Connecting Bangor to South Portland, this 132.1-mile journey is a straightforward trek across Maine. You can expect to spend about 2 hours and 32 minutes behind the wheel, making this a very manageable single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $21, it is an economical route that keeps you within the Northeast region for the entire duration. Because the drive is relatively short, you likely won't need an overnight stay, allowing you to easily complete it in one go. Whether you are heading south for business or a change of scenery, the route is designed for efficiency rather than leisure. It is a practical path for travelers who want to move between these two hubs without unnecessary complications.
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
66.1 miles from Bangor, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
80.1 mi
1h 27m
I 295
46.5 mi
52m
Hammond Street
1.2 mi
3m
Casco Bay Bridge
1.1 mi
1m
State Street
1 mi
1m
Broadway
1 mi
1m
Marginal Way
0.5 mi
1m
US 1A
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 80.1 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bangor, ME and South Portland, 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
80 mi·1 hr 27 min·I 95; ME 15
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
46 mi·52 min·I 295
Exit 103Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, BrunswickUse the straight lane.
5
Take the exit onto US 1A
0.4 mi·1 min·US 1A
Exit 7Toward US 1AUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn right onto Marginal Way
0.5 mi·1 min·Marginal Way
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on State Street
1.0 mi·1 min·State Street
8
Continue on ME 77
1.1 mi·1 min·Casco Bay Bridge
9
Continue on ME 77
1.0 mi·1 min·Broadway
10
Turn sharp right onto Pine Street
60 ft·2 sec·Pine Street
11
Arrive at destination
Pine Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a two-and-a-half-hour drive, plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and keep your energy up. Leaving early in the day can help you avoid potential traffic buildup as you approach the South Portland area. Given the high percentage of interstate travel, ensure your vehicle is prepped for sustained highway speeds before departing Bangor. Fuel prices are estimated at $21, so you can easily budget for a full tank before you hit the road. Use the flexibility of this short trip to your advantage by building in a quick break halfway through your 132.1-mile trek to make the ride more comfortable.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.1 miles from Bangor, ME, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.1 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 29 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.1 miles or 1h 14m 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 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Portland, 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 132.1 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Bangor, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 80.1 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 132.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
1.5 mi into trip|~4m in|I 95; ME 15
Merge onto I 95; ME 15
Merge point - match speed before joining
9
81.6 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|I 295
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Exit 103
Toward I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Bru...
7
128.1 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|US 1A
Take the exit onto US 1A toward US 1A
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 7
Toward US 1A
5
128.5 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|Marginal Way
Turn right onto Marginal Way
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
132.1 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|Pine Street
Turn sharp right onto Pine Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.27 one way
$42.53 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$23.40
$46.80
premium
$4.86
$25.30
$50.59
diesel
$5.61
$29.17
$58.33
Estimated Tolls: $7.00
Bay Bridge
$7.00
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
$21
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.6
0
$13.87
$6.34
Efficient EV
33
0
$11.56
$5.28
EV Truck/SUV
52.8
0
$18.49
$8.45
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Bangor, ME
Night
in Bangor on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
South Portland, ME
Night
in South Portland on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
46°F
Brunswick, ME
66 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.
Road read
2h 32m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 91.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 96% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will rely primarily on I-95 and I-295 to navigate the state, with local access provided via Hammond Street. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 80.1 miles on I-95, requiring steady focus as you maintain interstate speeds. As you transition from the Bangor area toward the coast, the character of the road remains consistent and fast-paced. Expect a functional, interstate-heavy experience that prioritizes speed and direct connectivity over winding, secondary backroads.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.1 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 295. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near I 95; ME 15.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 32m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 81.6 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128.1 miles (US 1A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
306 ft25 ft
Total Climb
345 ft
Total Descent
435 ft
Highest Point
306 ft
~38.5 mi in
Elevation Range
281 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 South Portland, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Brunswick along the way.
Brunswick
81.6 mi in|~1h 31m|via I 295
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 132.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 80.1 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $7.00 in tolls one way, starting with Bay Bridge. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 1.5 miles (I 95; ME 15): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 81.6 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128.1 miles (US 1A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 South Portland, ME before heading back.
