Origin
South Portland Gardens, ME
Late night in South Portland Gardens on Monday
Local time
5:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Portland Gardens, ME to South Eliot, ME
Drive Time
59m
Distance
48.4 mi
78 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Portland Gardens, ME
Brett Sayles
South Eliot, ME
PhotoShoot Studio | Candid, Birthday Pre Wedding, Baby, Maternity & Child Photographer in Pune Ps Studio
Trip Overview
The drive from South Portland Gardens, ME to South Eliot, ME covers 48.4 miles and takes about 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Maine Turnpike, Bolt Hill Road, Route 236 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 42.2 miles on Maine Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.75 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
24.2 miles from South Portland Gardens, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 29m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 59m highway drive covering 48.4 miles, with most of the trip on Maine Turnpike and Bolt Hill Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 42.2 miles on Maine Turnpike.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Maine Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 42.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and Bolt Hill Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Westbrook Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 48.4 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Westbrook Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (ME 9 / Western Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 45.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Westbrook Street
Turn right onto Westbrook Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
ME 9 / Western Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto ME 9 / Western Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
45.2 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward ME 236: Kittery, South Berwick
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 2
Toward ME 236: Kittery, South Berwick
7
45.5 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 1, ME 236, US 1 Bypass: Kittery, South Berwick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 2
Toward US 1, ME 236, US 1 Bypass: Kittery, Sout...
5
45.7 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from South Portland Gardens, ME to South Eliot, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Berwick along the way.
Berwick
45.2 mi in
|
~51m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Turnpike | 42.2 mi | 45m |
| Bolt Hill Road | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Route 236 | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Samantha Smith Way | 1 mi | 1m |
| Broadway | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Westbrook Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Devereaux Circle | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Western Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Maine Turnpike
— 42.2 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Portland Gardens, ME and South Eliot, ME.
1
Start on Devereaux Circle
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
Devereaux Circle
2
Turn right onto Westbrook Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Westbrook Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto ME 9
208 ft
·
7 sec
·
Western Avenue
4
Continue on ME 9
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Westbrook Street
5
Turn right onto Broadway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward Maine Mall Road
7
Merge onto Samantha Smith Way
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Samantha Smith Way
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
9
Merge onto I 95
42 mi
·
45 min
·
Maine Turnpike
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 2
Toward ME 236: Kittery, South Berwick
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 2
Toward US 1, ME 236, US 1 Bypass: Kittery, South Berwick
12
Keep slight left at fork
230 ft
·
7 sec
13
Turn left onto ME 236
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Route 236
14
Turn left onto Bolt Hill Road
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Bolt Hill Road
15
Turn left onto Leach Road
74 ft
·
2 sec
·
Leach Road
16
Arrive at destination
Leach Road
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 24.2 miles from South Portland Gardens, ME, or about 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 48.4 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 24.2 miles or 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Eliot, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving South Portland Gardens, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from South Portland Gardens, ME
This is one driving day of about 48.4 miles and 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from South Portland Gardens, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Maine Turnpike for about 42.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.2 mi from South Portland Gardens, ME · 29m into the drive
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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 48.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.2 miles from South Portland Gardens, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in South Eliot, ME
The final approach into South Eliot, ME usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around South Eliot, ME.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.75 one way
$15.50 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $8.49 | $16.99 |
| premium | $4.83 | $9.20 | $18.40 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.75 | $21.51 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.53
Maine Turnpike
(42.2 mi)
$2.53
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.08 | $2.32 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.78 | $3.10 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
South Eliot, ME
Late night in South Eliot on Monday
Local time
5:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
18 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
59m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from South Portland Gardens, ME to South Eliot, ME covers 48.4 miles and takes about 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Maine Turnpike, Bolt Hill Road, Route 236. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.2 miles from South Portland Gardens, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.75 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 48.4 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Westbrook Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (ME 9 / Western Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 45.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from South Portland Gardens, ME to South Eliot, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Berwick along the way.
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