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Trip from Lincoln, ME to Bangor, ME

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

58m

Distance

49.9 mi

80 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 54m ★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m

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

Downtown Lincoln, ME, ME

Lincoln, ME

Ramon Perucho

Downtown Bangor, ME, ME

Bangor, ME

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This short 49.9-mile drive from Lincoln, ME to Bangor, ME is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking under an hour to complete. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 85% of the journey on major roads like I-95. With a projected fuel cost of around $8, this is an economical option for getting between these two Northeast locations. The drive is straightforward, making it a practical choice for a quick transit between towns in Maine. You won't need to worry about splitting this into multiple days or budgeting for overnight stays.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 49.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

58m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (85%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-centric experience for most of this 58-minute journey. The majority of your time will be spent on I-95, which accounts for 85% of the drive. You'll encounter one continuous stretch of 42.5 miles on I-95, offering a consistent pace. While primarily interstate, the route also incorporates segments of Access Road and West Broadway, introducing brief transitions off the main highway. This blend means you'll mostly be in highway mode, with only minor diversions into more local road settings.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 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 42.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Access Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 58m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 48.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

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

4
5.8 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

6
48.6 mi into trip | ~54m in

Take the exit toward ME 222: Union Street, Ohio Street, Airport

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

Exit 184 Toward ME 222: Union Street, Ohio Street, Airpo...
5
48.8 mi into trip | ~55m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

4
48.9 mi into trip | ~55m in | ME 222 / Union Street

Turn left onto ME 222 / Union Street

Navigation decision point

5
49.9 mi into trip | ~58m in | US 2; ME 100 / Hammond Street

Turn sharp right onto US 2; ME 100 / Hammond Street

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 42.5 mi 43m
Access Road 2.7 mi 4m
West Broadway 1.6 mi 2m
River Road 1.3 mi 2m
Union Street 1 mi 3m
Penobscot Valley Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Hammond Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 42.5 mi, about 43m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 2; ME 6

116 ft · 9 sec · West Broadway
2

Continue on US 2; ME 6

1.6 mi · 2 min · West Broadway
3

Turn right onto ME 116

1.3 mi · 2 min · River Road
4

Continue on ME 116

2.7 mi · 4 min · Access Road
5

Continue on Penobscot Valley Avenue

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Penobscot Valley Avenue
6

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 44 sec
7

Merge onto I 95

43 mi · 43 min · I 95
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Exit 184 Toward ME 222: Union Street, Ohio Street, Airport
9

Keep slight right at fork

514 ft · 20 sec
10

Turn left onto ME 222

1.0 mi · 3 min · Union Street
11

Turn sharp right onto US 2; ME 100

73 ft · 2 sec · Hammond Street
12

Arrive at destination

US 2; ME 100

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 24.9 mi from Lincoln, ME · 30m into the drive

Downtown Milford, ME, ME

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Milford, ME

25 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

Howland, ME

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Milford, ME

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24.9 miles from Lincoln, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Bangor, ME

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Bangor, ME if you are unfamiliar with the area.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.03 one way

$16.07 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 18 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $8.84 $17.68
premium $4.86 $9.56 $19.11
diesel $5.61 $11.02 $22.03

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 17.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 15 0 $5.24 $2.40
Efficient EV 12.5 0 $4.37 $2.00
EV Truck/SUV 20 0 $6.99 $3.19

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% 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

Lincoln, ME

Afternoon in Lincoln on Thursday

Local time

4:48 PM

EDT

Current temp

32°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bangor, ME

Afternoon in Bangor on Thursday

Local time

4:48 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

44°F

Milford, ME

25 mi in

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

20 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

58m 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 Lincoln, ME to Bangor, ME covers 49.9 miles and takes about 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Access Road, West Broadway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.9 miles from Lincoln, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.03 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 58m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 48.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Lincoln, ME to Bangor, ME does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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