Bangor to Buckfield is 111.1 miles and takes about 2h 20m via I 95 and Howes Corner Road, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maine, taking you from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a straightforward drive that should be easy to complete in a single day, making it a convenient option for a quick transition between locations. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate before transitioning to local roads for the final stretch.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.5 miles from Bangor, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
73.4 mi
1h 20m
Howes Corner Road
5.8 mi
10m
Auburn Road
5.1 mi
5m
US 202
4.7 mi
5m
Main Street
4.2 mi
6m
Turner Street
3.8 mi
7m
Route 133
3.4 mi
4m
Western Avenue
2.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 73.4 mi, about 1h 20m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,630 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,119
Quietest
1 AM
~58 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
28.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bangor, ME and Buckfield, ME.
1
Start on US 2; ME 100
1.2 mi·3 min·Hammond Street
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
3
Merge onto I 95; ME 15
73 mi·1 hr 20 min·I 95; ME 15
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 109BToward US 202 West, ME 11 West, ME 17 West, ME 100 West: Winthrop
5
Turn right onto US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 100
2.8 mi·3 min·Western Avenue
6
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
4.7 mi·5 min·US 202; ME 11; ME 100
7
Turn slight right onto Main Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Main Street
8
Turn right onto Union Street
355 ft·10 sec·Union Street
9
Continue on Summer Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Summer Street
10
Turn right onto ME 41; ME 133
0.8 mi·1 min·Route 133
11
Continue on ME 133
2.5 mi·3 min·Route 133
12
Continue on Main Street
3.4 mi·5 min·Main Street
13
Turn left onto Leeds Road
1.7 mi·3 min·Leeds Road
14
Continue on State Route 219
2.0 mi·3 min·State Route 219
15
Continue on Howes Corner Road
5.7 mi·10 min·Howes Corner Road
16
Keep slight left at fork onto ME:219
240 ft·10 sec·Howes Corner Road
17
Turn left onto ME 4
5.1 mi·5 min·Auburn Road
18
Turn right onto Weston Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Weston Road
19
At end of road, turn right onto ME 117
1.5 mi·2 min·Buckfield Road
20
Continue on ME 117
3.8 mi·7 min·Turner Street
21
Turn left onto Loring Hill Road
56 ft·1 sec·Loring Hill Road
22
Arrive at destination
Loring Hill Road
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 20m duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Leaving Bangor in the morning should give you plenty of time to reach Buckfield with daylight to spare. The longest stretch on I 95 is over 73 miles, so plan your fuel stops accordingly before you get too far into that segment. While there are no designated stops mentioned, the relatively short distance means you have flexibility to add breaks as needed. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 95 to Howes Corner Road, as this marks the shift to surface streets.
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 55.5 miles from Bangor, ME, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.4 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 24 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.5 miles or 1h 3m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buckfield, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bangor, 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 Bangor, ME
This is one driving day of about 111.1 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Bangor, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 73.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 74.9 and 111.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
74.9 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward US 202 West, ME 11 West, ME 17 West, ME 100 West: Winthrop
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 109B
Toward US 202 West, ME 11 West, ME 17 West, ME...
4
99.9 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|ME:219 / Howes Corner Road
Keep slight left at fork onto ME:219 / Howes Corner Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
100 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|ME 4 / Auburn Road
Turn left onto ME 4 / Auburn Road
Navigation decision point
4
105.8 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|ME 117 / Buckfield Road
At end of road, turn right onto ME 117 / Buckfield Road
Navigation decision point
4
111.1 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|Loring Hill Road
Turn left onto Loring Hill Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.39 one way
$38.78 round trip
$4.43/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.93
$21.58
$43.16
premium
$5.30
$23.19
$46.37
diesel
$6.18
$27.03
$54.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.3
0
$11.67
$5.33
Efficient EV
27.8
0
$9.72
$4.44
EV Truck/SUV
44.4
0
$15.55
$7.11
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Forecast as of Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Bangor, ME
Morning
in Bangor on Monday
Local time
10:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Sunny
SW 2 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Buckfield, ME
Morning
in Buckfield on Monday
Local time
10:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Sunny
SW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
60°F
Winthrop, ME
56 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 20m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Frances Perkins National Monument
National Monument
Known as the first woman to hold a presidential cabinet position and the “Woman behind the New Deal,” Frances Perkins championed many labor rights that Americans enjoy today, including safety standard...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 76.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 75% of this 111.1-mile drive is on the highway, with the longest continuous stretch of 73.4 miles occurring on I 95. After leaving the interstate, you'll transition to Howes Corner Road and Auburn Road for the remaining portion of the trip. Expect a significant amount of highway cruising before shifting to more local road driving as you approach your destination.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.4 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Howes Corner Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 74.9 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 20m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 74.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.9 miles (ME:219 / Howes Corner Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 100 miles (ME 4 / Auburn Road): Navigation decision point.
Bangor is a small city of 32,000 people (2019) in the Highlands region of Maine. Bangor is the third-largest city in the state and the retail, cultural and service center for central, eastern and northern Maine. It is a good base for exploring Aroostook County, Down East & Acadia, the Maine Highlands and Maine’s Mid-Coast.
Top landmarks
•Mount Hope Cemetery — cemetery in Bangor, Maine
•Bangor Public Library — library in Bangor, Maine
•Great Fire of 1911 Historic District — historic district in Bangor, Maine
Lakes and Mountains is a Maine region that encompasses the counties of Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford, plus the northern portion of Cumberland County.
The longest stretch is about 73.4 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through ME can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 74.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.9 miles (ME:219 / Howes Corner Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 100 miles (ME 4 / Auburn Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Frances Perkins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Buckfield, ME before heading back.
