The drive from Augusta, ME to Bar Harbor, ME covers 104 miles and takes about 2h 19m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Route 3, Acadia Highway, North Belfast Avenue for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.6 miles on Route 3.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.74 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52 miles from Augusta, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 19m. Total distance: 104 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 19m drive with frequent turns across 104 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 35 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Route 3 is the longest continuous segment at about 17.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100 / Bangor Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 104 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100 / Bangor Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.4 miles (US 202; ME 9 / North Belfast Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.3 miles (ME 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100 / Bangor Street
Enter roundabout onto US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100 / Bangor Street toward US 201 North, ME 100 North, US 202 East, ME 9 East: Waterville, Belfast
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 201 North, ME 100 North, US 202 East,...
5
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|US 202; ME 9 / North Belfast Avenue
Turn right onto US 202; ME 9 / North Belfast Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
44.3 mi into trip|~55m in|ME 3
Take the exit onto ME 3
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
81.8 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|ME 230 / Water Street
Turn right onto ME 230 / Water Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
104 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|ME 3 / Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto ME 3 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Route 3
17.6 mi
21m
Acadia Highway
13.4 mi
15m
North Belfast Avenue
9 mi
13m
Bucksport Road
8.5 mi
9m
West Main Street
7.2 mi
8m
Bar Harbor Road
6.7 mi
11m
East Main Street
6.3 mi
7m
Eagle Lake Road
5.8 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Route 3
— 17.6 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Augusta, ME and Bar Harbor, ME.
1
Start on US 201; ME 27
311 ft·5 sec·Memorial Circle
2
Continue on US 201; US 202; ME 17; ME 100
0.7 mi·1 min·Memorial Drive
3
Enter roundabout onto US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100
220 ft·4 sec·Bangor Street
Toward US 201 North, ME 100 North, US 202 East, ME 9 East: Waterville, Belfast
4
Continue on US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100
0.6 mi·54 sec·Bangor Street
Toward US 201 North, ME 100 North, US 202 East, ME 9 East: Waterville, Belfast
5
Turn right onto US 202; ME 9
1.0 mi·1 min·North Belfast Avenue
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
8.1 mi·11 min·North Belfast Avenue
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
0.2 mi·16 sec·Belfast Road
8
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
18 mi·21 min·Route 3
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on ME 3
4.0 mi·4 min·Acadia Highway
10
Continue on ME 3
3.4 mi·3 min·Belfast Augusta Road West
11
Continue on ME 3
4.8 mi·5 min·Augusta Road
12
Continue on ME 3
4.0 mi·4 min·Belmont Avenue
13
Take the exit onto ME 3
0.3 mi·43 sec·ME 3
14
Merge onto US 1; ME 3
0.7 mi·1 min·Route 1
15
Continue on US 1; ME 3
2.7 mi·4 min·Searsport Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on US 1; ME 3
7.0 mi·8 min·West Main Street
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; ME 3
6.3 mi·7 min·East Main Street
18
Continue on US 1; ME 3
1.2 mi·2 min·US Highway 1
19
Continue on US 1; ME 3
508 ft·12 sec·Route 1
20
Continue on US 1; ME 3; ME 15
1.0 mi·1 min·Route 1
21
Continue on US 1; ME 3; ME 15
9.4 mi·10 min·Acadia Highway
22
Continue on US 1; ME 3
8.5 mi·9 min·Bucksport Road
23
Continue on US 1; ME 3
0.2 mi·17 sec·West Main Street
24
Turn right onto ME 230
0.8 mi·1 min·Water Street
Use the right lane.
25
Continue on ME 230
1.0 mi·1 min·Bayside Road
26
Turn left onto Beechland Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Beechland Road
27
Turn right onto ME 3
0.7 mi·1 min·High Street
28
Continue on ME 3
6.7 mi·11 min·Bar Harbor Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Turn slight right onto ME 102
3.7 mi·5 min·State Highway 102
30
Continue on ME 102; ME 198
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
31
Turn left onto ME 3; ME 198
1.4 mi·2 min·Sound Drive
32
Turn left onto ME 233
5.8 mi·8 min·Eagle Lake Road
33
Continue on Mount Desert Street
0.5 mi·46 sec·Mount Desert Street
34
At end of road, turn right onto ME 3
25 ft·0 sec·Main Street
Use the right lane.
35
Arrive at destination
ME 3
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52 miles from Augusta, ME, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 23 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52 miles or 1h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bar Harbor, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Augusta, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Augusta, ME
This is one driving day of about 104 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Augusta, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Route 3 for about 17.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52 mi from Augusta, ME
· 1h 6m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Acadia National Park
National Park
Acadia National Park protects the natural beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the United States, an abundance of habitats, and a rich cultural heritage. At 4 million...
Known as the first woman to hold a presidential cabinet position and the “Woman behind the New Deal,” Frances Perkins championed many labor rights that Americans enjoy today, including safety standard...
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.2
0
$10.92
$4.99
Efficient EV
26
0
$9.10
$4.16
EV Truck/SUV
41.6
0
$14.56
$6.66
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Augusta, ME
Morning
in Augusta on Saturday
Local time
7:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bar Harbor, ME
Morning
in Bar Harbor on Saturday
Local time
7:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
12 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 19m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Augusta, ME to Bar Harbor, ME covers 104 miles and takes about 2h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Route 3, Acadia Highway, North Belfast Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52 miles from Augusta, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.74 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 104 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (US 201; US 202; ME 9; ME 100 / Bangor Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.4 miles (US 202; ME 9 / North Belfast Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.3 miles (ME 3): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Augusta, ME to Bar Harbor, ME does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
