Trip from Bangor, ME to Hampden, ME

Drive Time

12m

Distance

7.4 mi

12 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$1

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 12m ★
6 AM
0h 13m
8 AM
0h 15m
10 AM
0h 14m
12 PM
0h 13m
3 PM
0h 14m
5 PM
0h 15m
8 PM
0h 12m ★

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Bangor, ME, ME

Bangor, ME

Beth Fitzpatrick

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick transit between Bangor and Hampden, this 7.4-mile trip is an incredibly efficient commute. You can expect to complete the drive in roughly 12 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day journey. With fuel costs estimated at just $1, it is a highly economical way to navigate this part of the Northeast. The route relies on a combination of ME 9, South Main Street, and Union Street to get you to your destination. Because the distance is so short, you certainly won’t need to worry about overnight logistics or lengthy planning. It serves as a practical, straightforward connection within Maine that prioritizes speed over sightseeing.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

3.7 miles from Bangor, ME

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6m into the drive .

Drive Character

This drive is defined by its highway-focused nature, with 61% of your travel time spent on faster roadways. You will find that the longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 4.5-mile portion on ME 9, which allows for a consistent pace. As you transition between the highway segments and local roads like Union Street, the driving environment shifts from higher-speed transit to a more localized feel. Expect a functional, no-nonsense experience that prioritizes direct movement between the two towns. The route avoids unnecessary complexity, keeping you focused on the road ahead for the duration of the 12-minute trip.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
ME 9 is the longest continuous segment at about 4.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on ME 9 and South Main Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near ME 15 Business / South Main Street.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 12m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (ME 15 Business / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (ME 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

4 of 4 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

3
0.7 mi into trip | ~1m in | ME 15 Business / South Main Street

Turn right onto ME 15 Business / South Main Street

Navigation decision point

5
1.4 mi into trip | ~2m in

Turn left

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
8
2.4 mi into trip | ~4m in | ME 9

Take the exit onto ME 9 toward US 202 West, ME 9 West: Hampden

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 2 Toward US 202 West, ME 9 West: Hampden
4
6.9 mi into trip | ~11m in | ME 9 Business / Western Avenue

Turn left onto ME 9 Business / Western Avenue

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
ME 9 4.5 mi 7m
South Main Street 0.7 mi 1m
Union Street 0.6 mi 1m
Western Avenue 0.5 mi 1m
Wilson Street 0.1 mi <1m
Hammond Street <0.1 mi <1m
Canoe Club Road Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: ME 9 — 4.5 mi, about 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bangor, ME and Hampden, ME.

1

Start on US 2; ME 100

73 ft · 4 sec · Hammond Street
2

Turn slight right onto Union Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Union Street
3

Continue on US 1A; ME 9 Business

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Wilson Street
4

Turn right onto ME 15 Business

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Main Street
5

Turn left

1.0 mi · 1 min
Use the none lane.
6

Take the exit onto ME 9

4.5 mi · 7 min · ME 9
Exit 2 Toward US 202 West, ME 9 West: Hampden Use the slight right lane.
7

Turn left onto ME 9 Business

0.5 mi · 1 min · Western Avenue
8

Arrive at destination

Canoe Club Road

Trip Plan

Since this is a very short journey, you have total flexibility in your departure time without needing to worry about complex pacing or rest stops. There are no scheduled stops required for a trip of this length, allowing you to head out whenever it fits your schedule best. Keep a close eye on the transition points between the state highway and local streets to ensure you maintain a smooth flow through the 7.4-mile distance. Because you are only budgeting about $1 for fuel, this is an excellent route for a last-minute errand or quick transit. Simply stay alert during the 4.5-mile stretch on ME 9 to make the most of the highway-focused sections of your drive.

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 3.7 miles from Bangor, ME, or about 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4.5 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 7.4 miles or 12m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 3.7 miles or 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 10m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hampden, ME than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Bangor, 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 Bangor, ME

This is one driving day of about 7.4 miles and 12m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bangor, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on ME 9 for about 4.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 3.7 mi from Bangor, ME · 6m into the drive

Downtown Brunswick, ME, ME

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brunswick, ME

4 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Brunswick, ME

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 7.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brunswick, ME

Meal break

The midpoint is around 3.7 miles from Bangor, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Hampden, ME

The final approach into Hampden, ME usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Hampden, ME.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.18 one way

$2.37 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 3 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.46 $1.30 $2.60
premium $4.83 $1.41 $2.81
diesel $5.64 $1.64 $3.29

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$26–$51

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 2.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 2.2 0 $0.78 $0.36
Efficient EV 1.9 0 $0.65 $0.30
EV Truck/SUV 3 0 $1.04 $0.47

Gas CO2

3 kg

EV CO2

1 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Bangor, ME

Night in Bangor on Sunday

Local time

9:33 PM

EDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hampden, ME

Night in Hampden on Sunday

Local time

9:33 PM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

43°F

Brunswick, ME

4 mi in

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

1 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

12m 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 Bangor, ME to Hampden, ME covers 7.4 miles and takes about 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are ME 9, South Main Street, Union Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 3.7 miles from Bangor, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.18 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 is a straightforward 12m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (ME 15 Business / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (ME 9): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Bangor, ME to Hampden, ME does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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