The drive from South Portland, ME to Appleton, ME covers 86.5 miles and takes about 1h 57m 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, Sennebec Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 45.6 miles on I 295.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.93 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
43.3 miles from South Portland, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 57m. Total distance: 86.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from South Portland, ME to Appleton, ME covers 86.5 miles and takes about 1h 57m, 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 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 295 is the longest continuous segment at about 45.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 early in the drive near Broadway.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 57m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Broadway): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 3.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.4 miles (I 295; US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Broadway
Turn sharp left onto Broadway
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
3.1 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 295 North, US 1 North: Falmouth
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 295 North, US 1 North: Falmouth
5
3.4 mi into trip|~6m in|I 295; US 1
Merge onto I 295; US 1
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
49 mi into trip|~57m in
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
Exit 51
Toward ME 9, ME 126: Litchfield, Gardiner
5
58.5 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|ME 17 / Augusta Road
At end of road, turn right onto ME 17 / Augusta Road
Navigation decision point
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 South Portland, ME to Appleton, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Gardiner along the way.
Gardiner
49 mi in|~57m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
45.6 mi
51m
Rockland Road
8.4 mi
11m
Sennebec Road
5.6 mi
10m
Augusta Road
5 mi
7m
Augusta-Rockland Road
4.1 mi
6m
Togus Road
3.7 mi
6m
Heald Highway
3.7 mi
5m
Windsor Street
1.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 45.6 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Portland, ME and Appleton, ME.
1
Start on Pine Street
60 ft·9 sec·Pine Street
2
Turn sharp left onto Broadway
1.0 mi·1 min·Broadway
3
Continue on ME 77
1.1 mi·1 min·Casco Bay Bridge
4
Turn straight onto ME 77
0.1 mi·18 sec·York Street
5
Turn left onto ME 77
0.9 mi·1 min·High Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 295 North, US 1 North: Falmouth
7
Merge onto I 295; US 1
46 mi·51 min·I 295; US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Exit 51Toward ME 9, ME 126: Litchfield, Gardiner
9
Turn right onto ME 9; ME 126
1.1 mi·1 min·Lewiston Road
10
Continue on Cobbossee Avenue
0.7 mi·59 sec·Cobbossee Avenue
11
Continue on Lewiston Road
0.1 mi·10 sec·Lewiston Road
12
Continue on Central Street
0.2 mi·15 sec·Central Street
13
Turn straight onto Water Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Water Street
14
Turn left onto US 201
0.5 mi·49 sec·Bridge Street
15
At end of road, turn right onto ME 27; ME 126
0.2 mi·33 sec·Water Street
16
Turn left onto ME 226
1.7 mi·3 min·Windsor Street
17
Continue on ME 226
3.7 mi·6 min·Togus Road
18
At end of road, turn right onto ME 17
0.6 mi·52 sec·Augusta Road
19
Continue on ME 17
1.1 mi·1 min·Eastern Avenue
20
Continue on ME 17
0.9 mi·1 min·Augusta Road
21
Continue on ME 17
4.1 mi·6 min·Augusta-Rockland Road
22
Continue on ME 17; ME 32
1.3 mi·1 min·Rockland Road
23
Continue on ME 17; ME 32
4.9 mi·6 min·Rockland Road
24
Continue on ME 17
3.5 mi·4 min·Augusta Road
25
Continue on ME 17
2.2 mi·3 min·Rockland Road
26
Continue on ME 17
3.7 mi·5 min·Heald Highway
27
Turn left onto Sennebec Road
3.3 mi·6 min·Sennebec Road
28
Continue on Sennebec Road
1.8 mi·3 min·Sennebec Road
29
Keep slight left at fork onto Sennebec Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Sennebec Road
30
Arrive at destination
Town Hill Road
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 43.3 miles from South Portland, ME, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.6 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.3 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Appleton, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving South Portland, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from South Portland, ME
This is one driving day of about 86.5 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from South Portland, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 295 for about 45.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.3 mi from South Portland, ME
· 51m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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 38.8
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26
0
$9.08
$4.15
Efficient EV
21.6
0
$7.57
$3.46
EV Truck/SUV
34.6
0
$12.11
$5.54
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
South Portland, ME
Afternoon
in South Portland on Friday
Local time
4:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Destination
Appleton, ME
Afternoon
in Appleton on Friday
Local time
4:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Road read
1h 57m 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, ME to Appleton, ME covers 86.5 miles and takes about 1h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 295, Rockland Road, Sennebec Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.3 miles from South Portland, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.93 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 is a straightforward 1h 57m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Broadway): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 3.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.4 miles (I 295; US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from South Portland, ME to Appleton, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Gardiner along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
