Bangor to Peru is 104.7 miles and takes about 2h 24m via I 95 and US 2, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maine, taking you from the Northeast region of the state to another part of the Northeast. It's a relatively short drive that offers a mix of highway cruising and surface road travel. You'll spend a little over half your time on highways, making it manageable for a single day. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward drive through Maine without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.4 miles from Bangor, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
26.2 mi
28m
Main Street
19.9 mi
28m
US 2
18 mi
20m
Canaan Road
11.1 mi
14m
US Route 2 East
7.6 mi
11m
Farmington Falls Road
3.9 mi
4m
Auburn Road
3.3 mi
4m
Lucy Knowles Road
2.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 26.2 mi, about 28m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,669 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,138
Quietest
1 AM
~52 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
32.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Peru, 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
26 mi·28 min·I 95; ME 15
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 157Toward ME 11, ME 100: Newport, Skowhegan
5
Turn right onto ME 11; ME 100
215 ft·12 sec·Ox Bow Road
6
Turn left
0.2 mi·1 min
7
At end of road, turn left onto US 2
7.7 mi·11 min·Main Street
8
Continue on US 2
4.7 mi·5 min·Canaan Road
9
Continue on US 2
4.1 mi·4 min·Main Street
10
Continue on US 2
6.4 mi·9 min·Canaan Road
11
Continue on US 2
0.6 mi·1 min·Water Street
12
Turn slight right onto High Street
0.3 mi·51 sec·High Street
13
Turn left onto US 201
0.4 mi·51 sec·Madison Avenue
14
Take the exit onto US 2
5.0 mi·5 min·US 2
15
Turn right onto US 2; US 201A
13 mi·14 min·US 2; US 201A
16
Continue on US 2; ME 27; ME 134
3.9 mi·4 min·Farmington Falls Road
17
Turn left onto Philbrick Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·Philbrick Street
18
Turn left
77 ft·4 sec
19
Turn left onto ME 41
508 ft·12 sec·Vienna Road
20
Turn right onto ME 156
2.7 mi·4 min·Lucy Knowles Road
21
At end of road, turn left onto Knowlton Corner Road
323 ft·6 sec·Knowlton Corner Road
22
Continue on Chesterville Road
511 ft·10 sec·Chesterville Road
23
Turn right onto ME 156
0.3 mi·33 sec·Wilton Road
24
Continue on ME 156
0.9 mi·1 min·North Chesterville Road
25
Continue on ME 156
0.7 mi·1 min·Route 156
26
Continue on ME 156
0.5 mi·55 sec·Wilton Road
27
Continue on ME 156
1.5 mi·2 min·Chesterville Road
28
Continue on Depot Street
1.8 mi·3 min·Depot Street
29
Turn left onto US 2; ME 4
0.6 mi·1 min·US Route 2 East
30
Continue on US 2; ME 4
0.2 mi·25 sec·United States Highway 2
31
Keep slight right at fork onto US 2
0.2 mi·27 sec·United States Highway 2
32
Continue on US 2
7.0 mi·10 min·US Route 2 East
33
Continue on US 2; ME 17
1.6 mi·2 min·US Highway 2
34
Continue on US 2; ME 17
8.1 mi·12 min·Main Street
35
Continue on US 2; ME 17
0.2 mi·41 sec·River Road
36
Turn left onto McLain Street
433 ft·7 sec·McLain Street
37
Continue on North Main Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·North Main Street
38
Turn left onto ME 108
3.3 mi·4 min·Auburn Road
39
Arrive at destination
ME 108
Trip Plan
Given this is a 1-day trip covering just over 100 miles, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Bangor in the morning should allow you to reach Peru with plenty of daylight. Since the drive is under 2.5 hours, you won't need to plan for extensive stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially after leaving the interstate, as services might be less frequent on US 2. Budgeting around $17 for fuel should be sufficient for this route.
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 52.4 miles from Bangor, ME, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.2 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 23 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.4 miles or 1h 9m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Peru, 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 104.7 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 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 26.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 52.4 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 27.7 and 101.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
27.7 mi into trip|~33m in
Take the exit toward ME 11, ME 100: Newport, Skowhegan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 157
Toward ME 11, ME 100: Newport, Skowhegan
4
28 mi into trip|~33m in|ME 11; ME 100 / Ox Bow Road
Turn right onto ME 11; ME 100 / Ox Bow Road
Navigation decision point
4
28 mi into trip|~34m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
84 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|US 2 / United States Highway 2
Keep slight right at fork onto US 2 / United States Highway 2
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
101.1 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|McLain Street
Turn left onto McLain Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.44 one way
$34.88 round trip
$4.23/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.70
$19.35
$38.71
premium
$5.07
$20.88
$41.76
diesel
$5.60
$23.08
$46.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.4
0
$10.99
$5.03
Efficient EV
26.2
0
$9.16
$4.19
EV Truck/SUV
41.9
0
$14.66
$6.70
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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 Aug 30, 2026
Origin
Bangor, ME
Night
in Bangor on Friday
Local time
11:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Partly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
S 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued August 29 at 9:55PM EDT until August 30 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Caribou ME
Destination
Peru, ME
Night
in Peru on Friday
Local time
11:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued August 29 at 9:55PM EDT until August 30 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Caribou ME
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
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 24m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Your drive will involve 52% highway driving, with the longest stretch on I 95 covering 26.2 miles. After I 95, you'll transition to surface roads, primarily Main Street and US 2. Expect a mixed driving experience, starting with highway speeds before moving to more varied conditions. The change from highway to surface roads will be noticeable as you exit the interstate.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.2 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 27.7 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 24m drive. You will face about 18 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 27.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28 miles (ME 11; ME 100 / Ox Bow Road): Navigation decision point; at 28 miles: Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
539 ft116 ft
Total Climb
766 ft
Total Descent
470 ft
Highest Point
539 ft
~89.8 mi in
Elevation Range
423 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bangor, ME to Peru, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Skowhegan along the way.
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
The longest stretch is about 26.2 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 27.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28 miles (ME 11; ME 100 / Ox Bow Road): Navigation decision point; at 28 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Peru, ME before heading back.
