How far is Cape Elizabeth, ME from City of Portland, ME?

The driving distance from Cape Elizabeth, ME to City of Portland, ME is about 12.3 miles (19.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 29m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 6 miles (9.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 59m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
12.33 mi
04h 29m
Flight
5.98 mi
9.62 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cape Elizabeth.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
5.98 mi
Kilometers
9.62 km
Flight Time

Driving Distance

Road route
12.33 mi
Kilometers
19.85 km
Drive Time
04h 29m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 29m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in City of Portland
Mon, Jun 1, 6:08 PM EDT
Return by in Cape Elizabeth
Mon, Jun 1, 10:38 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cape Elizabeth
2026-06-01T13:38
Arrive City of Portland
Mon, Jun 1, 6:08 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 29m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:30 AM to 12:30 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:00 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cape Elizabeth
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
South Portland
ME

City in Cumberland County, Maine, USA

From Cape Elizabeth
6.2 mi
02h 14m
To City of Portland
6.2 mi
02h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Cape Elizabeth Weather
ME
Live fallback forecast
58°F
Monday
Using Scarborough as the closest live forecast in the Cumberland County weather hub.

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Mon, Jun 1 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E
Destination
City of Portland Weather
ME
Live fallback forecast
55°F
Monday
Using Portland as the closest live forecast in the Cumberland County weather hub.

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Mon, Jun 1 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Cape Elizabeth and City of Portland.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cape Elizabeth and City of Portland.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    55 m · 19 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Two Lights Road

    2941 ft · 2 min · Two Lights Road

  3. 3

    Keep slight right to continue on Two Lights Road

    1 mi · 4 min · Two Lights Road

  4. 4

    Continue on Two Lights Road

    34 m · 5 sec · Two Lights Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Ocean House Road

    3.7 mi · 7 min · Ocean House Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Ocean House Street

    1055 ft · 23 sec · Ocean House Street

  7. 7

    Continue on Ocean Street

    2519 ft · 52 sec · Ocean Street

  8. 8

    Continue on Ocean House Street

    999 ft · 22 sec · Ocean House Street

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Broadway

    1094 ft · 34 sec · Broadway

  10. 10

    Continue on Casco Bay Bridge

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Casco Bay Bridge

  11. 11

    Turn straight onto York Street

    118 m · 8 sec · York Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Park Street

    85 m · 13 sec · Park Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Commercial Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · Commercial Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Maine State Pier

    668 ft · 29 sec · Maine State Pier

  15. 15

    Turn slight right

    57 m · 14 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto Portland - Peaks Island

    2.5 mi · 20 min · Portland - Peaks Island

  17. 17

    Continue straight

    65 m · 16 sec

  18. 18

    Continue on Welch Street

    1078 ft · 50 sec · Welch Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Oakland Avenue

    594 ft · 26 sec · Oakland Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn slight left onto Whitehead Street

    107 m · 15 sec · Whitehead Street

  21. 21

    Continue on Seashore Avenue

    1046 ft · 46 sec · Seashore Avenue

  22. 22

    Continue on Seashore Avenue

    3044 ft · 2 min · Seashore Avenue

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Seashore Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cape Elizabeth and City of Portland.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
23 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
187 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Ocean House Road
3.74 mi · 30%
Portland - Peaks Island
2.58 mi · 21%
Two Lights Road
1.62 mi · 13%
Casco Bay Bridge
1.15 mi · 9%
Seashore Avenue
0.77 mi · 6%
Commercial Street
0.72 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Ocean House Road

Turn right onto Ocean House Road

3.74 mi · 00h 07m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 29m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.3 mi
6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
South Portland
02h 14m from Cape Elizabeth
Leave By
8:00 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Cape Elizabeth and Chance Rain Showers near City of Portland.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cape Elizabeth to City of Portland?

The road trip is about 12.3 miles (19.8 km) and usually takes 04h 29m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

South Portland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 6.2 miles from Cape Elizabeth and 6.2 miles from City of Portland.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 6 miles (9.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:00 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.74 one way or $3.47 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 3.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Cape Elizabeth and Chance Rain Showers near City of Portland.

Stop Ideas Near South Portland

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around South Portland, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to South Portland.

RAIL

Portland Transportation Center

4 mi away
100 Thompson's Point Road
RAIL

Old Orchard Beach

18 mi away
11 First Street
RAIL

Saco Transportation Center

23 mi away
130 Main Street
RAIL

Freeport

26 mi away
36 Depot Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cape Elizabeth and City of Portland. Straight-line distance: 5.98 mi (9.62 km).

Cape Elizabeth

#1 Cape Elizabeth

Town in Cumberland County, Maine, USA

Population9,322
Coordinates43.5637000, -70.2000500
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
City of Portland

#2 City of Portland

The twenty-eighth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Portland metropolitan area.

Population653,115
Coordinates43.6470800, -70.1682300
Altitude36
CountryUnited States
Start: (-70.199942, 43.563609)
End: Seashore Avenue (-70.181795, 43.65347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 20 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.44 gal
1.65 L · about $1.74
Round trip
$3.47
0.88 gal · 3.3 L
Estimated CO2
3.9 kg one way
Round trip: 7.8 kg / 17 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $1.74 $3.47
Mid-grade $4.46 $1.96 $3.92
Premium $4.86 $2.14 $4.28
Diesel $6.00 $2.64 $5.28

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Maine · Jun 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Cape Elizabeth and City of Portland. The current time is 13:38:31.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.