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
47.4 mi
76 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
York Beach, ME
Sarah O'Shea
South Portland, ME
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking for a quick, efficient connection between York Beach and South Portland, this 47.4-mile trip is an ideal choice for a single-day excursion. Expect to spend about 59 minutes behind the wheel, making it a very manageable drive that leaves you plenty of time to explore your destination upon arrival. You will spend roughly $8 on fuel, keeping this trip budget-friendly for a weekend outing. The route utilizes a combination of the Maine Turnpike, US Route 1, and Broadway to navigate through the Northeast. Since the entire journey stays within Maine, the transition between these two coastal hubs is straightforward and lacks the complexity of crossing state lines. Overall, this is a practical, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and convenience over scenic detours.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Turnpike | 36.4 mi | 39m |
| Broadway | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| US Route 1 | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| I 295 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Samantha Smith Way | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Short Sands Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Spur Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between York Beach, ME and South Portland, ME.
Start on US 1A
Continue on US 1A
At end of road, turn left onto Railroad Avenue
Turn right onto Ridge Road
Turn right onto Short Sands Road
Turn left onto US 1
Turn right onto Spur Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
Take the exit
Merge onto Samantha Smith Way
Turn left onto US 1; ME 9
Turn slight right onto Broadway
Continue on ME 77
Turn sharp right onto Pine Street
Arrive at destination
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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 23.7 miles from York Beach, 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 0.4 and 40.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto Railroad Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Ridge Road
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Spur Road
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 toward Downtown Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$7.63 one way
$15.26 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $8.40 | $16.79 |
| premium | $4.86 | $9.08 | $18.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.47 | $20.93 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.18
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: 16.6 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 | 14.2 | 0 | $4.98 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.15 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.64 | $3.03 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in York Beach on Sunday
Local time
6:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Light Rain
Destination
Morning in South Portland on Sunday
Local time
6:29 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
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.
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 84% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a consistent rhythm during the longest stretch of the drive, which covers 36.4 miles on the Maine Turnpike. Because the route is designed for efficiency, you won't encounter any mandatory stops, allowing you to maintain a steady pace toward South Portland. As you transition off the turnpike and onto Broadway and US Route 1, the personality of the drive shifts from an interstate grind to more localized traffic patterns. Expect a predictable experience that is well-suited for travelers who want to minimize time in the car and reach their destination without unnecessary complications.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and Broadway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Railroad Avenue.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 47.4 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 0.4 miles (Railroad Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (Ridge Road): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (Spur Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
269 ft
Total Descent
275 ft
Highest Point
139 ft
~13.6 mi in
Elevation Range
114 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from York Beach, ME to South Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Portland along the way.
Portland
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 47.4 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 (84%). 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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