Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 49m
Distance
74.4 mi
120 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bangor, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Cushing, ME
RealToughCandy.com
The drive from Bangor, ME to Cushing, ME covers 74.4 miles and takes about 1h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on River Road, Route 1, Atlantic Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.5 miles on River Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.39 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.
Midpoint
37.2 miles from Bangor, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| River Road | 19.5 mi | 33m |
| Route 1 | 16.4 mi | 20m |
| Atlantic Highway | 12.2 mi | 13m |
| Commercial Street | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| Searsport Avenue | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Belfast Road | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bangor, ME and Cushing, ME.
Start on US 2; ME 100
Turn slight right onto Union Street
Continue on US 1A; ME 9 Business
Turn right onto ME 15 Business
Continue on River Road
Continue on ME 15
Turn right onto US 1; ME 3
Continue on US 1; ME 3
Continue on US 1; ME 3
Continue on US 1; ME 3
Continue on US 1; ME 3
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Turn left onto US 1
Turn right onto US 1
Turn straight onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1; ME 131
Turn left onto Wadsworth Street
Continue on Brooklyn Heights Road
Continue on River Road
Turn right onto Killeran Road
Arrive at destination
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.
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 16 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.2 miles or 53m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cushing, ME than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Bangor, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bangor, ME
This is one driving day of about 74.4 miles and 1h 49m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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.
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 37.2 miles from Bangor, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 74.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto ME 15 Business / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto US 1; ME 3 / Route 1
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto US 1 / Park Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Wadsworth Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Killeran Road
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$12.39 one way
$24.79 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.70 | $13.75 | $27.50 |
| premium | $5.07 | $14.84 | $29.68 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $16.40 | $32.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.81 | $3.57 |
| Efficient EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.51 | $2.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.42 | $4.76 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Bangor on Friday
Local time
3:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Patchy Fog
Destination
Late night in Cushing on Friday
Local time
3:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Areas Of Fog
43°F
Belfast, ME
37 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
National Park
Acadia National Park protects the natural beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the United States, an abundance of habitats, and a rich cultural heritage. At 4 million...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
74.4 mi in 1h 49m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
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. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near ME 15 Business / South Main Street.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Bangor, ME to Cushing, ME is easy. At 1h 49m with 24% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (ME 15 Business / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 19.1 miles (US 1; ME 3 / Route 1): Navigation decision point; at 64.2 miles (US 1 / Park Street): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
352 ft
Total Descent
427 ft
Highest Point
238 ft
~10.6 mi in
Elevation Range
201 ft
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
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 74.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (24%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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