Drive or Fly: Bangor, ME to South Eliot, ME?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for BGR–PSM. At 179 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 26m

Distance

179.5 mi

Total Cost

$75

CO2

73 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$40
Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0
Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35
+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines
+ Comfortable one-day drive
+ Stop anywhere along the route
+ Have your own car at the destination
+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying
Wear and tear on vehicle
Fuel price fluctuations
Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

2h 38m

18m in the air

Air Distance

154 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

39 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bangor, ME → BGR 10m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 18m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
PSM → South Eliot, ME 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Bangor, ME BGR — Bangor International Airport 2 mi, ~10m drive
South Eliot, ME PSM — Portsmouth International Airport at Pease 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BGR and PSM. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue
+ Predictable arrival time
Airport security and check-in overhead
No scheduled commercial flights found for this route
Luggage fees and restrictions
Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 55m

4h 10m on road

Total Cost

$17

CO2

9 kg

Route

Greyhound US0265s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bangor, ME → Bangor Park & Ride (BGV6) 10m
Boarding 15m
Bus ride 250m
Arrival 10m
Portsmouth Bus Stop (PTM6) → South Eliot, ME 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $17) $17

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From BGV6 — Bangor Park & Ride 2 mi, ~10m drive
To PTM6 — Portsmouth Bus Stop 2 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option
+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board
+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route
+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying
Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week
Travel time longer than driving
Need transportation to/from station
Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

Drive Fly Bus
Door-to-door time 3h 26m 2h 38m 4h 55m
Total cost (1 person) $75 $126 $17
Carbon footprint 73 kg CO2 39 kg CO2 9 kg CO2
Flexibility High Low
Luggage Unlimited Restricted
Reliability Weather dependent Data unavailable
Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices
Flight data: Statistical estimate
Airports: OurAirports
Transit: FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated
Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Bangor, ME to South Eliot, ME with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.