It did overheat on the drive, but because your coolant system is almost empty, there was not enough boiling coolant to immerse the temperature sending unit, thus the sending unit did not get hot and show up on your temperature gauge. Your coolant was boiling, but the only evidence was steam and hot coolant boiling over near your grill and wheel well. Fill it up with coolant and try it again.
Real big question is: Where did all that coolant go? Head gasket? Maybe.
Real big question is: Where did all that coolant go? Head gasket? Maybe.