How far is Fort Fairfield, ME from Portland, ME?

The driving distance from Fort Fairfield, ME to Portland, ME is about 291.7 miles (469.4 km), with a travel time of about 04h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 245.4 miles (395 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 12m 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
291.68 mi
04h 36m
Flight
245.43 mi
394.98 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fort Fairfield.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
245.43 mi
Kilometers
394.98 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
291.68 mi
Kilometers
469.42 km
Drive Time
04h 36m

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 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Portland
Sat, May 30, 6:49 AM EDT
Return by in Fort Fairfield
Sat, May 30, 11:25 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fort Fairfield
2026-05-30T02:12
Arrive Portland
Sat, May 30, 6:49 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:36 AM to 12:36 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
7:48 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fort Fairfield
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
Alton
ME

Human settlement in Penobscot County, Maine, USA

From Fort Fairfield
145.7 mi
02h 18m
To Portland
146 mi
02h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Fort Fairfield Weather
ME
Live fallback forecast
58°F
Saturday
Using Easton as the closest live forecast in the Aroostook County weather hub.

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph NE
Destination
52°F
Saturday

Light Rain

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
15 to 30 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fort Fairfield and Portland.

  1. 1

    Start on Elm Street

    16 m · 7 sec · Elm Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Main Street

    126 m · 10 sec · Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Presque Isle Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · Presque Isle Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Houlton Road

    12 mi · 18 min · Houlton Road

  5. 5

    Continue on Fort Road

    5.8 mi · 9 min · Fort Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Bridge Street

    547 ft · 9 sec · Bridge Street

  7. 7

    Continue on Main Street

    3090 ft · 2 min · Main Street

  8. 8

    Continue on Military Road

    1649 ft · 40 sec · Military Road

  9. 9

    Continue on Route 1

    2.7 mi · 4 min · Route 1

  10. 10

    Continue on Main Road

    6.7 mi · 11 min · Main Road

  11. 11

    Continue on Route 1

    6.4 mi · 10 min · Route 1

  12. 12

    Continue on US Highway 1

    1.1 km · 55 sec · US Highway 1

  13. 13

    Continue on North Road

    5.8 mi · 8 min · North Road

  14. 14

    Continue on North Street

    3.1 mi · 6 min · North Street

  15. 15

    Take the exit right

    1588 ft · 39 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    198.2 mi · 3 hr 27 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 · 51 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 · 5 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 Fort Fairfield and Portland.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
22 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Street
202 mi · 69%
I 295 South
46.5 mi · 16%
Houlton Road
12 mi · 4%
Route 1
9.15 mi · 3%
Main Road
6.74 mi · 2%
North Road
5.84 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 36m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+46.3 mi
245.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Alton
02h 18m from Fort Fairfield
Leave By
7:48 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Fort Fairfield and Light Rain near Portland.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Fort Fairfield to Portland?

The road trip is about 291.7 miles (469.4 km) and usually takes 04h 36m 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?

Alton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 145.7 miles from Fort Fairfield and 146 miles from Portland.

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

The direct path is about 245.4 miles (395 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.3 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 7:48 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.59 one way or $81.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 91.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Fort Fairfield and Light Rain near Portland.

Stop Ideas Near Alton

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

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

BUS

Orono (University of Maine), Maine

15 mi away
Squapan Rd and Gym Dr
BUS

Bangor, Maine

25 mi away
1039 Union St.
BUS

Searsport, Maine

65 mi away
161 East Main St.
BUS

Belfast, Maine

71 mi away
Belmont Ave & US Hwy 1

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fort Fairfield and Portland. Straight-line distance: 245.43 mi (394.98 km).

Fort Fairfield

#1 Fort Fairfield

City in Aroostook County, Maine, United States of America

Population3,278
Coordinates46.7722700, -67.8339100
Altitude116
CountryUnited States
Portland

#2 Portland

The most populous city in Cumberland County, Maine.

Population66,803
Coordinates43.6573700, -70.2589000
Altitude19
CountryUnited States
Start: Elm Street (-67.834004, 46.772285)
End: Congress Street (-70.259094, 43.657504)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 469 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 17m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 50m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 51m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 38m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.29 gal
38.96 L · about $40.59
Round trip
$81.19
20.58 gal · 77.92 L
Estimated CO2
91.4 kg one way
Round trip: 182.9 kg / 403 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $40.59 $81.19
Mid-grade $4.46 $45.86 $91.73
Premium $4.86 $49.99 $99.98
Diesel $6.00 $61.71 $123.42

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Fort Fairfield and Portland. The current time is 02:12:37.

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.