Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Caribou, ME to City of Portland, ME

Drive Time

6h 14m

Distance

304.2 mi

490 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$49

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
6h 2m ★
6 AM
6h 15m
8 AM
6h 40m
10 AM
6h 23m
12 PM
6h 21m
3 PM
6h 25m
5 PM
6h 39m
8 PM
6h 7m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Caribou, ME, ME

Caribou, ME

Barnabas Davoti

Downtown City of Portland, ME, ME

City of Portland, ME

Brett Sayles

Trip Overview

The drive from Caribou, ME to City of Portland, ME covers 304.2 miles and takes about 6h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 95, I 295, Houlton Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 198.2 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.70 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

152.1 miles from Caribou, ME

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 8m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 6h 14m highway drive covering 304.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 95 and I 295. The longest continuous stretch is about 198.2 miles on I 95.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 40 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 198.2 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

720 ft 23 ft

Total Climb

386 ft

Total Descent

810 ft

Highest Point

720 ft

~21.7 mi in

Elevation Range

697 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 295. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near ME 161B; ME 164; US 1 Business / Main Street.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 304.2 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (ME 161B; ME 164; US 1 Business / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (US 1; ME 161 / Presque Isle Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles (US 1 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | ME 161B; ME 164; US 1 Business / Main Street

Turn left onto ME 161B; ME 164; US 1 Business / Main Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.7 mi into trip | ~1m in | US 1; ME 161 / Presque Isle Road

Turn right onto US 1; ME 161 / Presque Isle Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
6
13.6 mi into trip | ~21m in | US 1 / Main Street

Turn right onto US 1 / Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
9
252.7 mi into trip | ~4h 53m in | I 295

Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight lane. Exit 103 Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Bru...
7
299.1 mi into trip | ~5h 46m in | US 1A

Take the exit onto US 1A toward US 1A

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 7 Toward US 1A

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Caribou, ME to City of Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Brunswick along the way.

Brunswick

252.7 mi in | ~4h 53m | via I 295

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 198.2 mi 3h 26m
I 295 46.5 mi 52m
Houlton Road 10.3 mi 14m
Route 1 9.1 mi 14m
Presque Isle Road 7.7 mi 11m
Main Road 6.7 mi 10m
North Road 5.8 mi 8m
Caribou Road 5.1 mi 7m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 198.2 mi, about 3h 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Caribou, ME and City of Portland, ME.

1

Start on this road

43 ft · 9 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto ME 161B; ME 164; US 1 Business

101 ft · 2 sec · Main Street
3

Turn slight left onto ME 161B; ME 164

477 ft · 10 sec · Herschel Street
4

Turn left onto Record Street

471 ft · 14 sec · Record Street
5

Turn left onto ME 161B; ME 164; US 1 Business

381 ft · 7 sec · Washburn Street
6

Turn right onto ME 161B; ME 164; US 1 Business

0.1 mi · 12 sec · Main Street
7

Turn slight left onto Lyndon Street

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Lyndon Street
8

Turn right onto US 1; ME 161

5.7 mi · 8 min · Presque Isle Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
9

Continue on US 1

5.1 mi · 7 min · Caribou Road
10

Continue on US 1

0.3 mi · 48 sec · Main Street
11

Turn right onto ME 163

0.7 mi · 1 min · Connector Road
12

Continue on ME 163

0.2 mi · 18 sec · State Road
13

Continue on ME 163; ME 227

0.8 mi · 1 min · Parsons Street
14

Turn left onto ME 227

0.2 mi · 21 sec · State Street
15

Turn right onto US 1

1.3 mi · 3 min · Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
16

Continue on US 1

10 mi · 14 min · Houlton Road
Use the straight lane.
17

Continue on US 1

2.0 mi · 3 min · Presque Isle Road
18

Continue on US 1

0.7 mi · 2 min · Benjamin Street
19

At end of road, turn right onto US 1

0.5 mi · 1 min · Main Street
20

Continue on US 1

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Military Road
21

Continue on US 1

2.7 mi · 4 min · Route 1
22

Continue on US 1

6.7 mi · 10 min · Main Road
23

Continue on US 1

6.4 mi · 10 min · Route 1
Use the straight / left lanes.
24

Continue on US 1

0.7 mi · 54 sec · US Highway 1
Use the straight / left lanes.
25

Continue on US 1

5.8 mi · 8 min · North Road
Use the straight lane.
26

Continue on US 1

3.1 mi · 5 min · North Street
27

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
28

Merge onto I 95

198 mi · 3 hr 26 min · I 95
29

Keep slight right at fork onto I 295

46 mi · 52 min · I 295
Exit 103 Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick Use the straight lane.
30

Take the exit onto US 1A

1.1 mi · 2 min · US 1A
Exit 7 Toward US 1A Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31

Continue on Maine State Pier

0.1 mi · 29 sec · Maine State Pier
Use the straight lane.
32

Turn slight right

187 ft · 13 sec
33

Turn straight onto Portland - Peaks Island

2.5 mi · 20 min · Portland - Peaks Island
34

Continue

213 ft · 15 sec
35

Continue on Welch Street

0.2 mi · 49 sec · Welch Street
36

Turn right onto Oakland Avenue

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Oakland Avenue
37

Turn slight left onto Whitehead Street

351 ft · 15 sec · Whitehead Street
38

Continue on Seashore Avenue

0.2 mi · 46 sec · Seashore Avenue
39

Continue on Seashore Avenue

0.6 mi · 2 min · Seashore Avenue
40

Arrive at destination

Seashore Avenue

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 152.1 miles from Caribou, ME, or about 3h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 198.2 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 80 miles or 1h 53m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 152.1 miles or 3h 8m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 50m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Portland, ME than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Caribou, 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 Caribou, ME

This is one driving day of about 304.2 miles and 6h 14m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Caribou, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 198.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 152.1 mi from Caribou, ME · 3h 8m into the drive

Downtown Bangor, ME, ME

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bangor, ME

152 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

Houlton, ME

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brunswick, ME

Meal break

The midpoint is around 152.1 miles from Caribou, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 198.2 miles.

Arriving in City of Portland, ME

The final approach into City of Portland, 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 City of Portland, ME.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument

National Monument

Spread across a wild landscape offering spectacular views of Katahdin, Katahdin Woods and Waters invites discovery of its rivers, streams, woods, flora, fauna, geology, and the night skies that have a...

16 mi from route ~39 min detour Free near mile 94.4
Park Closure: Loop Road and North Entrance Seasonal Closures
Park Closure: Katahdin Overlook Construction Closure
View on nps.gov
Frances Perkins National Monument

Frances Perkins National Monument

National Monument

Known as the first woman to hold a presidential cabinet position and the “Woman behind the New Deal,” Frances Perkins championed many labor rights that Americans enjoy today, including safety standard...

17 mi from route ~42 min detour Free near mile 262.2
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$48.70 one way

$97.39 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 106 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.46 $53.38 $106.76
premium $4.83 $57.82 $115.64
diesel $5.64 $67.58 $135.17

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$49

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$74–$99

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 106.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 91.3 1 $31.94 $14.60
Efficient EV 76.1 0 $26.62 $12.17
EV Truck/SUV 121.7 1 $42.59 $19.47

Gas CO2

106 kg

EV CO2

36 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 hours ago

Origin

Caribou, ME

Evening in Caribou on Sunday

Local time

6:09 PM

EDT

Current temp

33°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

City of Portland, ME

Evening in City of Portland on Sunday

Local time

6:09 PM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Partly Sunny

S 15 mph 3% chance 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

14 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

6h 14m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Caribou, ME to City of Portland, ME covers 304.2 miles and takes about 6h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, I 295, Houlton Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 152.1 miles from Caribou, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.70 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 304.2 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (ME 161B; ME 164; US 1 Business / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (US 1; ME 161 / Presque Isle Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles (US 1 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Caribou, ME to City of Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Brunswick along the way.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

City of Portland, ME to Caribou, ME

Plan the drive back the other way.

304 mi 6h 13m

Continue From City of Portland, ME

Calais, ME 227.9 mi · 4h 59m Addison, ME 187.6 mi · 4h 24m Guilford, ME 132.3 mi · 3h 1m Cornville, ME 104.3 mi · 2h 34m

More from Caribou, ME

Saco, ME 315.9 mi · 6h 9m Gorham, ME 308.5 mi · 6h 2m Scarborough, ME 307.8 mi · 6h Portland, ME 300.4 mi · 5h 49m Falmouth, ME 294.9 mi · 5h 41m Brunswick, ME 277.1 mi · 5h 25m

More trips to City of Portland, ME

Gouldsboro, ME 180.6 mi Trenton, ME 167.7 mi Howland, ME 165.6 mi Winterport, ME 133.4 mi Guilford, ME 132.2 mi Cornville, ME 104.1 mi

Explore more options from Caribou, ME or browse trips ending in City of Portland, ME.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse ME road trips.

Explore maps for Caribou, ME or City of Portland, ME on MapSof.net.