Drive or Fly: Bangor, ME to South Eliot, ME?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for BGR–PSM. At 179 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 26m

Distance

179.5 mi

Total Cost

$79

CO2

73 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$44

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

2h 38m

18m in the air

Air Distance

154 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

39 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bangor, ME → BGR 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PSM → South Eliot, ME 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Bangor, ME BGR — Bangor International Airport 2 mi, ~10m drive

South Eliot, ME PSM — Portsmouth International Airport at Pease 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BGR and PSM. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 58m

3h 33m on road

Total Cost

$17

CO2

10 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bangor, ME → UMA Bangor (BNR6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 213m

Arrival 10m

Portsmouth Bus Stop (PTM6) → South Eliot, ME 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $17) $17

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From BNR6 — UMA Bangor 0 mi, ~30m drive

To PTM6 — Portsmouth Bus Stop 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 8 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 26m	2h 38m	4h 58m
Total cost (1 person)	$79	$126	$17
Carbon footprint	73 kg CO₂	39 kg CO₂	10 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Oct 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

179.5 mi 3h 26m

via I 95; ME 15, I 295, I 95

Alternative (+1 min)

184.8 mi 3h 28m

via I 95, I 95; ME 15

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Bangor, ME to South Eliot, ME with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.