Bangor to Pittston is 82.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 38 minutes via I 95, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive entirely within Maine, connecting two points in the Northeast region. With 86% of the route on the highway, expect a predominantly swift and direct travel experience. This trip is well-suited for a single day, allowing for a relaxed pace or even a spontaneous departure.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.4 miles from Bangor, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
70.9 mi
1h 17m
Water Street
3 mi
5m
Maine Avenue
2.6 mi
4m
State Street
1.8 mi
2m
Hammond Street
1.2 mi
3m
Civic Center Drive
1.2 mi
1m
Mount Vernon Avenue
1.1 mi
1m
Bridge Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 70.9 mi, about 1h 17m
Traffic on I-95
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
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 Pittston, 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
71 mi·1 hr 17 min·I 95; ME 15
4
Take the exit
0.1 mi·20 sec
Exit 112Toward ME 8, ME 11: Augusta, Belgrade
5
Keep slight left at fork
327 ft·11 sec
6
Turn left onto ME 8; ME 11; ME 27
1.2 mi·1 min·Civic Center Drive
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on ME 8; ME 11; ME 27
1.1 mi·1 min·Mount Vernon Avenue
8
Continue on ME 8; ME 11; ME 27
0.7 mi·1 min·State Street
9
Enter roundabout onto US 201; ME 27
173 ft·3 sec·State Street
10
Continue on US 201; ME 27
1.0 mi·1 min·State Street
11
Continue on US 201; ME 27
2.2 mi·3 min·Water Street
12
Continue on US 201; ME 27
2.6 mi·4 min·Maine Avenue
13
Turn left onto ME 9; ME 27; ME 126
0.2 mi·22 sec·Bridge Street
14
Turn right onto ME 27; ME 126
0.9 mi·1 min·Water Street
15
Turn left onto ME 126
0.1 mi·15 sec·Whitefield Road
16
Turn right onto Pittston School Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·Pittston School Street
17
Arrive at destination
Pittston School Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of about 1 hour and 38 minutes, you have a lot of flexibility with this trip. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid any potential rush hour traffic around Bangor, arriving in Pittston with plenty of afternoon time. With the majority of the route being highway, you can cover significant ground quickly, so plan for just one brief stop if needed, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $13 estimated cost suggests a relatively efficient trip, but it's always wise to top off before heading out, especially if you plan any detours.
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 41.4 miles from Bangor, ME, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.9 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.4 miles or 47m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pittston, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bangor, ME
This is one driving day of about 82.8 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 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 70.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 72.4 and 81.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
72.4 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward ME 8, ME 11: Augusta, Belgrade
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 112
Toward ME 8, ME 11: Augusta, Belgrade
5
72.6 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
72.6 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|ME 8; ME 11; ME 27 / Civic Center Drive
Turn left onto ME 8; ME 11; ME 27 / Civic Center Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
75.7 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|US 201; ME 27 / State Street
Enter roundabout onto US 201; ME 27 / State Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
81.5 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|ME 9; ME 27; ME 126 / Bridge Street
Turn left onto ME 9; ME 27; ME 126 / Bridge Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.45 one way
$28.90 round trip
$4.43/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.93
$16.08
$32.17
premium
$5.30
$17.28
$34.56
diesel
$6.18
$20.14
$40.29
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 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.8
0
$8.69
$3.97
Efficient EV
20.7
0
$7.25
$3.31
EV Truck/SUV
33.1
0
$11.59
$5.30
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 Oct 15, 2026
Origin
Bangor, ME
Night
in Bangor on Monday
Local time
10:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Sunny
NW 10 to 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Pittston, ME
Night
in Pittston on Monday
Local time
10:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Oakland, ME
41 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 38m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Frances Perkins National Monument
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...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 82.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 86% of the 82.8 miles on I 95. You'll experience a longest stretch of 70.9 miles on I 95 before transitioning to surface roads like Water Street and Maine Avenue. Expect a generally consistent pace, with the majority of your time spent cruising on the interstate. The transition to local roads will likely bring a change in speed and traffic density.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.9 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Water Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 72.4 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 38m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 72.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 72.6 miles (ME 8; ME 11; ME 27 / Civic Center Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
344 ft55 ft
Total Climb
530 ft
Total Descent
552 ft
Highest Point
344 ft
~29.6 mi in
Elevation Range
290 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 Pittston, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Belgrade 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 70.9 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 72.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 72.6 miles (ME 8; ME 11; ME 27 / Civic Center Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Frances Perkins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pittston, ME before heading back.
