How far is South Portland, ME from Van Buren, ME?

The driving distance from South Portland, ME to Van Buren, ME is about 325.5 miles (523.9 km), with a travel time of about 06h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 267.4 miles (430.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 50m 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
325.51 mi
06h 25m
Flight
267.4 mi
430.34 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from South Portland.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
267.4 mi
Kilometers
430.34 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
325.51 mi
Kilometers
523.86 km
Drive Time
06h 25m

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 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Van Buren
Sat, May 30, 3:41 PM EDT
Return by in South Portland
Sat, May 30, 10:07 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave South Portland
2026-05-30T09:16
Arrive Van Buren
Sat, May 30, 3:41 PM EDT
Route Timing
06h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:25 PM to 1:55 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
11:10 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in South Portland
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
Howland
ME

City in Penobscot County, Maine, United States of America

From South Portland
162.7 mi
03h 12m
To Van Buren
162.9 mi
03h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
South Portland Weather
ME
Live fallback forecast
52°F
Saturday
Using Portland as the closest live forecast in the Cumberland County weather hub.

Light Rain

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
15 to 30 mph NE
Destination
57°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 13 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between South Portland and Van Buren.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between South Portland and Van Buren.

  1. 1

    Start on Pine Street

    18 m · 10 sec · Pine Street

  2. 2

    Turn sharp left onto Broadway

    1.6 km · 2 min · Broadway

  3. 3

    Continue on Casco Bay Bridge

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Casco Bay Bridge

  4. 4

    Turn straight onto York Street

    785 ft · 19 sec · York Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto High Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · High Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 295 North, US 1 North: Falmouth

    1360 ft · 33 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    46.8 mi · 53 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike

    198.3 mi · 3 hr 27 min · Maine Turnpike

  9. 9

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

    1444 ft · 43 sec

  10. 10

    Turn left onto North Street

    3.2 mi · 6 min · North Street

  11. 11

    Continue on North Road

    5.8 mi · 8 min · North Road

  12. 12

    Continue on US Highway 1

    1.1 km · 55 sec · US Highway 1

  13. 13

    Continue on Route 1

    6.4 mi · 10 min · Route 1

  14. 14

    Continue on Main Road

    6.7 mi · 11 min · Main Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Route 1

    2.7 mi · 4 min · Route 1

  16. 16

    Continue on Military Road

    1649 ft · 40 sec · Military Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Main Street

    3090 ft · 2 min · Main Street

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto Bridge Street

    547 ft · 9 sec · Bridge Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Fort Street

    5.8 mi · 9 min · Fort Street

  20. 20

    Continue on Houlton Road

    12 mi · 18 min · Houlton Road

  21. 21

    Continue on Presque Isle Street

    1.5 km · 1 min · Presque Isle Street

  22. 22

    Continue on Bridge Street

    1072 ft · 20 sec · Bridge Street

  23. 23

    Continue on Limestone Road

    8.4 mi · 12 min · Limestone Road

  24. 24

    Continue on Fort Fairfield Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Fort Fairfield Road

  25. 25

    Continue on Main Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · Main Street

  26. 26

    Continue on Van Buren Road

    11.4 mi · 17 min · Van Buren Road

  27. 27

    Continue on Hamlin Road

    9.2 mi · 15 min · Hamlin Road

  28. 28

    Turn right

    19 m · 5 sec

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between South Portland and Van Buren.

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
29 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Maine Turnpike
198 mi · 61%
I 295 North
47.1 mi · 14%
Houlton Road
12 mi · 4%
Van Buren Road
11.4 mi · 3%
Hamlin Road
9.2 mi · 3%
Route 1
9.15 mi · 3%
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 25m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+58.1 mi
267.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Howland
03h 12m from South Portland
Leave By
11:10 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Light Rain leaving South Portland and Partly Sunny near Van Buren.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from South Portland to Van Buren?

The road trip is about 325.5 miles (523.9 km) and usually takes 06h 25m 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?

Howland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 162.7 miles from South Portland and 162.9 miles from Van Buren.

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

The direct path is about 267.4 miles (430.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 58.1 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 $45.33 one way or $90.66 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 102.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Light Rain around South Portland and Partly Sunny near Van Buren.

Stop Ideas Near Howland

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

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

BUS

Orono (University of Maine), Maine

37 mi away
Squapan Rd and Gym Dr
BUS

Bangor, Maine

48 mi away
1039 Union St.
BUS

Searsport, Maine

89 mi away
161 East Main St.
BUS

Belfast, Maine

95 mi away
Belmont Ave & US Hwy 1

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between South Portland and Van Buren. Straight-line distance: 267.4 mi (430.34 km).

South Portland

#1 South Portland

City in Cumberland County, Maine, USA

Population25,950
Coordinates43.6414700, -70.2408800
Altitude7
CountryUnited States
Van Buren

#2 Van Buren

Town in Aroostook County, Maine, United States

Population1,983
Coordinates47.1572700, -67.9353000
Altitude147
CountryUnited States
Start: South Portland (-70.24088, 43.64147)
End: Van Buren (-67.9353, 47.15727)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 524 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 50m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 08m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 30m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 25m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.49 gal
43.48 L · about $45.33
Round trip
$90.66
22.98 gal · 86.96 L
Estimated CO2
102.1 kg one way
Round trip: 204.2 kg / 450 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $45.33 $90.66
Mid-grade $4.46 $51.21 $102.42
Premium $4.86 $55.82 $111.64
Diesel $6.00 $68.91 $137.81

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 South Portland and Van Buren. The current time is 09:16:24.

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.