Origin
South Eliot, ME
Morning in South Eliot on Sunday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Eliot, ME to South Portland Gardens, ME
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
48.1 mi
77 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Eliot, ME
Wikimedia Commons
South Portland Gardens, ME
Brett Sayles
Trip Overview
South Eliot, ME to South Portland Gardens, ME is 48.1 miles and takes about 59 minutes via Maine Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Northeast region, specifically Maine, making it a convenient local trip. It's primarily a highway-focused route, designed for efficient travel rather than leisurely sightseeing. Given its short duration and highway nature, it's best suited for a quick transfer or an easy day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Turnpike | 41.4 mi | 44m |
| Dennett Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| I 295 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| West Broadway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| US 1 Bypass | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Leach Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Westbrook Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Devereaux Circle | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Maine Turnpike
— 41.4 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Eliot, ME and South Portland Gardens, ME.
1
Start on Leach Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Leach Road
2
Turn right onto Dennett Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Dennett Road
3
Turn left onto Ranger Drive
498 ft
·
21 sec
·
Ranger Drive
4
Keep slight right at fork onto Valles Road
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Valles Road
5
Turn left onto US 1 Bypass
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 1 Bypass
6
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
7
Merge onto I 95
41 mi
·
44 min
·
Maine Turnpike
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 295
Exit 44
Toward Downtown Portland
Use the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 1
Toward South Portland
10
Merge onto Samantha Smith Way
361 ft
·
5 sec
·
Samantha Smith Way
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward South Portland
12
Keep slight right at fork
372 ft
·
9 sec
13
Turn straight onto West Broadway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Broadway
14
Turn left onto ME 9
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Westbrook Street
15
Turn slight right
224 ft
·
8 sec
16
Turn straight onto Westbrook Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Westbrook Street
17
Turn left onto Devereaux Circle
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
Devereaux Circle
18
Arrive at destination
Devereaux Circle
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.1 miles from South Eliot, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 46.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Valles Road
Keep slight right at fork onto Valles Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
8
44.8 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
I 295
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 toward Downtown Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 44
Toward Downtown Portland
5
45.9 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward South Portland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 1
Toward South Portland
5
46.3 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward South Portland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward South Portland
5
46.5 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.74 one way
$15.49 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $8.52 | $17.04 |
| premium | $4.86 | $9.21 | $18.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.62 | $21.24 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.49
Maine Turnpike
(41.4 mi)
$2.49
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$2
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.05 | $2.31 |
| Efficient EV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.73 | $3.08 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
South Portland Gardens, ME
Morning in South Portland Gardens on Sunday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Patchy Fog then Chance Rain Showers
E 0 to 5 mph
31% chance
Live forecast
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
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
59m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily highway-oriented, with 90% of the journey taking place on high-speed roads like the Maine Turnpike and I 295. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 41.4 miles on the Maine Turnpike, which forms the backbone of this drive. The profile suggests a consistent, fast-paced travel experience, minimizing stops and maximizing forward momentum. Expect a straightforward drive with minimal deviations from major thoroughfares.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.4 mi on Maine Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and Dennett Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near Valles Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 48.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (Valles Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 44.8 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Eliot, ME to South Portland Gardens, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Portland along the way.
Portland
44.8 mi in
|
~52m
|
via I 295
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 48.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.4 miles on Maine Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.49 in tolls one way, starting with Maine Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at South Portland Gardens, ME before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through ME can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (Valles Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 44.8 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at South Portland Gardens, ME before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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