Origin
South Portland, ME
Evening in South Portland on Sunday
Local time
8:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Trip from South Portland, ME to Calais, ME
Drive Time
4h 38m
Distance
226.9 mi
365 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 26m
★
6 AM
4h 39m
8 AM
5h 6m
10 AM
4h 48m
12 PM
4h 46m
3 PM
4h 50m
5 PM
5h 4m
8 PM
4h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Portland, ME
Phil Evenden
Calais, ME
Omran Soliman
Trip Overview
The drive from South Portland, ME to Calais, ME covers 226.9 miles and takes about 4h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Broadway, Casco Bay Bridge, York Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.32 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
113.5 miles from South Portland, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 19m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 38m drive with frequent turns across 226.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Broadway is one of the defining roads on this drive.
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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 38m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from South Portland, ME to Calais, ME is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Broadway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Casco Bay Bridge | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| York Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| High Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 295 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Maine Turnpike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 395 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Houlton Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Broadway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Portland, ME and Calais, ME.
1
Start on Pine Street
59 ft
·
10 sec
·
Pine Street
2
Turn sharp left onto Broadway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway
3
Continue on Casco Bay Bridge
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Casco Bay Bridge
4
Turn straight onto York Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
York Street
5
Turn left onto High Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
High Street
6
Take the ramp slight right toward I 295 North, US 1 North: Falmouth
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 295 North, US 1 North: Falmouth
7
Merge slight left
47 mi
·
53 min
8
Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike
79 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
Maine Turnpike
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 395 South, ME 15 South: Bangor, Brewer
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
I 395 South, ME 15 South: Bangor, Brewer
10
Merge slight left
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
11
Continue straight
89 mi
·
2 hr 2 min
12
Continue on Houlton Road
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Houlton Road
13
Continue on Route 1
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Route 1
14
Continue on Baring Street
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Baring Street
15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Baring Street
66 ft
·
1 sec
·
Baring Street
16
Exit the roundabout onto Baring Street
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
Baring Street
17
Continue on North Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Street
18
Turn right onto Lincoln Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Street
19
Turn left onto Germain Street
449 ft
·
20 sec
·
Germain Street
20
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 113.5 miles from South Portland, ME, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
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 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.5 miles or 2h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Calais, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving South Portland, 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, ME
This is one driving day of about 226.9 miles and 4h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from South Portland, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 113.5 mi from South Portland, ME · 2h 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
113 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 113.5 miles from South Portland, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Calais, ME
The final approach into Calais, 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 Calais, 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
$36.32 one way
$72.64 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
79 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $39.81 | $79.63 |
| premium | $4.83 | $43.13 | $86.26 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $50.41 | $100.82 |
Estimated Tolls: $7.00
Bay Bridge
$7.00
Maine Turnpike
$0.00
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
$36
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68.1 | 0 | $23.82 | $10.89 |
| Efficient EV | 56.7 | 0 | $19.85 | $9.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.8 | 1 | $31.77 | $14.52 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Calais, ME
Evening in Calais on Sunday
Local time
8:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
43°F
Brunswick, ME
113 mi in
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.
Road read
4h 38m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from South Portland, ME to Calais, ME covers 226.9 miles and takes about 4h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Broadway, Casco Bay Bridge, York Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 113.5 miles from South Portland, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $36.32 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 is a straightforward 4h 38m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from South Portland, ME to Calais, ME is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from South Portland, ME to Calais, ME does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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