Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 15m
Distance
154.2 mi
248 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
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
Lovell, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Bangor to Lovell is 154.2 miles and takes about 3h 15m via I 95 and Maine Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Northeast region and the state of Maine, making it a straightforward trip. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained highways before transitioning to more local roads. It's a solid option for a single-day excursion, especially if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
77.1 miles from Bangor, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 80.1 mi | 1h 27m |
| Maine Turnpike | 27.4 mi | 29m |
| Poland Spring Road | 8.6 mi | 15m |
| Knights Hill Road | 5.8 mi | 13m |
| North High Street | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| Roosevelt Trail | 5.1 mi | 5m |
| Portland Road | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| Maine Street | 3.9 mi | 5m |
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
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Bangor, ME and Lovell, ME.
Start on US 2; ME 100
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 95; ME 15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Take the exit
Turn straight
Turn straight onto US 202; ME 4
Turn right onto Poland Spring Road
At end of road, turn left onto Poland Spring Road
Continue on Ricker Road
Continue on Spring Water Road
Turn sharp right onto ME 26
Turn left onto White Oak Hill Road
Turn left onto ME 11
Continue on ME 11
Continue on ME 11
At end of road, turn right onto US 302; ME 11; ME 35
Continue on US 302
Turn left onto US 302
Continue on US 302
Turn right onto Knights Hill Road
Turn straight onto ME 93
Turn right onto Main Street
Arrive at destination
For this 3h 15m drive, leaving Bangor in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $26, you have flexibility in pacing. Consider refueling before you leave Bangor or at one of the service plazas along the Maine Turnpike, as opportunities might be more spread out once you're off the main highway. Pay attention to the transition from I 95 to Poland Spring Road, as this is where the driving environment changes most noticeably.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 34 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.1 miles or 1h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lovell, 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 154.2 miles and 3h 15m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
77 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 77.1 miles from Bangor, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.1 miles.
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 81.6 and 132.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Maine Turnpike toward I 95 South: Lewiston, Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Maine Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn right onto Poland Spring Road
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto Poland Spring Road
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto US 302; ME 11; ME 35 / Roosevelt Trail
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$25.69 one way
$51.37 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.70 | $28.50 | $57.01 |
| premium | $5.07 | $30.76 | $61.51 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $33.99 | $67.98 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.64
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.3 | 0 | $16.19 | $7.40 |
| Efficient EV | 38.6 | 0 | $13.49 | $6.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61.7 | 0 | $21.59 | $9.87 |
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Late night in Bangor on Friday
Local time
4:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Patchy Fog
Destination
Late night in Lovell on Friday
Local time
4:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Patchy Fog
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.
This drive is predominantly highway cruising, with 70% of the 154.2 miles on major roads like I 95 and the Maine Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 80.1 miles on I 95. You'll notice a significant shift from highway speeds to more local traffic as you approach Lovell, with Poland Spring Road marking the transition to surface streets. Expect a relatively smooth ride for the majority of the trip.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Maine Turnpike. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 81.6 miles in near I 95 / Maine Turnpike.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 154.2 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 81.6 miles (I 95 / Maine Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.3 miles (I 95 / Maine Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 110.5 miles (Poland Spring Road): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
689 ft
Total Descent
380 ft
Highest Point
471 ft
~143.2 mi in
Elevation Range
356 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bangor, ME to Lovell, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Portland along the way.
Portland
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 1800
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 15m. Total distance: 154.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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