How far is Saco, ME from Caribou, ME?

The driving distance from Saco, ME to Caribou, ME is about 316 miles (508.6 km), with a travel time of about 06h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 260.5 miles (419.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 16m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
316 mi
06h 08m
Flight
260.55 mi
419.31 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Saco.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
260.55 mi
Kilometers
419.31 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
316 mi
Kilometers
508.56 km
Drive Time
06h 08m

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 06h 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Caribou
Wed, Apr 15, 9:02 PM EDT
Return by in Saco
Thu, Apr 16, 3:10 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Saco
2026-04-15T14:54
Arrive Caribou
Wed, Apr 15, 9:02 PM EDT
Route Timing
06h 08m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:08 PM to 1:38 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:44 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Saco
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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
Milford
ME

Town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States of America

From Saco
157.9 mi
03h 04m
To Caribou
158.1 mi
03h 04m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Saco Weather
ME
Live fallback forecast
46°F
Overnight
Using Biddeford as the closest live forecast in the York County weather hub.

Areas Of Fog

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 3:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NW
Destination
38°F
Overnight

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 4:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    28 m · 9 sec · Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Beach Street

    49 m · 5 sec · Beach Street

  3. 3

    Continue on North Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · North Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp left toward I 95 North: Portland

    3039 ft · 1 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike

    8.8 mi · 9 min · Maine Turnpike

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Downtown Portland

    52.5 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike

    198.3 mi · 3 hr 27 min · Maine Turnpike

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward US 1: Houlton, Presque Isle

    1444 ft · 43 sec

  9. 9

    Turn left onto North Street

    3.2 mi · 6 min · North Street

  10. 10

    Continue on North Road

    5.8 mi · 8 min · North Road

  11. 11

    Continue on US Highway 1

    1.1 km · 55 sec · US Highway 1

  12. 12

    Continue on Route 1

    6.4 mi · 10 min · Route 1

  13. 13

    Continue on Main Road

    6.7 mi · 11 min · Main Road

  14. 14

    Continue on Route 1

    2.7 mi · 4 min · Route 1

  15. 15

    Continue on Military Road

    1649 ft · 40 sec · Military Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Main Street

    2412 ft · 1 min · Main Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Benjamin Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Benjamin Street

  18. 18

    Continue on Presque Isle Road

    2 mi · 3 min · Presque Isle Road

  19. 19

    Continue on Houlton Road

    10.3 mi · 14 min · Houlton Road

  20. 20

    Continue on Main Street

    1.3 mi · 4 min · Main Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto State Street

    1051 ft · 20 sec · State Street

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Parsons Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · Parsons Street

  23. 23

    Continue on State Road

    1014 ft · 17 sec · State Road

  24. 24

    Continue on Connector Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · Connector Road

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Main Street

    1778 ft · 54 sec · Main Street

  26. 26

    Continue on Caribou Road

    5.1 mi · 7 min · Caribou Road

  27. 27

    Continue on Presque Isle Road

    5.7 mi · 8 min · Presque Isle Road

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Lyndon Street

    1364 ft · 38 sec · Lyndon Street

  29. 29

    Turn slight right onto Main Street

    905 ft · 23 sec · Main Street

  30. 30

    Turn left

    13 m · 3 sec

  31. 31

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
31 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Maine Turnpike
207 mi · 66%
Downtown Portland
52.5 mi · 17%
Houlton Road
10.3 mi · 3%
Route 1
9.15 mi · 3%
Presque Isle Road
7.68 mi · 2%
Main Road
6.74 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Maine Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike

198 mi · 03h 27m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 08m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+55.5 mi
260.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Milford
03h 04m from Saco
Leave By
11:44 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Areas Of Fog leaving Saco and Mostly Cloudy near Caribou.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 316 miles (508.6 km) and usually takes 06h 08m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Milford is a useful midpoint, sitting about 157.9 miles from Saco and 158.1 miles from Caribou.

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

The direct path is about 260.5 miles (419.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 55.5 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 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $43.99 one way or $87.97 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 99.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Areas Of Fog around Saco and Mostly Cloudy near Caribou.

Stop Ideas Near Milford

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

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

BUS

Orono (University of Maine), Maine

5 mi away
Squapan Rd and Gym Dr
BUS

Bangor, Maine

19 mi away
1039 Union St.
BUS

Searsport, Maine

58 mi away
161 East Main St.
BUS

Belfast, Maine

65 mi away
Belmont Ave & US Hwy 1

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Saco and Caribou. Straight-line distance: 260.55 mi (419.31 km).

Saco

#1 Saco

City in York County, Maine

Population20,121
Coordinates43.5009200, -70.4428300
Altitude20
CountryUnited States
Caribou

#2 Caribou

City in Maine

Population7,622
Coordinates46.8606000, -68.0119700
Altitude137
CountryUnited States
Start: Saco (-70.44283, 43.50092)
End: Caribou (-68.01197, 46.8606)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 509 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 30m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.15 gal
42.21 L · about $43.99
Round trip
$87.97
22.3 gal · 84.42 L
Estimated CO2
99.1 kg one way
Round trip: 198.2 kg / 437 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $43.99 $87.97
Mid-grade $4.46 $49.70 $99.39
Premium $4.86 $54.17 $108.33
Diesel $6.00 $66.87 $133.73

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Saco and Caribou. The current time is 14:54:41.

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.