Trip from Bangor, ME to South Portland, ME

Drive Time

2h 32m

Distance

132.1 mi

213 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 22m ★
6 AM
2h 32m
8 AM
2h 53m
10 AM
2h 39m
12 PM
2h 37m
3 PM
2h 40m
5 PM
2h 52m
8 PM
2h 26m

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

Downtown South Portland, ME, ME

South Portland, ME

Phil Evenden

Trip Overview

Connecting Bangor to South Portland, this 132.1-mile journey is a straightforward trek across Maine. You can expect to spend about 2 hours and 32 minutes behind the wheel, making this a very manageable single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $21, it is an economical route that keeps you within the Northeast region for the entire duration. Because the drive is relatively short, you likely won't need an overnight stay, allowing you to easily complete it in one go. Whether you are heading south for business or a change of scenery, the route is designed for efficiency rather than leisure. It is a practical path for travelers who want to move between these two hubs without unnecessary complications.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

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

Midpoint

66.1 miles from Bangor, ME

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 96% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will rely primarily on I-95 and I-295 to navigate the state, with local access provided via Hammond Street. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 80.1 miles on I-95, requiring steady focus as you maintain interstate speeds. As you transition from the Bangor area toward the coast, the character of the road remains consistent and fast-paced. Expect a functional, interstate-heavy experience that prioritizes speed and direct connectivity over winding, secondary backroads.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 80.1 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

306 ft 25 ft

Total Climb

345 ft

Total Descent

435 ft

Highest Point

306 ft

~38.5 mi in

Elevation Range

281 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 295. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near I 95; ME 15.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 2h 32m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (I 95; ME 15): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 81.6 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128.1 miles (US 1A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

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

3
1.5 mi into trip | ~4m in | I 95; ME 15

Merge onto I 95; ME 15

Merge point - match speed before joining

9
81.6 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in | I 295

Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight lane. Exit 103 Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Bru...
7
128.1 mi into trip | ~2h 24m in | US 1A

Take the exit onto US 1A toward US 1A

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 7 Toward US 1A
5
128.5 mi into trip | ~2h 25m in | Marginal Way

Turn right onto Marginal Way

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
132.1 mi into trip | ~2h 32m in | Pine Street

Turn sharp right onto Pine Street

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Bangor, ME to South Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Brunswick along the way.

Brunswick

81.6 mi in | ~1h 31m | via I 295

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 80.1 mi 1h 27m
I 295 46.5 mi 52m
Hammond Street 1.2 mi 3m
Casco Bay Bridge 1.1 mi 1m
State Street 1 mi 1m
Broadway 1 mi 1m
Marginal Way 0.5 mi 1m
US 1A 0.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 80.1 mi, about 1h 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 2; ME 100

1.2 mi · 3 min · Hammond Street
2

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 39 sec
3

Merge onto I 95; ME 15

80 mi · 1 hr 27 min · I 95; ME 15
4

Keep slight right at fork onto I 295

46 mi · 52 min · I 295
Exit 103 Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick Use the straight lane.
5

Take the exit onto US 1A

0.4 mi · 1 min · US 1A
Exit 7 Toward US 1A Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Turn right onto Marginal Way

0.5 mi · 1 min · Marginal Way
Use the right lane.
7

Continue on State Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · State Street
8

Continue on ME 77

1.1 mi · 1 min · Casco Bay Bridge
9

Continue on ME 77

1.0 mi · 1 min · Broadway
10

Turn sharp right onto Pine Street

60 ft · 2 sec · Pine Street
11

Arrive at destination

Pine Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a two-and-a-half-hour drive, plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and keep your energy up. Leaving early in the day can help you avoid potential traffic buildup as you approach the South Portland area. Given the high percentage of interstate travel, ensure your vehicle is prepped for sustained highway speeds before departing Bangor. Fuel prices are estimated at $21, so you can easily budget for a full tank before you hit the road. Use the flexibility of this short trip to your advantage by building in a quick break halfway through your 132.1-mile trek to make the ride more comfortable.

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.1 miles from Bangor, ME, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.1 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 80 miles or 1h 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 66.1 miles or 1h 14m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Portland, 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 132.1 miles and 2h 32m.

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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 80.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 66.1 mi from Bangor, ME · 1h 14m into the drive

Downtown Brunswick, ME, ME

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brunswick, ME

66 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brunswick, ME

Meal break

The midpoint is around 66.1 miles from Bangor, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.1 miles.

Arriving in South Portland, ME

The final approach into South Portland, 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 South Portland, 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

$21.15 one way

$42.29 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 46 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.46 $23.18 $46.36
premium $4.83 $25.11 $50.22
diesel $5.64 $29.35 $58.70

Estimated Tolls: $7.00

Bay Bridge $7.00

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Tolls

$7

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$53–$78

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 46.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 39.6 0 $13.87 $6.34
Efficient EV 33 0 $11.56 $5.28
EV Truck/SUV 52.8 0 $18.49 $8.45

Gas CO2

46 kg

EV CO2

15 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

Late night in Bangor on Monday

Local time

12:06 AM

EDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

South Portland, ME

Late night in South Portland on Monday

Local time

12:06 AM

EDT

Current temp

--

Unavailable

Along the Route

43°F

Brunswick, ME

66 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.

Road read

2h 32m 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 South Portland, ME covers 132.1 miles and takes about 2h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, I 295, Hammond 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 66.1 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 $21.15 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 32m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (I 95; ME 15): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 81.6 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128.1 miles (US 1A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Bangor, ME to South Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Brunswick along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 25 ft to 306 ft elevation with about 345 ft of total climbing.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Bangor, ME or browse trips ending in South Portland, ME.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse ME road trips.

Explore maps for Bangor, ME or South Portland, ME on MapSof.net.