Drive or Fly: Deer Isle, ME to Portland, 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–PWM. At 152 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 25m

Distance

152.6 mi

Total Cost

$69

CO2

62 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$34

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 54m

11m in the air

Air Distance

88 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

22 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Deer Isle, ME → BHB 33m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 11m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PWM → Portland, ME 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Deer Isle, ME BHB — Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport 22 mi, ~33m drive

Portland, ME PWM — Portland International Jetport 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BHB and PWM. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

3h 14m

43m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Downeaster

Door-to-Door Timeline

Deer Isle, ME → Brunswick Amtrak Station 101m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 43m

Arrival 10m

Portland → Portland, ME 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From Brunswick Amtrak Station 67 mi, ~101m drive

To Portland 2 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~46/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 54m

2h 20m on road

Total Cost

$12

CO2

6 kg

Route

FlixBus N2615

Door-to-Door Timeline

Deer Isle, ME → Bangor Park & Ride (BGV6) 59m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 140m

Arrival 10m

City of Portland (PVT6) → Portland, ME 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

From BGV6 — Bangor Park & Ride 40 mi, ~59m drive

To PVT6 — City of Portland 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/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 5 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 25m	2h 54m	3h 14m	3h 54m
Total cost (1 person)	$69	$124	$5	$12
Carbon footprint	62 kg CO₂	22 kg CO₂	1 kg CO₂	6 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: Amtrak GTFS, 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 15, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Deer Isle, ME to Portland, ME with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.