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Trip from Lac Frontiere, ME to Caribou, ME

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 28m

Distance

166.8 mi

268 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
7h 18m ★
6 AM
7h 28m
8 AM
7h 49m
10 AM
7h 35m
12 PM
7h 33m
3 PM
7h 36m
5 PM
7h 47m
8 PM
7h 22m

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

Downtown Lac Frontiere, ME, ME

Lac Frontiere, ME

Александр Ершков

city in Aroostook County, Maine, United States

Caribou, ME

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Lac Frontiere, ME to Caribou, ME covers 166.8 miles and takes about 7h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Realty Road, Depot Road, 17 Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 62.7 miles on Realty Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.85 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

2 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

83.4 miles from Lac Frontiere, ME

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 36m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 28m. Total distance: 166.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 28m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 7h 28m drive with frequent turns across 166.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Realty Road is the longest continuous segment at about 62.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 39 miles in near Maibec Road.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 28m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 39 miles (Maibec Road): Navigation decision point; at 51.9 miles (Boulevard Road): Navigation decision point; at 132.5 miles (ME 11 / Station Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

4
39 mi into trip | ~2h 30m in | Maibec Road

Turn right onto Maibec Road

Navigation decision point

3
51.9 mi into trip | ~3h 20m in | Boulevard Road

Turn right onto Boulevard Road

Navigation decision point

3
132.5 mi into trip | ~6h 35m in | ME 11 / Station Street

Turn right onto ME 11 / Station Street

Navigation decision point

5
155.2 mi into trip | ~7h 10m in | US 1 / Main Street

Turn left onto US 1 / Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
4
166.8 mi into trip | ~7h 28m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Realty Road 62.7 mi 2h 31m
Depot Road 32.8 mi 2h 6m
17 Road 13.8 mi 33m
Presque Isle Road 13 mi 19m
Maibec Road 12.9 mi 49m
Daaquam Road 6.2 mi 23m
Caribou Road 5.1 mi 7m
Haystack Road 5.1 mi 7m
Longest stretch: Realty Road — 62.7 mi, about 2h 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lac Frontiere, ME and Caribou, ME.

1

Start on Daaquam Road

6.2 mi · 23 min · Daaquam Road
2

Continue on Depot Road

33 mi · 2 hr 6 min · Depot Road
3

Turn right onto Maibec Road

13 mi · 49 min · Maibec Road
4

Turn right onto Boulevard Road

3.6 mi · 8 min · Boulevard Road
5

Continue on 17 Road

14 mi · 33 min · 17 Road
6

Turn left onto Realty Road

63 mi · 2 hr 31 min · Realty Road
7

Continue on Garfield Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Garfield Road
8

Turn right onto ME 11

0.8 mi · 1 min · Station Street
9

Turn right onto ME 11

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Main Street
10

Turn left onto ME 163

7.3 mi · 10 min · Presque Isle Road
11

Continue on ME 163

5.1 mi · 7 min · Haystack Road
12

Continue on ME 163

2.1 mi · 3 min · Main Street
13

Continue on ME 163

4.8 mi · 7 min · Mapleton Road
14

Continue on ME 163

0.5 mi · 1 min · Industrial Street
15

Continue on ME 163

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Mechanic Street
16

Turn left onto ME 163; ME 227

0.8 mi · 1 min · Parsons Street
17

Continue on ME 163; ME 227

0.2 mi · 17 sec · State Road
18

Continue on ME 163

0.7 mi · 1 min · Connector Road
19

Turn left onto US 1

0.3 mi · 54 sec · Main Street
Use the left lane.
20

Continue on US 1

5.1 mi · 7 min · Caribou Road
21

Continue on US 1

5.7 mi · 8 min · Presque Isle Road
22

Turn left onto Lyndon Street

0.3 mi · 37 sec · Lyndon Street
23

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

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Main Street
24

Turn left

43 ft · 3 sec
25

Arrive at destination

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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 83.4 miles from Lac Frontiere, ME, or about 4h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.7 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 37 miles or 2h 22m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 83.4 miles or 4h 36m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 41m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Lac Frontiere, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Lac Frontiere, ME

This is one driving day of about 166.8 miles and 7h 28m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Lac Frontiere, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Realty Road for about 62.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 83.4 mi from Lac Frontiere, ME · 4h 36m into the drive

Downtown Boat Landing Camp, ME, ME

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Boat Landing Camp, ME

83 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.

Popular next leg

Boat Landing Camp, ME to Caribou, ME

86 mi · 2h 51m

Pacing Suggestions

Boat Landing Camp, ME

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Boat Landing Camp, ME

Meal break

The midpoint is around 83.4 miles from Lac Frontiere, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Realty Road if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.7 miles.

Arriving in Caribou, ME

The final approach into Caribou, 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 Caribou, 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

$26.85 one way

$53.70 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 58 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $29.54 $59.09
premium $4.86 $31.94 $63.88
diesel $5.61 $36.83 $73.65

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 58.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 50 0 $17.51 $8.01
Efficient EV 41.7 0 $14.60 $6.67
EV Truck/SUV 66.7 0 $23.35 $10.68

Gas CO2

58 kg

EV CO2

20 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Lac Frontiere, ME

Afternoon in Lac Frontiere on Friday

Local time

3:44 PM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Caribou, ME

Afternoon in Caribou on Friday

Local time

3:44 PM

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

3 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

7h 28m 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 Lac Frontiere, ME to Caribou, ME covers 166.8 miles and takes about 7h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Realty Road, Depot Road, 17 Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 83.4 miles from Lac Frontiere, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.85 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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 28m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

The main spots that need attention: at 39 miles (Maibec Road): Navigation decision point; at 51.9 miles (Boulevard Road): Navigation decision point; at 132.5 miles (ME 11 / Station Street): Navigation decision point.

The route from Lac Frontiere, ME to Caribou, ME does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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