How far is Southwest Harbor, ME from Portland, ME?
The driving distance from Southwest Harbor, ME to Portland, ME is about 161.1 miles (259.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 05m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 105.3 miles (169.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 10m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 05m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Town in Waldo County, Maine, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny
Mostly Cloudy
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Southwest Harbor and Portland.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southwest Harbor and Portland.
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1
Start on Clark Point Road
72 m · 8 sec · Clark Point Road
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2
Turn right onto Main Street
7 mi · 10 min · Main Street
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3
Continue on State Highway 102
3.5 mi · 5 min · State Highway 102
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4
Continue on Triangle Road
696 ft · 18 sec · Triangle Road
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5
At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 3
739 ft · 16 sec · State Highway 3
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6
Continue on Bar Harbor Road
6.7 mi · 12 min · Bar Harbor Road
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7
Continue on High Street
1.1 km · 2 min · High Street
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8
Turn left onto Beechland Road
1 mi · 2 min · Beechland Road
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9
At the end of the road, turn right onto Bayside Road
1 mi · 2 min · Bayside Road
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10
Continue on Water Street
1.3 km · 1 min · Water Street
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11
Turn left onto West Main Street
806 ft · 10 sec · West Main Street
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12
Keep slight right to continue on Main Street
85 m · 4 sec · Main Street
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13
Continue on Bucksport Road
8.5 mi · 10 min · Bucksport Road
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14
Continue on Acadia Highway
9.4 mi · 11 min · Acadia Highway
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15
Continue on Route 1
1.6 km · 1 min · Route 1
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16
Continue on Main Street
41 m · 9 sec · Main Street
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17
Turn left onto Route 1
682 ft · 17 sec · Route 1
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18
Continue on US Highway 1
1.2 mi · 3 min · US Highway 1
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19
Continue on Route 1
13.4 mi · 16 min · Route 1
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20
Continue on Searsport Avenue
2.7 mi · 5 min · Searsport Avenue
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21
Continue on Route 1
1.1 km · 1 min · Route 1
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22
Take the exit slight right
1414 ft · 39 sec
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23
Keep slight right
114 m · 12 sec
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24
Merge slight left onto Belmont Avenue
3.9 mi · 5 min · Belmont Avenue
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25
Continue on Augusta Road
4.8 mi · 5 min · Augusta Road
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26
Continue on Belfast Augusta Road East
3.4 mi · 4 min · Belfast Augusta Road East
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27
Continue on Acadia Highway
4 mi · 4 min · Acadia Highway
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28
Continue on Belfast Augusta Road
17.6 mi · 21 min · Belfast Augusta Road
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29
Continue on Belfast Road
1077 ft · 17 sec · Belfast Road
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30
Continue on North Belfast Avenue
8.1 mi · 12 min · North Belfast Avenue
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31
Turn left onto North Belfast Avenue
1.6 km · 2 min · North Belfast Avenue
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32
At the end of the road, turn left onto Bangor Street
2936 ft · 53 sec · Bangor Street
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33
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Cony Circle
49 m · 3 sec · Memorial Drive
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34
Exit the rotary onto Memorial Drive
1.1 km · 2 min · Memorial Drive
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35
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Memorial Circle
122 m · 7 sec · State Street
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36
Exit the rotary onto State Street
1007 ft · 19 sec · State Street
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37
Turn right onto Capitol Street
1.3 km · 1 min · Capitol Street
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38
Turn straight onto Armory Street
915 ft · 20 sec · Armory Street
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39
Turn left onto Western Avenue
1.1 km · 1 min · Western Avenue
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40
Take the exit slight right toward I 95: Portland, Waterville, Bangor
1829 ft · 44 sec
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41
Keep slight left to continue on I-95 South: Portland, Kittery
3262 ft · 1 min
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42
Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike
5.9 mi · 6 min · Maine Turnpike
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43
Keep slight right to continue on I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick
46.5 mi · 53 min
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44
Take the exit slight right toward US 1A
1.2 km · 2 min
-
45
Turn right onto Cumberland Avenue
1853 ft · 51 sec · Cumberland Avenue
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46
Turn left onto Preble Street
555 ft · 19 sec · Preble Street
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47
Turn left onto Congress Street
48 m · 5 sec · Congress Street
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48
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Congress Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Southwest Harbor and Portland.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
I 295 South
Keep slight right to continue on I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick
46.5 mi · 00h 53m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Partly Sunny leaving Southwest Harbor and Mostly Cloudy near Portland.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Southwest Harbor to Portland?
The road trip is about 161.1 miles (259.2 km) and usually takes 03h 05m 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?
Palermo is a useful midpoint, sitting about 79.5 miles from Southwest Harbor and 81.5 miles from Portland.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 105.3 miles (169.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 55.8 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 10:50 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.41 one way or $44.82 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 50.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Southwest Harbor and Mostly Cloudy near Portland.
Stop Ideas Near Palermo
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Palermo.
Augusta, ME
Waldoboro, Maine
Belfast, Maine
Camden/Rockport, Maine
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Southwest Harbor and Portland. Straight-line distance: 105.34 mi (169.53 km).
#1 Southwest Harbor
City in Hancock County, Maine, United States of America
| Population | 1,793 |
| Coordinates | 44.2798000, -68.3250200 |
| Altitude | 13 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Portland
The most populous city in Cumberland County, Maine.
| Population | 66,803 |
| Coordinates | 43.6573700, -70.2589000 |
| Altitude | 19 |
| Country | United States |
End: Congress Street (-70.259094, 43.657504)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 259 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 21m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 01m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 13m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 41m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 18m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 00m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.95 | $22.41 | $44.82 |
| Mid-grade | $4.46 | $25.32 | $50.63 |
| Premium | $4.86 | $27.59 | $55.19 |
| Diesel | $6.00 | $34.06 | $68.13 |
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 31, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.