How far is West Scarborough, ME from Caribou, ME?

The driving distance from West Scarborough, ME to Caribou, ME is about 309.4 miles (498 km), with a travel time of about 06h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 255 miles (410.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 06m 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
309.44 mi
06h 03m
Flight
255.02 mi
410.42 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from West Scarborough.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
255.02 mi
Kilometers
410.42 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
309.44 mi
Kilometers
498 km
Drive Time
06h 03m

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 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Caribou
Wed, May 13, 2:18 AM EDT
Return by in West Scarborough
Wed, May 13, 8:21 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave West Scarborough
2026-05-12T20:15
Arrive Caribou
Wed, May 13, 2:18 AM EDT
Route Timing
06h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:03 PM to 1:33 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
11:54 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in West Scarborough
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
Alton
ME

Human settlement in Penobscot County, Maine, USA

From West Scarborough
154.7 mi
03h 01m
To Caribou
154.8 mi
03h 01m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph W
Destination
52°F
Tuesday

Widespread Frost then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between West Scarborough and Caribou.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    8 m · 6 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Route 1

    850 ft · 30 sec · Route 1

  3. 3

    Continue straight

    4.1 mi · 8 min

  4. 4

    Keep slight left to continue on Scarborough Connector

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Scarborough Connector

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    50.4 mi · 58 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike

    198.3 mi · 3 hr 27 min · Maine Turnpike

  7. 7

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

    1444 ft · 43 sec

  8. 8

    Turn left onto North Street

    3.2 mi · 6 min · North Street

  9. 9

    Continue on North Road

    5.8 mi · 8 min · North Road

  10. 10

    Continue on US Highway 1

    1.1 km · 55 sec · US Highway 1

  11. 11

    Continue on Route 1

    6.4 mi · 10 min · Route 1

  12. 12

    Continue on Main Road

    6.7 mi · 11 min · Main Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Route 1

    2.7 mi · 4 min · Route 1

  14. 14

    Continue on Military Road

    1649 ft · 40 sec · Military Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Main Street

    2412 ft · 1 min · Main Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Benjamin Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Benjamin Street

  17. 17

    Continue on Presque Isle Road

    2 mi · 3 min · Presque Isle Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Houlton Road

    10.3 mi · 14 min · Houlton Road

  19. 19

    Continue on Main Street

    1.3 mi · 4 min · Main Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto State Street

    1051 ft · 20 sec · State Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Parsons Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · Parsons Street

  22. 22

    Continue on State Road

    1014 ft · 17 sec · State Road

  23. 23

    Continue on Connector Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · Connector Road

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Main Street

    1778 ft · 54 sec · Main Street

  25. 25

    Continue on Caribou Road

    5.1 mi · 7 min · Caribou Road

  26. 26

    Continue on Presque Isle Road

    5.7 mi · 8 min · Presque Isle Road

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Lyndon Street

    1364 ft · 38 sec · Lyndon Street

  28. 28

    Turn slight right onto Main Street

    905 ft · 23 sec · Main Street

  29. 29

    Turn left

    13 m · 3 sec

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between West Scarborough 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
30 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
2 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Maine Turnpike
198 mi · 64%
Scarborough Connector
52.5 mi · 17%
Route 1
13.4 mi · 4%
Houlton Road
10.3 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 03m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+54.4 mi
255 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Alton
03h 01m from West Scarborough
Leave By
11:54 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving West Scarborough and Widespread Frost then Mostly Sunny near Caribou.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from West Scarborough to Caribou?

The road trip is about 309.4 miles (498 km) and usually takes 06h 03m 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?

Alton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 154.7 miles from West Scarborough and 154.8 miles from Caribou.

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

The direct path is about 255 miles (410.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 54.4 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 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 $43.08 one way or $86.16 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 97 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around West Scarborough and Widespread Frost then Mostly Sunny near Caribou.

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 West Scarborough and Caribou. Straight-line distance: 255.02 mi (410.42 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 West Scarborough

City in United States of America

Population27,706
Coordinates43.5703600, -70.3878300
Altitude18
CountryUnited States
Caribou

#2 Caribou

City in Maine

Population7,622
Coordinates46.8606000, -68.0119700
Altitude137
CountryUnited States
Start: West Scarborough (-70.38783, 43.57036)
End: Caribou (-68.01197, 46.8606)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 498 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 18m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 44m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 09m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 51m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.92 gal
41.33 L · about $43.08
Round trip
$86.16
21.84 gal · 82.66 L
Estimated CO2
97 kg one way
Round trip: 194.1 kg / 428 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $43.08 $86.16
Mid-grade $4.46 $48.67 $97.34
Premium $4.86 $53.05 $106.10
Diesel $6.00 $65.49 $130.97

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 13, 2026

There is no time difference between West Scarborough and Caribou. The current time is 20:15:57.

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.