Trip from South Portland Gardens, ME to Van Buren, ME

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

6h 27m

Distance

326.6 mi

526 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$53

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min

4 AM

6h 15m ★

6 AM

6h 27m

8 AM

6h 52m

10 AM

6h 36m

12 PM

6h 33m

3 PM

6h 37m

5 PM

6h 51m

8 PM

6h 20m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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South Portland Gardens, ME

Brett Sayles

Van Buren, ME

ArtHouse Studio

Trip Overview

The drive from South Portland Gardens, ME to Van Buren, ME covers 326.6 miles and takes about 6h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Maine Turnpike, I 295, Houlton Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 198.3 miles on Maine Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $52.58 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

163.3 miles from South Portland Gardens, ME

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 58m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 6h 27m highway drive covering 326.6 miles, with most of the trip on Maine Turnpike and I 295. The longest continuous stretch is about 198.3 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 28 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 198.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and I 295. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Westbrook Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 27m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 8 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

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 1.4 miles (I 295): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

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

0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Westbrook Street

Turn right onto Westbrook Street

Navigation decision point

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

1.4 mi into trip | ~3m in | I 295

Merge onto I 295

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

249.6 mi into trip | ~4h 28m in

Take the exit toward US 1: Houlton, Presque Isle

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 302 Toward US 1: Houlton, Presque Isle

249.9 mi into trip | ~4h 28m in | US 1 / North Street

Turn left onto US 1 / North Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from South Portland Gardens, ME to Van Buren, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Presque Isle along the way.

Presque Isle

249.6 mi in | ~4h 28m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Maine Turnpike	198.3 mi	3h 26m
I 295	49.9 mi	57m
Houlton Road	12 mi	17m
Van Buren Road	11.4 mi	16m
Hamlin Road	9.2 mi	15m
Route 1	9.1 mi	14m
Limestone Road	8.4 mi	12m
Main Road	6.7 mi	10m

Longest stretch: Maine Turnpike — 198.3 mi, about 3h 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between South Portland Gardens, ME and Van Buren, ME.

Start on Devereaux Circle

0.2 mi · 50 sec · Devereaux Circle

Turn right onto Westbrook Street

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Westbrook Street

At end of road, turn left onto ME 9

208 ft · 7 sec · Western Avenue

Continue on ME 9

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Westbrook Street

Take the ramp

0.8 mi · 1 min

Toward I 295 North: Portland

Merge onto I 295

50 mi · 57 min · I 295

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 95

198 mi · 3 hr 26 min · Maine Turnpike

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Exit 302 Toward US 1: Houlton, Presque Isle

Turn left onto US 1

3.2 mi · 5 min · North Street

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 1

5.8 mi · 8 min · North Road

Use the straight / left lanes.

Continue on US 1

0.7 mi · 54 sec · US Highway 1

Continue on US 1

6.4 mi · 10 min · Route 1

Use the straight / left lanes.

Continue on US 1

6.7 mi · 10 min · Main Road

Continue on US 1

2.7 mi · 4 min · Route 1

Continue on US 1

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Military Road

Continue on US 1

0.6 mi · 1 min · Main Street

Turn straight onto US 1A

0.1 mi · 9 sec · Bridge Street

Continue on US 1A

5.8 mi · 8 min · Fort Street

Continue on US 1A

12 mi · 17 min · Houlton Road

Continue on US 1A; 167

1.0 mi · 1 min · Presque Isle Street

Continue on US 1A

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Bridge Street

Continue on US 1A

8.4 mi · 12 min · Limestone Road

Continue on US 1A

1.2 mi · 1 min · Fort Fairfield Road

Continue on US 1A

0.9 mi · 1 min · Main Street

Continue on US 1A

11 mi · 16 min · Van Buren Road

Continue on US 1A

9.2 mi · 15 min · Hamlin Road

Turn right

61 ft · 4 sec

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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 163.3 miles from South Portland Gardens, ME, or about 2h 58m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 198.3 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 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 163.3 miles or 2h 58m 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 56m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Van Buren, 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 326.6 miles and 6h 27m.

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.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Maine Turnpike for about 198.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 163.3 mi from South Portland Gardens, ME · 2h 58m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Greenbush, ME

163 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

Brunswick, ME

Fuel and coffee

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

Bangor, ME

Meal break

The midpoint is around 163.3 miles from South Portland Gardens, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Maine Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 198.3 miles.

Arriving in Van Buren, ME

The final approach into Van Buren, 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 Van Buren, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$52.58 one way

$105.15 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 114 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.50	$57.85	$115.70
premium	$4.86	$62.54	$125.09
diesel	$5.61	$72.11	$144.22

Estimated Tolls: $11.90

Maine Turnpike (198.3 mi) $11.90

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

$53

Tolls

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$89–$114

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 114.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	98	1	$34.29	$15.68
Efficient EV	81.7	0	$28.58	$13.06
EV Truck/SUV	130.6	1	$45.72	$20.90

Gas CO2

114 kg

EV CO2

38 kg (67% 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 1 hour ago

Origin

South Portland Gardens, ME

Morning in South Portland Gardens on Wednesday

Local time

8:06 AM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Van Buren, ME

Morning in Van Buren on Wednesday

Local time

8:06 AM

EDT

Current temp

32°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

15 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

6h 27m 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 South Portland Gardens, ME to Van Buren, ME covers 326.6 miles and takes about 6h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Maine Turnpike, 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 163.3 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 $52.58 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.

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 27m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 8 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

On the drive from South Portland Gardens, ME to Van Buren, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Presque Isle along the way.

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