Drive or Fly: Gorham, ME to Ellsworth, 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 PWM–BHB. At 148 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 5m

Distance

148.8 mi

Total Cost

$68

CO2

60 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$33

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 36m

14m in the air

Air Distance

117 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

30 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Gorham, ME → PWM 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 14m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BHB → Ellsworth, ME 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Gorham, ME PWM — Portland International Jetport 7 mi, ~11m drive

Ellsworth, ME BHB — Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PWM and BHB. 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

3h 36m

2h 20m on road

Total Cost

$12

CO2

6 kg

Route

FlixBus N2615

Door-to-Door Timeline

Gorham, ME → City of Portland (PVT6) 13m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 140m

Arrival 10m

Bangor Park & Ride (BGV6) → Ellsworth, ME 38m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

From PVT6 — City of Portland 9 mi, ~13m drive

To BGV6 — Bangor Park & Ride 26 mi, ~38m 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 5m	2h 36m	3h 36m
Total cost (1 person)	$68	$125	$12
Carbon footprint	60 kg CO₂	30 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: 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

148.8 mi 3h 5m

via I 295, US 202; ME 3; ME 9, US 1; ME 3

Shortest (+18 min)

146.5 mi 3h 23m

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

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