Origin
Bar Harbor, ME
Late night in Bar Harbor on Thursday
Local time
12:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bar Harbor, ME to Waterville, ME
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 21m
Distance
104.3 mi
168 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 12m
★
6 AM
2h 21m
8 AM
2h 41m
10 AM
2h 28m
12 PM
2h 26m
3 PM
2h 29m
5 PM
2h 40m
8 PM
2h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bar Harbor, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Waterville, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Bar Harbor, ME to Waterville, ME covers 104.3 miles and takes about 2h 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, Main Road, Bangor Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 51.5 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.79 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
52.2 miles from Bar Harbor, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Bar Harbor, ME to Waterville, ME covers 104.3 miles and takes about 2h 21m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 32 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 51.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.7 miles in near ME 102; ME 198 / Main Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 104.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.7 miles (ME 102; ME 198 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.9 miles (ME 3 / State Highway 3): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.4 miles (Beechland Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
7.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
ME 102; ME 198 / Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto ME 102; ME 198 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
11.9 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
ME 3 / State Highway 3
At end of road, turn left onto ME 3 / State Highway 3
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
6
19.4 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
Beechland Road
Turn left onto Beechland Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
50.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Newport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 1A
Toward I 95 South: Newport
6
102.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m in
Take the exit toward ME 104: Waterville, Winslow
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 130
Toward ME 104: Waterville, Winslow
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 51.5 mi | 55m |
| Main Road | 12.1 mi | 18m |
| Bangor Road | 8.9 mi | 12m |
| Bar Harbor Road | 6.7 mi | 11m |
| Eagle Lake Road | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| I 395 | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| State Highway 102 | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| Main Street | 1.7 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 51.5 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bar Harbor, ME and Waterville, ME.
1
Start on ME 3
25 ft
·
6 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto ME 3
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
Mount Desert Street
3
Continue on ME 233
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Eagle Lake Road
4
Turn right onto ME 3; ME 198
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Sound Drive
5
At end of road, turn right onto ME 102; ME 198
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
·
Main Street
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on ME 102; ME 198
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 102
7
Continue on ME 102
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Triangle Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
At end of road, turn left onto ME 3
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
State Highway 3
Use the left / right lanes.
9
Continue on ME 3
6.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Bar Harbor Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on ME 3
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
High Street
11
Turn left onto Beechland Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Beechland Road
Use the left lane.
12
At end of road, turn right onto ME 230
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Bayside Road
13
Continue on ME 230
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Water Street
14
Continue on State Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
15
Continue on US 1A
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
State Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on US 1A
8.9 mi
·
12 min
·
Bangor Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on US 1A
12 mi
·
18 min
·
Main Road
18
Continue on US 1A
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Wilson Street
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
20
Merge onto I 395; ME 9
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
I 395; ME 9
21
Continue on I 395; ME 15
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I 395; ME 15
22
Continue on I 395
148 ft
·
12 sec
·
I 395
Use the left lane.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 1A
Toward I 95 South: Newport
24
Merge onto I 95
52 mi
·
55 min
·
I 95
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 130
Toward ME 104: Waterville, Winslow
26
Turn left onto ME 104
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
27
Turn left onto Chaplin Street
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Chaplin Street
28
Turn right onto US 201; ME 11; ME 100
360 ft
·
10 sec
·
College Avenue
29
Continue on ME 11
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
College Avenue
30
Continue on ME 11; ME 104
361 ft
·
17 sec
·
Elm Street
31
Turn left onto Post Office Square
42 ft
·
1 sec
·
Post Office Square
32
Arrive at destination
Post Office Square
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 52.2 miles from Bar Harbor, ME, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.5 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 23 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.2 miles or 1h 21m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waterville, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bar Harbor, 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 Bar Harbor, ME
This is one driving day of about 104.3 miles and 2h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Bar Harbor, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 51.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52.2 mi from Bar Harbor, ME · 1h 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.2 miles from Bar Harbor, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Waterville, ME
The final approach into Waterville, 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 Waterville, 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
$16.79 one way
$33.58 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $18.47 | $36.95 |
| premium | $4.86 | $19.97 | $39.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.03 | $46.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.3 | 0 | $10.95 | $5.01 |
| Efficient EV | 26.1 | 0 | $9.13 | $4.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.7 | 0 | $14.60 | $6.68 |
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.
Destination
Waterville, ME
Late night in Waterville on Thursday
Local time
12:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 21m 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 Bar Harbor, ME to Waterville, ME covers 104.3 miles and takes about 2h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Main Road, Bangor Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.2 miles from Bar Harbor, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.79 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 demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 104.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.7 miles (ME 102; ME 198 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.9 miles (ME 3 / State Highway 3): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.4 miles (Beechland Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Bar Harbor, ME to Waterville, ME does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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