Union to Portland is 77.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 43 minutes via I 295, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, specifically Maine, offering a straightforward journey. It's a single-day drive, ideal for those looking for a quick transition between locations. Expect a mixed driving experience as you make your way south towards the coast. The manageable distance and duration make it a convenient option for many travelers.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.9 miles from Union, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 77.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route features a mixed drive, with 56% of it being highway. You'll encounter about 42.7 miles on I 295 as the longest uninterrupted stretch, providing a solid period of faster travel. The roads will transition from what's locally known as Rockland Road and Augusta Road to the interstate, offering a change in pace and environment. This blend means you'll experience both efficient highway cruising and potentially more varied local road conditions.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 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 42.7 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 around 28.3 miles in near ME 9; ME 27; ME 126 / Bridge Street.
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 43m drive. You will face about 9 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
77.4 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|Cumberland Avenue
Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
77.8 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|Congress Street
Turn left onto Congress Street
Navigation decision point
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 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
0.7 mi·1 min·US 1A
Exit 7Toward US 1AUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue
0.4 mi·50 sec·Cumberland Avenue
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn left onto Preble Street
0.1 mi·19 sec·Preble Street
20
Turn left onto Congress Street
156 ft·5 sec·Congress Street
21
Arrive at destination
Congress Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a short, single-day trip of under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility. Consider leaving Union in the morning to arrive in Portland with ample time to settle in. With a fuel cost estimated around $13, you won't need to worry excessively about refueling, but it’s always wise to top off before leaving Union. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 42.7-mile stretch on I 295, as services might be less frequent than on local roads.
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 Union, ME, or about 57m 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 17 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.9 miles or 57m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near 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 77.9 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 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.
The midpoint is around 38.9 miles from Union, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Portland, ME
The final approach into Portland, 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.
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 37.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.54 one way
$25.08 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$13.80
$27.60
premium
$4.86
$14.92
$29.84
diesel
$5.61
$17.20
$34.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 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
23.4
0
$8.18
$3.74
Efficient EV
19.5
0
$6.82
$3.12
EV Truck/SUV
31.2
0
$10.91
$4.99
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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Union, ME
Morning
in Union on Saturday
Local time
8:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Portland, ME
Morning
in Portland on Saturday
Local time
8:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 43m 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 Union, ME to Portland, ME covers 77.9 miles and takes about 1h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 295, Rockland Road, Augusta Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.9 miles from Union, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.54 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 43m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
The route from Union, ME to Portland, ME does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Frances Perkins National Monument.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
