Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
55.1 mi
89 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Portland, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Leeds, ME
Ollie Craig
South Portland to Leeds is 55.1 miles and takes about 1h 14m via Maine Turnpike and Route 202, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maine, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. The drive is mostly highway, making it a quick and efficient way to cover the distance. It's a straightforward route, ideal for a single-day trip when you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Turnpike | 22.2 mi | 23m |
| Route 202 | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| State Route 106 | 6.2 mi | 10m |
| Main Street | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Washington Street | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| Forest Avenue | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Auburn Street | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| Casco Bay Bridge | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between South Portland, ME and Leeds, ME.
Start on Pine Street
Turn sharp left onto Broadway
Continue on ME 77
Turn straight onto ME 77
Turn left onto ME 77
Continue on ME 100
Take the exit
Turn slight right onto ME 100
Turn left onto ME 26; ME 100
Continue on ME 26; ME 100
Continue on ME 26; ME 100
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Take the exit
At end of road, turn left onto US 202; ME 4
Merge onto US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
Turn right onto US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Turn left onto ME 106
Turn left onto Church Hill Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27.5 miles from South Portland, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 31.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn sharp left onto Broadway
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Turn left onto ME 26; ME 100 / Washington Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 North: Lewiston, Augusta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 202, ME 4, ME 100: Auburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$8.87 one way
$17.74 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $9.76 | $19.52 |
| premium | $4.86 | $10.55 | $21.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.17 | $24.33 |
Estimated Tolls: $8.34
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$8
Total
$17
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.79 | $2.64 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.82 | $2.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22 | 0 | $7.71 | $3.53 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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 South Portland on Tuesday
Local time
7:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Scattered Rain And Snow Showers
Destination
Morning in Leeds on Tuesday
Local time
7:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
56°F
Auburn, ME
28 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
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.
About 65% of this 55.1-mile drive is on highways, with the longest continuous highway stretch being 22.2 miles on the Maine Turnpike. You'll transition from highway cruising to surface roads as you get closer to Leeds. Expect a mix of faster-paced driving and more local traffic as you navigate Route 202 and State Route 106.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and Route 202. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Broadway.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.1 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Broadway): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 6.3 miles (ME 26; ME 100 / Washington Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from South Portland, ME to Leeds, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Augusta along the way.
Augusta
South Portland is a city in Maine.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 55.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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