How far is Cape Elizabeth, ME from Saco, ME?

The driving distance from Cape Elizabeth, ME to Saco, ME is about 18.6 miles (30 km), with a travel time of about 00h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 12.9 miles (20.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 12m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
18.62 mi
00h 36m
Flight
12.91 mi
20.78 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cape Elizabeth.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
12.91 mi
Kilometers
20.78 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
18.62 mi
Kilometers
29.96 km
Drive Time
00h 36m

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 00h 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Saco
Fri, Apr 17, 12:34 AM EDT
Return by in Cape Elizabeth
Fri, Apr 17, 1:10 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cape Elizabeth
2026-04-16T23:57
Arrive Saco
Fri, Apr 17, 12:34 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:36 AM to 7:36 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:18 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Cape Elizabeth
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

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 Gardens
ME

City in Cumberland County, Maine, United States of America

From Cape Elizabeth
11.2 mi
00h 18m
To Saco
7.3 mi
00h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Cape Elizabeth Weather
ME
Live fallback forecast
50°F
Thursday
Using Scarborough as the closest live forecast in the Cumberland County weather hub.

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph E
Destination
Saco Weather
ME
Live fallback forecast
53°F
Thursday
Using Biddeford as the closest live forecast in the York County weather hub.

Areas Of Fog then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Cape Elizabeth and Saco.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cape Elizabeth and Saco.

  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

    Turn left onto Broadway

    3.6 mi · 6 min · Broadway

  11. 11

    Take the ramp slight right toward Maine Mall Road

    1214 ft · 30 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Samantha Smith Way

    1 mi · 2 min · Samantha Smith Way

  13. 13

    Take the exit left

    2178 ft · 54 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike

    8 mi · 9 min · Maine Turnpike

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 195 East: Saco, Old Orchard Beach

    965 ft · 27 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on RT-112 Buxton Rd: Saco, Buxton

    2800 ft · 1 min

  17. 17

    Continue on RT-112 Buxton Rd: Saco, Buxton

    769 ft · 19 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on RT-112 Buxton Rd: Saco, Buxton

    965 ft · 30 sec

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Buxton Road

    65 m · 4 sec · Buxton Road

  20. 20

    Continue on North Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · North Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Main Street

    28 m · 3 sec · Main Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cape Elizabeth and Saco.

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
22 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
118.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Maine Turnpike
7.99 mi · 43%
Broadway
3.77 mi · 20%
Ocean House Road
3.74 mi · 20%
North Street
1.73 mi · 9%
Two Lights Road
1.62 mi · 9%
Samantha Smith Way
1.44 mi · 8%
Longest Stretch

Maine Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike

7.99 mi · 00h 09m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 36m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.7 mi
12.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
South Portland Gardens
00h 18m from Cape Elizabeth
Leave By
7:18 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Cape Elizabeth and Areas Of Fog then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Saco.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cape Elizabeth to Saco?

The road trip is about 18.6 miles (30 km) and usually takes 00h 36m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

South Portland Gardens is a useful midpoint, sitting about 11.2 miles from Cape Elizabeth and 7.3 miles from Saco.

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

The direct path is about 12.9 miles (20.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.7 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:18 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.60 one way or $5.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Cape Elizabeth and Areas Of Fog then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Saco.

Stop Ideas Near South Portland Gardens

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 Gardens, 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 Gardens.

RAIL

Portland Transportation Center

2 mi away
100 Thompson's Point Road
RAIL

Old Orchard Beach

15 mi away
11 First Street
RAIL

Saco Transportation Center

19 mi away
130 Main Street
RAIL

Freeport

29 mi away
36 Depot Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cape Elizabeth and Saco. Straight-line distance: 12.91 mi (20.78 km).

Cape Elizabeth

#1 Cape Elizabeth

Town in Cumberland County, Maine, USA

Population9,322
Coordinates43.5637000, -70.2000500
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Saco

#2 Saco

City in York County, Maine

Population20,121
Coordinates43.5009200, -70.4428300
Altitude20
CountryUnited States
Start: (-70.199942, 43.563609)
End: Main Street (-70.442839, 43.500924)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 30 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 22m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 15m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.66 gal
2.49 L · about $2.60
Round trip
$5.21
1.32 gal · 4.98 L
Estimated CO2
5.9 kg one way
Round trip: 11.7 kg / 26 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $2.60 $5.21
Mid-grade $4.46 $2.94 $5.88
Premium $4.86 $3.21 $6.41
Diesel $6.00 $3.96 $7.92

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 · Apr 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Cape Elizabeth and Saco. The current time is 23:57:31.

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.