Biddeford to Bar Harbor is 178.4 miles and takes about 3h 46m via I 295 and Route 3, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maine, connecting two points in the Northeast region. The route offers a mix of highway driving and surface roads, making it a straightforward drive. With its manageable distance and duration, it's a good option for a single-day excursion.
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
89.2 miles from Biddeford, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
52.5 mi
1h 1m
Maine Turnpike
18.6 mi
20m
Route 3
17.6 mi
21m
Acadia Highway
13.4 mi
15m
Bucksport Road
8.5 mi
9m
North Belfast Avenue
8.1 mi
11m
West Main Street
7.2 mi
8m
Bar Harbor Road
6.7 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 52.5 mi, about 1h 1m
Traffic on I-295
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 39 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,557 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,064
Quietest
2 AM
~87 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
29.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Biddeford, ME and Bar Harbor, ME.
1
Start on US 1 Alternate
0.9 mi·1 min·Main Street
2
Turn left onto ME 112
162 ft·5 sec·Beach Street
3
Continue on ME 5; ME 112
1.4 mi·2 min·North Street
4
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 North: Portland
5
Merge onto I 95
8.8 mi·9 min·Maine Turnpike
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
52 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 295
Exit 44Toward Downtown PortlandUse the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 95
9.8 mi·10 min·Maine Turnpike
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi·26 sec
Exit 113Toward ME 3: Augusta, Belfast
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·20 sec
10
Merge onto ME 3
2.5 mi·3 min·Augusta Bypass
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
8.1 mi·11 min·North Belfast Avenue
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
0.2 mi·16 sec·Belfast Road
13
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
18 mi·21 min·Route 3
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on ME 3
4.0 mi·4 min·Acadia Highway
15
Continue on ME 3
3.4 mi·3 min·Belfast Augusta Road West
16
Continue on ME 3
4.8 mi·5 min·Augusta Road
17
Continue on ME 3
4.0 mi·4 min·Belmont Avenue
18
Take the exit onto ME 3
0.3 mi·43 sec·ME 3
19
Merge onto US 1; ME 3
0.7 mi·1 min·Route 1
20
Continue on US 1; ME 3
2.7 mi·4 min·Searsport Avenue
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on US 1; ME 3
7.0 mi·8 min·West Main Street
22
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; ME 3
6.3 mi·7 min·East Main Street
23
Continue on US 1; ME 3
1.2 mi·2 min·US Highway 1
24
Continue on US 1; ME 3
508 ft·12 sec·Route 1
25
Continue on US 1; ME 3; ME 15
1.0 mi·1 min·Route 1
26
Continue on US 1; ME 3; ME 15
9.4 mi·10 min·Acadia Highway
27
Continue on US 1; ME 3
8.5 mi·9 min·Bucksport Road
28
Continue on US 1; ME 3
0.2 mi·17 sec·West Main Street
29
Turn right onto ME 230
0.8 mi·1 min·Water Street
Use the right lane.
30
Continue on ME 230
1.0 mi·1 min·Bayside Road
31
Turn left onto Beechland Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Beechland Road
32
Turn right onto ME 3
0.7 mi·1 min·High Street
33
Continue on ME 3
6.7 mi·11 min·Bar Harbor Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
34
Turn slight right onto ME 102
3.7 mi·5 min·State Highway 102
35
Continue on ME 102; ME 198
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
36
Turn left onto ME 3; ME 198
1.4 mi·2 min·Sound Drive
37
Turn left onto ME 233
5.8 mi·8 min·Eagle Lake Road
38
Continue on Mount Desert Street
0.5 mi·46 sec·Mount Desert Street
39
At end of road, turn right onto ME 3
25 ft·0 sec·Main Street
Use the right lane.
40
Arrive at destination
ME 3
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour 46-minute drive time, leaving Biddeford in the morning is recommended to maximize your time in Bar Harbor. The route is only 178.4 miles, so you can be flexible with stops. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $32, and it's always wise to top off before heading into more remote areas. The transition from highway to surface roads around the end of I 295 is a good indicator to start looking for your next fuel or rest break.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 89.2 miles from Biddeford, ME, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.5 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 39 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.2 miles or 1h 48m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bar Harbor, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Biddeford, 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 Biddeford, ME
This is one driving day of about 178.4 miles and 3h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Biddeford, 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 295 for about 52.5 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.6 and 178.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
11.6 mi into trip|~14m in|I 295
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 toward Downtown Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 44
Toward Downtown Portland
6
73.9 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward ME 3: Augusta, Belfast
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 113
Toward ME 3: Augusta, Belfast
5
74.1 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
74.2 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|ME 3 / Augusta Bypass
Merge onto ME 3 / Augusta Bypass
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
178.4 mi into trip|~3h 46m in|ME 3 / Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto ME 3 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.54 one way
$63.07 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$34.54
$69.08
premium
$5.29
$37.15
$74.30
diesel
$5.35
$37.58
$75.15
Estimated Tolls: $1.12
Maine Turnpike
(18.6 mi)$1.12
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
$32
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.5
0
$18.73
$8.56
Efficient EV
44.6
0
$15.61
$7.14
EV Truck/SUV
71.4
0
$24.98
$11.42
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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 Jun 3, 2026
Origin
Biddeford, ME
Afternoon
in Biddeford on Wednesday
Local time
3:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 0 to 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bar Harbor, ME
Afternoon
in Bar Harbor on Wednesday
Local time
3:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 1 to 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
50°F
Union, ME
89 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
3h 46m 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.
Acadia National Park
National Park
Acadia National Park protects the natural beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the United States, an abundance of habitats, and a rich cultural heritage. At 4 million...
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 55.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 54% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads like I 295 and the Maine Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 52.5 miles on I 295. You'll transition from highway to surface roads, with Route 3 being a key part of the latter half of the trip. Expect a mix of cruising and some more localized traffic as you approach your destination.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.5 mi on I 295.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.6 miles in near I 295.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 178.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.6 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
563 ft27 ft
Total Climb
778 ft
Total Descent
788 ft
Highest Point
563 ft
~101.9 mi in
Elevation Range
536 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Biddeford, ME and Bar Harbor, ME, road signs point toward Portland and Belfast.
Biddeford is a city located in southern Maine. It was once a booming town full of textile mills, the service and manufacturing industries are the major city employers. Approximately 33% of the population speaks French, due to the influx of French-Canadian immigrants to the city's mills in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
Top landmarks
•Biddeford City Hall — rathaus in Biddeford, United States of America
•Biddeford Main Street Historic District — historic district in Maine, United States
•St. Andre's Parish — historic church in Maine, United States
Bar Harbor is a village on Mount Desert Island in Hancock County in the Down East area of Maine. It is a useful base for those visiting Acadia National Park.
Top landmarks
•Abbe Museum — archive organization in Bar Harbor, United States
•US Post Office Bar Harbor, Maine — building in Bar Harbor, Maine
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 46m. Total distance: 178.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.5 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.12 in tolls one way, starting with Maine Turnpike. 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 — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Bar Harbor, ME before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
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 11.6 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 73.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Acadia National Park and Frances Perkins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Bar Harbor, ME, but most travelers stay overnight.
