Origin
Waterville, ME
Evening in Waterville on Thursday
Local time
6:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterville, ME to Bangor, ME
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
55.5 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterville, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Bangor, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Waterville, ME to Bangor, ME covers 55.5 miles and takes about 1h 5m 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 Street, Hammond Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 52.5 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.93 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 55.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 5m highway drive covering 55.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 95 and Main Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 52.5 miles on I 95.
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.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 52.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Main Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near ME 11; ME 104 / Elm Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Waterville, ME to Bangor, ME is easy. At 1h 5m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (ME 11; ME 104 / Elm Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (ME 104 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
ME 11; ME 104 / Elm Street
Turn right onto ME 11; ME 104 / Elm Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
ME 104 / Main Street
Turn slight left onto ME 104 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
3
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
54.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward US 2, ME 100: Hammond Street, Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 2, ME 100: Hammond Street, Airport
3
54.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
US 2; ME 100 / Hammond Street
Turn right onto US 2; ME 100 / Hammond Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 52.5 mi | 56m |
| Main Street | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Hammond Street | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| Elm Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Post Office Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 52.5 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterville, ME and Bangor, ME.
1
Start on Post Office Square
42 ft
·
4 sec
·
Post Office Square
2
Turn right onto ME 11; ME 104
361 ft
·
14 sec
·
Elm Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn slight left onto ME 104
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
5
Merge onto I 95
52 mi
·
56 min
·
I 95
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward US 2, ME 100: Hammond Street, Airport
7
Turn right onto US 2; ME 100
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Hammond Street
8
Arrive at destination
US 2; ME 100
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.8 mi from Waterville, ME · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.8 miles from Waterville, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bangor, ME
The final approach into Bangor, ME usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.93 one way
$17.87 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $9.83 | $19.66 |
| premium | $4.86 | $10.63 | $21.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.25 | $24.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.83 | $2.66 |
| Efficient EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.86 | $2.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.77 | $3.55 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Bangor, ME
Evening in Bangor on Thursday
Local time
6:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
34°F
Newport, ME
28 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
2 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
1h 5m 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 Waterville, ME to Bangor, ME covers 55.5 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Main Street, 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 27.8 miles from Waterville, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.93 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.
The drive from Waterville, ME to Bangor, ME is easy. At 1h 5m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (ME 11; ME 104 / Elm Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (ME 104 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining.
The route from Waterville, ME to Bangor, ME does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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