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Major city · United States

Cape ElizabethCape Elizabeth, Maine

Give Cape Elizabeth one full day from Portland: Portland Head Light and Fort Williams in the morning, Two Lights and the Lobster Shack at lunch, Crescent Beach after.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Cape Elizabeth is a coastal town of about 9,000 people five miles southeast of Portland, Maine, reached by Route 77 across the Casco Bay Bridge through South Portland. Almost everything a visitor wants sits along that one road: Fort Williams Park with Portland Head Light, Two Lights State Park, Crescent Beach and Kettle Cove. It works as a half-day or full-day trip from Portland, or as a quieter two-night base if you want the ocean at the door.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jun–Sep for beaches and the lighthouse museum; May and Oct for quiet trails
avoid Jan–Mar (cold, ice, many seasonal places shut)
Airports
PWM · BOS
Nights
1–2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Cape Elizabeth911 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Cape Elizabeth, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–6
  • Beerdraught$7–10
  • Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi or rideshare, Portland to Cape Elizabethcheck$20–35
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25
  • Budget bedWhole-house rental (up to 6), a night, per roomUS$350
  • Mid-range bedMotel or simple guesthouse room, a night, per roomUS$180
  • High-end bedMotel or simple guesthouse room, a night, per roomUS$260

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$140 · High US$280

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Portland Head LightFort Williams ParkTwo Lights State ParkCrescent Beach State ParkThe Lobster Shack at Two Lights
Airports
PWM Portland International Jetport (About 20–25 min by car via I-295 and Route 77; no direct public transport to Cape Elizabeth, so taxi, rideshare or rental car.) · BOS Boston Logan International (About 2 h by car; Concord Coach Lines buses run Boston to Portland, then you still need a car or taxi.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    1°C (34°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    2°C (36°F)

  3. Mar

    Avoid

    6°C (43°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    12°C (54°F)

  5. May

    Best

    18°C (64°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    26°C (79°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    26°C (79°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    15°C (59°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    9°C (48°F)

  12. Dec

    not flagged

    3°C (37°F)

Best: May–Oct. Avoid: Jan–Mar. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (26°C (79°F)), coolest Jan (−9°C (16°F) low), wettest May (12 rain days), driest Aug (9). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Cape Elizabeth: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

1°C (34°F)

−9°C (16°F)

11 rd

Feb

2°C (36°F)

−8°C (18°F)

10 rd

Mar

6°C (43°F)

−4°C (25°F)

11 rd

Apr

12°C (54°F)

2°C (36°F)

11 rd

May

18°C (64°F)

7°C (45°F)

12 rd

Jun

23°C (73°F)

12°C (54°F)

11 rd

Jul

26°C (79°F)

15°C (59°F)

10 rd

Aug

26°C (79°F)

15°C (59°F)

9 rd

Sep

21°C (70°F)

11°C (52°F)

9 rd

Oct

15°C (59°F)

5°C (41°F)

10 rd

Nov

9°C (48°F)

0°C (32°F)

11 rd

Dec

3°C (37°F)

−6°C (21°F)

12 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

There is no useful local bus: plan on a car, taxi or rideshare. Route 77 is the spine — Portland to Fort Williams is about 6 miles, Fort Williams to Two Lights another 2 miles. Parking at Fort Williams is paid by the hour with a minimum; state park lots fill by mid-morning on summer weekends. Walking between the parks is possible on the road but there is little pavement, so most people drive between stops.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Portland, Mainego

Door to door: About 20–30 min

Drive Route 77 north over the Casco Bay Bridge, about 15 min

Old Port restaurants, waterfront and museums; the natural evening base.

South Portland

go

Door to door: About 15 min

Route 77 north, about 10 min

Bug Light and Willard Beach; pairs well with a Fort Williams morning.

Scarborough, Maine

go

Door to door: About 15 min

Route 77 south, about 10 min

Scarborough Beach and the marsh; continue south if you have a car.

Freeport, Maine

go

Door to door: About 35–45 min

I-295 north, about 30 min

Outlet shopping and L.L.Bean; a rainy-day swap.

Brunswick, Mainecaution

Door to door: About 45–55 min

I-295 north, about 40 min

Doable as a half-day, but better as its own stop on the way north.

Gorham and Westbrook, Maineskip

Door to door: About 40–50 min

I-295 and Route 25, about 30–40 min

Inland towns with little for a short coastal trip; skip unless you have a reason.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Bowery Beach Road / Inn by the Sea area

The only real hotel cluster: oceanfront inn, walk to Crescent Beach. Book months ahead for summer weekends.

Two Lights Road

A few motels and rentals near the state parks; a car is essential.

Shore Road

Guesthouses and rentals between the town centre and Fort Williams; closest to the lighthouse.

Stay in Portland or South Portland instead

Cheaper and more choice; 15–25 min drive each way. See the Greater Portland and South Portland guides.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$60–110 excl. bed
Mid
$110–200 excl. bed
High
$200+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or simple guesthouse room1 × 1 night × US$180US$180
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$140US$280
Rental car, one day1 × US$90US$90
Fort Williams parking, one visit1 × US$4 · checkUS$4
State park day-use fee, per vehicle1 × US$8 · checkUS$8
Lobster roll lunch2 × US$25US$50
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$64
Trip total≈ US$353 per person per day, bed includedUS$706

2026 estimate in US dollars, per person unless marked; sales tax and tips extra. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Lobster rollMarket price; higher in peak season.$22–32
Fried clams or haddock basket$18–28
Beer, draught$7–10
Taxi or rideshare, Portland to Cape Elizabethcheck$20–35
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very safe: the real risks are cold water, rip currents at the state beaches, and dark, unlit road shoulders if you walk Route 77 after sunset. Lock the car and keep valuables out of sight at trailhead lots.
  • Fort Williams parking is paid and metered — check the current rate and minimum on arrival.
  • State park entry fees apply at Crescent Beach and Two Lights; check the Maine state parks site for 2026 rates.
  • The ocean here is cold even in August — swimming is a short plunge, not a long one.
  • Some coves and beach ends are private property: stay on marked paths and signed public access.
  • Summer weekend traffic on Route 77 backs up; go before 9am or after 4pm.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Cape Elizabeth Police (non-emergency)
207-799-5511
Poison Control (US, 24 h)
1-800-222-1222

Pocket card

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Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Cape ElizabethCape Elizabeth, Maine

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Give the driver the street number and Route 77.To this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Cape Elizabeth Police (non-emergency)207-799-5511
  • Poison Control1-800-222-1222

Embassy

No embassies in Maine; consulates are in Boston. US visitors: your own consulate is the nearest one in Boston or New York.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Rideshare Portland → Fort Williams: $20–35, about 20 min (check)
  • Fort Williams parking: metered by the hour, minimum applies (check)
  • State park day-use, per vehicle: about $8 (check)

Say or show

  • Portland Head Light is in Fort Williams Park, 1000 Shore Rd. — Where is the lighthouse?
  • At the Lobster Shack, 225 Two Lights Rd. — One lobster roll, please
  • Ask at the park gate; some cove ends are private. — Is this beach public?
  • Metered lot at Fort Williams; state park lots need a fee. — Can I park here?

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Cape Elizabeth. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep for beaches and the lighthouse museum; May and Oct for quiet trails · avoid Jan–Mar (cold, ice, many seasonal places shut) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for PWM: taxi and rideshare bands field-checked, plus a late-arrival plan for Cape Elizabeth.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources

Ask about Cape Elizabeth

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