Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
77.6 mi
125 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good 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
Manchester, ME
Mylo Kaye
Bangor to Manchester is 77.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 27 minutes via I 95, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maine, connecting two points in the Northeast region. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making for a straightforward drive. It’s a quick hop, perfect for when you need to get from point A to point B without a lot of fuss, and the fuel cost is quite manageable.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 73.4 mi | 1h 20m |
| Western Avenue | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| Hammond Street | 1.2 mi | 3m |
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 Manchester, ME.
Start on US 2; ME 100
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 95; ME 15
Take the exit
Turn right onto US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 100
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 38.8 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 73.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
4 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 77.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Merge onto I 95; ME 15
Merge point - match speed before joining
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
Turn right onto US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 100 / Western Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$13.54 one way
$27.09 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.93 | $15.07 | $30.15 |
| premium | $5.30 | $16.20 | $32.39 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $18.88 | $37.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.3 | 0 | $8.15 | $3.72 |
| Efficient EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.79 | $3.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31 | 0 | $10.86 | $4.97 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Morning in Bangor on Saturday
Local time
11:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Chance Light Rain then Partly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Manchester on Saturday
Local time
11:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Partly Cloudy
31°F
Pittsfield, ME
39 mi in
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 mostly highway, with 95% of the 77.6 miles on I 95. You'll have a long stretch of 73.4 miles on the interstate before transitioning to surface roads for the final leg. Expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate the highway system for the bulk of your travel.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Western Avenue. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near I 95; ME 15.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Bangor, ME to Manchester, ME is easy. At 1h 27m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (I 95; ME 15): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 74.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.1 miles (US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 100 / Western Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
376 ft
Total Descent
276 ft
Highest Point
304 ft
~38.8 mi in
Elevation Range
189 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 1775
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 77.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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