How far is Cape Elizabeth, ME from South Portland, ME?

The driving distance from Cape Elizabeth, ME to South Portland, ME is about 7 miles (11.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 17m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 5.8 miles (9.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 34m 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
7.04 mi
00h 17m
Flight
5.75 mi
9.25 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cape Elizabeth.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
5.75 mi
Kilometers
9.25 km
Flight Time

Driving Distance

Road route
7.04 mi
Kilometers
11.33 km
Drive Time
00h 17m

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 17m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in South Portland
Mon, Jun 1, 1:06 PM EDT
Return by in Cape Elizabeth
Mon, Jun 1, 1:23 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cape Elizabeth
2026-06-01T12:49
Arrive South Portland
Mon, Jun 1, 1:06 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 17m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:17 AM to 7:17 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:56 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

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Portland
ME

The most populous city in Cumberland County, Maine.

From Cape Elizabeth
3.5 mi
00h 08m
To South Portland
3.5 mi
00h 08m

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
South 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 South Portland.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cape Elizabeth and South 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 · 24 sec · Ocean House Street

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Broadway

    1.2 km · 2 min · Broadway

  10. 10

    Turn sharp right onto Pine Street

    18 m · 3 sec · Pine Street

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Pine Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cape Elizabeth and South 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
11 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
157.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Ocean House Road
3.74 mi · 53%
Two Lights Road
1.62 mi · 23%
Broadway
0.76 mi · 11%
Ocean Street
0.48 mi · 7%
Ocean House Street
0.39 mi · 6%
Pine Street
0.01 mi
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 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 17m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+1.2 mi
5.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Portland
00h 08m from Cape Elizabeth
Leave By
7:56 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Cape Elizabeth and Chance Rain Showers near South Portland.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 7 miles (11.3 km) and usually takes 00h 17m 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?

Portland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 3.5 miles from Cape Elizabeth and 3.5 miles from South Portland.

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

The direct path is about 5.8 miles (9.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.2 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 7:56 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $0.99 one way or $1.97 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 2.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Portland

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around 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 Portland.

RAIL

Portland Transportation Center

3 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

25 mi away
36 Depot Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cape Elizabeth and South Portland. Straight-line distance: 5.75 mi (9.25 km).

Cape Elizabeth

#1 Cape Elizabeth

Town in Cumberland County, Maine, USA

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

#2 South Portland

City in Cumberland County, Maine, USA

Population25,950
Coordinates43.6414700, -70.2408800
Altitude7
CountryUnited States
Start: (-70.199942, 43.563609)
End: Pine Street (-70.240981, 43.641461)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 11 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 07m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.25 gal
0.94 L · about $0.99
Round trip
$1.97
0.5 gal · 1.88 L
Estimated CO2
2.2 kg one way
Round trip: 4.4 kg / 10 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $0.99 $1.97
Mid-grade $4.46 $1.11 $2.23
Premium $4.86 $1.21 $2.43
Diesel $6.00 $1.50 $3.00

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 South Portland. The current time is 12:49:45.

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.