Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h
Distance
84.6 mi
136 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
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
Damariscotta, ME
Ever Rayan
Bangor to Damariscotta is 84.6 miles and takes about 2 hours via Atlantic Highway and Route 1, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maine, traversing the Northeast region. Expect a drive primarily on surface roads, offering a more relaxed pace than a pure interstate experience. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing ample time for exploration upon arrival.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.3 miles from Bangor, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Highway | 21.3 mi | 27m |
| Route 1 | 21.2 mi | 26m |
| River Road | 15.2 mi | 22m |
| Camden Road | 6.3 mi | 8m |
| West Street | 4.1 mi | 6m |
| Searsport Avenue | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Belfast Road | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bangor, ME and Damariscotta, 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
Turn right onto ME 90
Continue on ME 90
Continue on ME 90
At end of road, turn right onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Take the exit onto US 1 BUS
Arrive at destination
Since this is a manageable 2-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility for departure time. Leaving in the morning allows you to arrive in Damariscotta with most of the day ahead for activities. The $14 fuel cost is a reasonable estimate, but it's always wise to top off your tank before leaving Bangor, especially since the longest stretch without a major town is 21.3 miles on the Atlantic Highway. There are no specific overnight recommendations, making this a perfect same-day trip.
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 19 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.3 miles or 1h 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Damariscotta, ME than in the middle of the route.
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 84.6 miles and 2h.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 42.3 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 82.7 — 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 ME 90 / West Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto US 1 / Atlantic Highway
Navigation decision point
Take the exit onto US 1 BUS
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Regular Gas
$14.09 one way
$28.18 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.70 | $15.64 | $31.28 |
| premium | $5.07 | $16.87 | $33.75 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $18.65 | $37.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.88 | $4.06 |
| Efficient EV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.40 | $3.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.8 | 0 | $11.84 | $5.41 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Bangor on Friday
Local time
7:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Patchy Fog
Destination
Evening in Damariscotta on Friday
Local time
7:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Areas Of Fog
43°F
Belfast, ME
42 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.
This drive is mostly surface roads, with only 29% of the total mileage on highways. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch on the Atlantic Highway, covering 21.3 miles. Expect a more rural cruising feel, as the majority of this trip involves navigating local roads rather than high-speed interstates. The transition from highway to surface roads will be noticeable as you progress.
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 Damariscotta, ME is easy. At 2h with 29% 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 58 miles (ME 90 / West Street): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
456 ft
Total Descent
522 ft
Highest Point
224 ft
~60.4 mi in
Elevation Range
199 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
Founded 1848
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h. Total distance: 84.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (29%). 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Bangor, ME or browse trips ending in Damariscotta, ME.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse ME road trips.
