Drive or Fly: Scarborough, ME to Deer Isle, 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 161 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 35m

Distance

161.3 mi

Total Cost

$71

CO2

65 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$36

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

93 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

24 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Scarborough, ME → PWM 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 11m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BHB → Deer Isle, ME 33m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Scarborough, ME PWM — Portland International Jetport 5 mi, ~10m drive

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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

3h 36m

1h 5m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Downeaster

Door-to-Door Timeline

Scarborough, ME → Old Orchard Beach Amtrak 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 65m

Arrival 10m

Brunswick Amtrak Station → Deer Isle, ME 101m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $7) $7

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

Stations

From Old Orchard Beach Amtrak 5 mi, ~10m drive

To Brunswick Amtrak Station 67 mi, ~101m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~48/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

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 140m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

From PVT6 — City of Portland 6 mi, ~10m drive

To BGV6 — Bangor Park & Ride 40 mi, ~59m 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 35m	2h 54m	3h 36m	3h 54m
Total cost (1 person)	$71	$124	$7	$12
Carbon footprint	65 kg CO₂	24 kg CO₂	2 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

161.3 mi 3h 34m

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

Alternative (+6 min)

169 mi 3h 41m

via I 95, US 202; ME 3; ME 9, ME 3

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