How far is Calais, ME from Portland, ME?

The driving distance from Calais, ME to Portland, ME is about 226 miles (363.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 48m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 181 miles (291.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 37m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
226 mi
03h 48m
Flight
181.04 mi
291.35 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Calais.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
181.04 mi
Kilometers
291.35 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
226 mi
Kilometers
363.71 km
Drive Time
03h 48m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 48m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Portland
Thu, Apr 23, 5:49 AM EDT
Return by in Calais
Thu, Apr 23, 9:37 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Calais
2026-04-23T02:00
Arrive Portland
Thu, Apr 23, 5:49 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 48m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:49 AM to 11:49 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:22 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Calais
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Carmel
ME

Town in Maine, United States

From Calais
112.1 mi
01h 54m
To Portland
113.9 mi
01h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
44°F
Thursday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 mph SW
Destination
48°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Calais and Portland.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Calais and Portland.

  1. 1

    Start on Germain Street

    137 m · 22 sec · Germain Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Lincoln Street

    1422 ft · 1 min · Lincoln Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto North Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · North Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Baring Street

    2665 ft · 45 sec · Baring Street

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Baring Street

    26 m · 1 sec · Baring Street

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout onto Baring Street

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Baring Street

  7. 7

    Continue on Route 1

    2.6 mi · 3 min · Route 1

  8. 8

    Continue on Houlton Road

    1047 ft · 17 sec · Houlton Road

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Airline Road

    46.5 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Airline Road

  10. 10

    Continue on State Highway 9

    1 km · 43 sec · State Highway 9

  11. 11

    Continue on Airline Road

    28.7 mi · 41 min · Airline Road

  12. 12

    Continue on Main Road

    13.4 mi · 17 min · Main Road

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    1.3 mi · 2 min

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    45 m · 13 sec

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South: Newport

    1530 ft · 22 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    79 mi · 1 hr 26 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick

    46.5 mi · 53 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward US 1A

    1.2 km · 2 min

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue

    1853 ft · 55 sec · Cumberland Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Preble Street

    555 ft · 19 sec · Preble Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Congress Street

    48 m · 7 sec · Congress Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Congress Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Calais and Portland.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
22 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 95 South
79.3 mi · 35%
Airline Road
75.2 mi · 33%
I 295 South
46.5 mi · 21%
Main Road
14.7 mi · 7%
Route 1
2.59 mi · 1%
Baring Street
2.44 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 95 South

Merge slight left

79 mi · 01h 26m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 48m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+45 mi
181 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Carmel
01h 54m from Calais
Leave By
9:22 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Calais and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Portland.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Calais to Portland?

The road trip is about 226 miles (363.7 km) and usually takes 03h 48m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Carmel is a useful midpoint, sitting about 112.1 miles from Calais and 113.9 miles from Portland.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 181 miles (291.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 45 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:22 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.48 one way or $62.96 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 70.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Calais and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Portland.

Stop Ideas Near Carmel

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Carmel, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Carmel.

BUS

Bangor, Maine

19 mi away
1039 Union St.
BUS

Orono (University of Maine), Maine

32 mi away
Squapan Rd and Gym Dr
BUS

Searsport, Maine

39 mi away
161 East Main St.
BUS

Belfast, Maine

42 mi away
Belmont Ave & US Hwy 1

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Calais and Portland. Straight-line distance: 181.04 mi (291.35 km).

Calais

#1 Calais

Town in Washington County, Vermont, United States

Population3,026
Coordinates45.1837600, -67.2766200
Altitude13
CountryUnited States
Portland

#2 Portland

The most populous city in Cumberland County, Maine.

Population66,803
Coordinates43.6573700, -70.2589000
Altitude19
CountryUnited States
Start: Germain Street (-67.276476, 45.183691)
End: Congress Street (-70.259094, 43.657504)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 364 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 31m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.98 gal
30.19 L · about $31.48
Round trip
$62.96
15.96 gal · 60.38 L
Estimated CO2
70.9 kg one way
Round trip: 141.8 kg / 313 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $31.48 $62.96
Mid-grade $4.46 $35.57 $71.13
Premium $4.86 $38.77 $77.53
Diesel $6.00 $47.86 $95.71

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Maine · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Calais and Portland. The current time is 02:00:26.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.