Origin
Waterville, ME
Night in Waterville on Wednesday
Local time
11:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterville, ME to Bar Harbor, ME
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 19m
Distance
102.5 mi
165 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 9m
★
6 AM
2h 19m
8 AM
2h 38m
10 AM
2h 26m
12 PM
2h 24m
3 PM
2h 27m
5 PM
2h 37m
8 PM
2h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterville, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Bar Harbor, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Waterville, ME to Bar Harbor, ME covers 102.5 miles and takes about 2h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Elm Street, Main Street, I 395 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.50 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
51.3 miles from Waterville, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 19m drive with frequent turns across 102.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Elm Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Waterville, ME to Bar Harbor, ME is easy. At 2h 19m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waterville, ME to Bar Harbor, ME is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Elm Street | — | — |
| Main Street | — | — |
| I 395 South | — | — |
| US 1A East | — | — |
| Wilson Street | — | — |
| Main Road | — | — |
| Bangor Road | — | — |
| State Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Elm Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterville, ME and Bar Harbor, ME.
1
Start on Post Office Square
43 ft
·
4 sec
·
Post Office Square
2
Turn right onto Elm Street
361 ft
·
14 sec
·
Elm Street
3
Turn slight left onto Main Street
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
4
Take the ramp slight right
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
5
Merge slight right
52 mi
·
55 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 395 South, ME 15 South: Bangor, Brewer
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
I 395 South, ME 15 South: Bangor, Brewer
7
Merge slight left
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
8
Continue straight
3.4 mi
·
4 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward US 1A East: Coastal Route, Ellsworth, Bar Harbor
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 1A East: Coastal Route, Ellsworth, Bar Harbor
10
Merge slight left onto Wilson Street
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Wilson Street
11
Continue on Main Road
12 mi
·
18 min
·
Main Road
12
Continue on Bangor Road
8.9 mi
·
12 min
·
Bangor Road
13
Continue on State Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
State Street
14
Continue on Oak Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Oak Street
15
Continue on High Street
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
High Street
16
Continue on Bar Harbor Road
6.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Bar Harbor Road
17
Turn slight right onto State Highway 102
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 102
18
Continue on Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
19
Turn left onto Sound Drive
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Sound Drive
20
Turn left onto Eagle Lake Road
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Eagle Lake Road
21
Continue on Mount Desert Street
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
Mount Desert Street
22
At the end of the road, turn right onto Main Street
26 ft
·
1 sec
·
Main Street
23
Arrive at your destination
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 51.3 miles from Waterville, ME, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
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 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.3 miles or 1h 9m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bar Harbor, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Waterville, 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 Waterville, ME
This is one driving day of about 102.5 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Waterville, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 51.3 mi from Waterville, ME · 1h 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 51.3 miles from Waterville, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bar Harbor, ME
The final approach into Bar Harbor, 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 Bar Harbor, 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
$16.50 one way
$33.00 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $18.16 | $36.31 |
| premium | $4.86 | $19.63 | $39.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.63 | $45.26 |
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: 35.9 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 | 30.8 | 0 | $10.76 | $4.92 |
| Efficient EV | 25.6 | 0 | $8.97 | $4.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41 | 0 | $14.35 | $6.56 |
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
Bar Harbor, ME
Night in Bar Harbor on Wednesday
Local time
11:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
38°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 19m 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 Bar Harbor, ME covers 102.5 miles and takes about 2h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Elm Street, Main Street, I 395 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51.3 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 $16.50 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 Bar Harbor, ME is easy. At 2h 19m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waterville, ME to Bar Harbor, ME is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Waterville, ME to Bar Harbor, ME does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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