How far is Caribou, ME from Portland, ME?

The driving distance from Caribou, ME to Portland, ME is about 300.2 miles (483.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 246.8 miles (397.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 29m 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
300.16 mi
04h 44m
Flight
246.8 mi
397.19 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Caribou.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
246.8 mi
Kilometers
397.19 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
300.16 mi
Kilometers
483.06 km
Drive Time
04h 44m

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 04h 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Portland
Wed, May 13, 12:15 AM EDT
Return by in Caribou
Wed, May 13, 5:00 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Caribou
2026-05-12T19:30
Arrive Portland
Wed, May 13, 12:15 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:45 AM to 12:45 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:30 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Caribou
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
Greenbush
ME

City in Minnesota, United States

From Caribou
150.1 mi
02h 22m
To Portland
150.1 mi
02h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
52°F
Tuesday

Widespread Frost then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW
Destination
42°F
Overnight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Tue, May 12 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    13 m · 9 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Main Street

    31 m · 2 sec · Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn slight left onto Herschel Street

    145 m · 11 sec · Herschel Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Record Street

    144 m · 14 sec · Record Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Washburn Street

    116 m · 8 sec · Washburn Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Main Street

    617 ft · 13 sec · Main Street

  7. 7

    Turn slight left onto Lyndon Street

    1364 ft · 40 sec · Lyndon Street

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Presque Isle Road

    5.7 mi · 8 min · Presque Isle Road

  9. 9

    Continue on Caribou Road

    5.1 mi · 7 min · Caribou Road

  10. 10

    Continue on Main Street

    1607 ft · 48 sec · Main Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Connector Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · Connector Road

  12. 12

    Continue on State Road

    1078 ft · 18 sec · State Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Parsons Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · Parsons Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto State Street

    1051 ft · 22 sec · State Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1.3 mi · 3 min · Main Street

  16. 16

    Continue on Houlton Road

    10.3 mi · 14 min · Houlton Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Presque Isle Road

    2 mi · 3 min · Presque Isle Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Benjamin Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Benjamin Street

  19. 19

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Main Street

    2412 ft · 1 min · Main Street

  20. 20

    Continue on Military Road

    1649 ft · 40 sec · Military Road

  21. 21

    Continue on Route 1

    2.7 mi · 4 min · Route 1

  22. 22

    Continue on Main Road

    6.7 mi · 11 min · Main Road

  23. 23

    Continue on Route 1

    6.4 mi · 10 min · Route 1

  24. 24

    Continue on US Highway 1

    1.1 km · 55 sec · US Highway 1

  25. 25

    Continue on North Road

    5.8 mi · 8 min · North Road

  26. 26

    Continue on North Street

    3.1 mi · 6 min · North Street

  27. 27

    Take the exit right

    1588 ft · 39 sec

  28. 28

    Merge slight left

    198.2 mi · 3 hr 27 min

  29. 29

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

    46.5 mi · 53 min

  30. 30

    Take the exit slight right toward US 1A

    1.2 km · 2 min

  31. 31

    Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue

    1853 ft · 51 sec · Cumberland Avenue

  32. 32

    Turn left onto Preble Street

    555 ft · 19 sec · Preble Street

  33. 33

    Turn left onto Congress Street

    48 m · 5 sec · Congress Street

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Congress Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
34 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Street
202 mi · 67%
I 295 South
46.5 mi · 15%
Houlton Road
10.3 mi · 3%
Route 1
9.15 mi · 3%
Presque Isle Road
7.68 mi · 3%
Main Road
6.74 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

North Street

Merge slight left

198 mi · 03h 27m

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
04h 44m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+53.4 mi
246.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Greenbush
02h 22m from Caribou
Leave By
7:30 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Widespread Frost then Mostly Sunny leaving Caribou and Mostly Clear near Portland.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 300.2 miles (483.1 km) and usually takes 04h 44m 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?

Greenbush is a useful midpoint, sitting about 150.1 miles from Caribou and 150.1 miles from Portland.

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

The direct path is about 246.8 miles (397.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 53.4 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 7:30 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.78 one way or $83.56 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 94.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Widespread Frost then Mostly Sunny around Caribou and Mostly Clear near Portland.

Stop Ideas Near Greenbush

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Greenbush, 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 Greenbush.

BUS

Orono (University of Maine), Maine

20 mi away
Squapan Rd and Gym Dr
BUS

Bangor, Maine

32 mi away
1039 Union St.
BUS

Searsport, Maine

72 mi away
161 East Main St.
BUS

Belfast, Maine

79 mi away
Belmont Ave & US Hwy 1

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Caribou and Portland. Straight-line distance: 246.8 mi (397.19 km).

Caribou

#1 Caribou

City in Maine

Population7,622
Coordinates46.8606000, -68.0119700
Altitude137
CountryUnited States
Portland

#2 Portland

The most populous city in Cumberland County, Maine.

Population66,803
Coordinates43.6573700, -70.2589000
Altitude19
CountryUnited States
Start: (-68.01195, 46.860647)
End: Congress Street (-70.259094, 43.657504)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 483 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 30m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 00m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 00m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 17m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 44m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.59 gal
40.09 L · about $41.78
Round trip
$83.56
21.18 gal · 80.18 L
Estimated CO2
94.1 kg one way
Round trip: 188.2 kg / 415 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $41.78 $83.56
Mid-grade $4.46 $47.20 $94.40
Premium $4.86 $51.45 $102.89
Diesel $6.00 $63.51 $127.02

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 · May 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Caribou and Portland. The current time is 19:30:43.

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.