Origin
Bangor, ME
Night in Bangor on Saturday
Local time
10:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bangor, ME to Union, ME
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 37m
Distance
59.5 mi
96 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 30m
★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bangor, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Union, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Bangor to Union is 59.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 37 minutes via River Road and Route 1, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maine, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a local driving experience with many turns rather than steady highway cruising. With a total duration under two hours and a low fuel cost, this route offers a straightforward way to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
29.7 miles from Bangor, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 43m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| River Road | 15.2 mi | 22m |
| Route 1 | 14.2 mi | 17m |
| Sennebec Road | 5.6 mi | 10m |
| Searsmont Road | 4 mi | 9m |
| Belmont Avenue | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| Main Street South | 2.9 mi | 6m |
| Searsport Avenue | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Main Street North | 2.4 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
River Road
— 15.2 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bangor, ME and Union, ME.
1
Start on US 2; ME 100
73 ft
·
4 sec
·
Hammond Street
2
Turn slight right onto Union Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Union Street
3
Continue on US 1A; ME 9 Business
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Wilson Street
4
Turn right onto ME 15 Business
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
5
Continue on River Road
15 mi
·
22 min
·
River Road
6
Continue on ME 15
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
7
Turn right onto US 1; ME 3
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Route 1
8
Continue on US 1; ME 3
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
US Highway 1
9
Continue on US 1; ME 3
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Route 1
10
Continue on US 1; ME 3
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Searsport Avenue
11
Continue on US 1; ME 3
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Route 1
12
Take the exit onto ME 3
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
ME 3
13
Keep slight right at fork onto ME 3
373 ft
·
12 sec
·
ME 3
14
Merge onto ME 3
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Belmont Avenue
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on ME 3
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Augusta Road
16
Turn left onto ME 131
85 ft
·
2 sec
·
Searsmont Road
17
Keep slight right at fork onto ME 131
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Searsmont Road
18
Continue on ME 131
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Main Street North
19
Continue on ME 131; ME 173
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Searsmont Road
20
Continue on ME 131; ME 173
2.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Main Street South
21
Continue on Searmont Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Searmont Road
22
Continue on ME 131; ME 105
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Searsmont Road
23
Turn left onto Sennebec Road
5.6 mi
·
10 min
·
Sennebec Road
24
Continue on ME 235
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
Town House Road
25
Turn left onto Common Road
40 ft
·
1 sec
·
Common Road
26
Arrive at destination
Common Road
Trip Plan
Given that this trip takes less than two hours, you have a lot of flexibility for when you depart. Leaving Bangor in the morning allows you to arrive in Union with plenty of time for the day's activities. With only a $10 estimated fuel cost, you likely won't need to worry about finding a gas station mid-route. The longest stretch on a single road is 15.2 miles, so plan to adjust your speed for local conditions accordingly.
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 29.7 miles from Bangor, ME, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.2 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 13 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 29.7 miles or 43m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union, 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 59.5 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Bangor, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on River Road for about 15.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.7 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 37.5 and 59.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
37.5 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
ME 3
Keep slight right at fork onto ME 3
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
37.5 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
ME 3 / Belmont Avenue
Merge onto ME 3 / Belmont Avenue
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
43.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
ME 131 / Searsmont Road
Keep slight right at fork onto ME 131 / Searsmont Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
53.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
Sennebec Road
Turn left onto Sennebec Road
Navigation decision point
4
59.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m in
|
Common Road
Turn left onto Common Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.58 one way
$19.16 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $10.54 | $21.08 |
| premium | $4.86 | $11.39 | $22.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.14 | $26.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.25 | $2.86 |
| Efficient EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.21 | $2.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.8 | 0 | $8.33 | $3.81 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Union, ME
Night in Union on Saturday
Local time
10:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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 37m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly on local roads, with only 26% of the 59.5 miles on highways. You'll experience frequent turns throughout the 1 hour 37 minute trip. The longest continuous stretch without a turn is 15.2 miles on River Road. After that, expect to navigate a series of local streets and state routes.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.2 mi on River Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 37.5 miles in near ME 3.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 59.5 miles you will encounter 9 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 37.5 miles (ME 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 37.5 miles (ME 3 / Belmont Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.5 miles (ME 131 / Searsmont Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 59.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (26%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.2 miles on River Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 37.5 miles (ME 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 37.5 miles (ME 3 / Belmont Avenue): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.5 miles (ME 131 / Searsmont Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Union, ME before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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