Drive or Fly: Bar Harbor, ME to Sanford, 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 BHB–PSM. At 193 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 10m

Distance

193.7 mi

Total Cost

$78

CO2

78 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$43

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

3h 8m

17m in the air

Air Distance

144 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

37 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bar Harbor, ME → BHB 13m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PSM → Sanford, ME 38m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Bar Harbor, ME BHB — Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport 9 mi, ~13m drive

Sanford, ME PSM — Portsmouth International Airport at Pease 25 mi, ~38m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BHB 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

5h 23m

3h 40m on road

Total Cost

$15

CO2

8 kg

Route

Greyhound US0265s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bar Harbor, ME → Bangor Park & Ride (BGV6) 61m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 220m

Arrival 10m

Wells Transportation Center (WLS6) → Sanford, ME 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From BGV6 — Bangor Park & Ride 41 mi, ~61m drive

To WLS6 — Wells Transportation Center 12 mi, ~17m 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	4h 10m	3h 8m	5h 23m
Total cost (1 person)	$78	$126	$15
Carbon footprint	78 kg CO₂	37 kg CO₂	8 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

193.7 mi 4h 9m

via I 295, ME 3, US 1; ME 3

Alternative (+1 min)

199 mi 4h 11m

via I 95, ME 3, US 1; ME 3

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Bar Harbor, ME to Sanford, ME with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.