Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
16m
Distance
7 mi
11 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cape Elizabeth, ME
Wikimedia Commons
South Portland, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Stretching just 7 miles between Cape Elizabeth and South Portland, this quick transit is ideal for a short day trip or a brief local commute. You can expect to spend about 16 minutes behind the wheel, making it a highly efficient route within Maine’s Northeast region. Budgeting is straightforward, as you will likely spend no more than $1 on fuel for the entire journey. Since the trip is so compact, there is no need for overnight stops or complex scheduling. Whether you are running errands or simply exploring the coast, this drive offers a practical connection between these two neighboring communities.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean House Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| Two Lights Road | 1.6 mi | 6m |
| Broadway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Ocean Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Ocean House Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Pine Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Cape Elizabeth, ME and South Portland, ME.
Start on this road
Turn left onto Two Lights Road
Keep slight right at fork onto Two Lights Road
Continue on Two Lights Road
Turn right onto ME 77
Continue on ME 77
Continue on ME 77
Continue on ME 77
Turn right onto Broadway
Turn sharp right onto Pine Street
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Two Lights Road
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto Two Lights Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn right onto ME 77 / Ocean House Road
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Broadway
Navigation decision point
Turn sharp right onto Pine Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Regular Gas
$1.13 one way
$2.25 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $1.24 | $2.48 |
| premium | $4.86 | $1.34 | $2.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.55 | $3.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.1 | 0 | $0.74 | $0.34 |
| Efficient EV | 1.8 | 0 | $0.61 | $0.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.8 | 0 | $0.98 | $0.45 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% 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
Morning in Cape Elizabeth on Sunday
Local time
6:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Light Rain
Destination
Morning in South Portland on Sunday
Local time
6:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Light Rain
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This 7-mile journey is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate haul. You will navigate a series of local roads, including Ocean House Road, Two Lights Road, and Broadway, with 0% of the drive taking place on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 3.7-mile segment on Ocean House Road. Because the route relies entirely on local streets, expect a more technical driving experience that requires your full attention at intersections and turns. It is a slow-paced, intimate look at the local geography that avoids the monotonous grind of major freeways.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Two Lights Road.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 16m drive. You will face about 5 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 (Two Lights Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (Two Lights Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1.7 miles (ME 77 / Ocean House Road): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
135 ft
Total Descent
128 ft
Highest Point
95 ft
~5 mi in
Elevation Range
77 ft
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 16m. Total distance: 7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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