2; ME 17 / River Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Turnpike | 28.3 mi | 31m |
| Auburn Road | 19.4 mi | 24m |
| Washington Street | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| Pleasant Street | 4 mi | 5m |
| State Route 108 | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Turner Road | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| Turner Street | 3 mi | 4m |
| Center Street | 2.9 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Maine Turnpike
— 28.3 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Portland Gardens, ME and Mexico, ME.
1
Start on Devereaux Circle
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
Devereaux Circle
2
Turn right onto Westbrook Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Westbrook Street
3
Turn right onto ME 9
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Western Avenue
4
Continue on ME 9
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Johnson Road
5
Turn left onto Skyway Drive
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Skyway Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
1 min
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 95
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Maine Turnpike
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
8.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Maine Turnpike
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward US 202, ME 4, ME 100: Auburn
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 202; ME 4
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Washington Street
11
Merge onto US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
Minot Avenue
12
Continue on ME 4
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
·
Union Street Bypass
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Merge onto ME 4
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Center Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on ME 4
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Turner Road
15
Continue on ME 4
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Auburn Road
16
Continue on ME 4
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Federal Road
17
Turn left onto ME 108
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Canton Road
18
Continue on Turner Road
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Turner Road
19
Continue on ME 108
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Turner Street
20
Continue on ME 108
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Pleasant Street
21
Continue on ME 108
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Auburn Road
22
Continue on ME 108
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Oxford Road
23
Continue on ME 108
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
State Route 108
24
Turn right onto Veterans Street
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Veterans Street
25
At end of road, turn left onto US 2; ME 17
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
River Road
26
Continue on US 2; ME 17
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
27
Turn right onto ME 17
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
Roxbury Road
28
Arrive at destination
ME 17
Trip Plan
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 38.9 miles from South Portland Gardens, ME, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.3 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 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.9 miles or 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 1h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mexico, 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 77.8 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 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 Maine Turnpike for about 28.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.9 mi from South Portland Gardens, ME · 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.9 miles from South Portland Gardens, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Mexico, ME
The final approach into Mexico, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.52 one way
$25.05 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $13.78 | $27.56 |
| premium | $4.86 | $14.90 | $29.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.18 | $34.35 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.70
Maine Turnpike
(28.3 mi)
$1.70
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
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.3 | 0 | $8.17 | $3.73 |
| Efficient EV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.81 | $3.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.1 | 0 | $10.89 | $4.98 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Destination
Mexico, ME
Night in Mexico on Wednesday
Local time
10:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Auburn, ME
39 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
2 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 42m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from South Portland Gardens, ME to Mexico, ME covers 77.8 miles and takes about 1h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Maine Turnpike, Auburn Road, Washington Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.9 miles from South Portland Gardens, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.52 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.8 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (Skyway Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 30.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from South Portland Gardens, ME to Mexico, ME does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to Mexico, ME
Explore more options from South Portland Gardens, ME or browse trips ending in Mexico, ME.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse ME road trips.
Explore maps for South Portland Gardens, ME or Mexico, ME on MapSof.net.