This straightforward 104.2-mile drive from Lewiston, ME to Bangor, ME takes approximately 1 hour and 59 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route is heavily highway-focused, with 91% of the journey on major roads, including I-95 and US 202. You can expect a fuel cost of around $17 for this trip. Given its relatively short duration and highway nature, it’s an efficient way to travel between these two points within Maine's Northeast region. No overnight stays are recommended, and with zero designated stops in the data, you have the flexibility to plan your own breaks.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.1 miles from Lewiston, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
73.5 mi
1h 19m
US 202
12.8 mi
14m
Route 202
6.6 mi
7m
Main Street
4.4 mi
5m
Western Avenue
2.6 mi
3m
US Route 202
1.6 mi
1m
Hammond Street
1.2 mi
3m
Old Winthrop Road
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 73.5 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lewiston, ME and Bangor, ME.
1
Start on this road
70 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn sharp left onto ME 126
123 ft·5 sec·Sabattus Street
3
Turn right onto US 202
4.4 mi·5 min·Main Street
4
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
3.8 mi·4 min·Route 202
5
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.6 mi·42 sec·US Route 202
6
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
2.7 mi·3 min·Route 202
7
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
0.9 mi·1 min·US Route 202
8
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
13 mi·14 min·US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
2.5 mi·3 min·Western Avenue
10
Turn left
416 ft·8 sec
11
Turn straight onto Old Winthrop Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Old Winthrop Road
12
Turn right onto Macomber Avenue
0.2 mi·54 sec·Macomber Avenue
13
Turn left onto US 202; ME 11; ME 17; ME 100
475 ft·8 sec·Western Avenue
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 95: Portland, Waterville, Bangor
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward I-95 North: Waterville, Bangor
16
Merge onto I 95
74 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 95
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 2, ME 100: Hammond Street, Airport
18
Turn right onto US 2; ME 100
1.2 mi·3 min·Hammond Street
19
Arrive at destination
US 2; ME 100
Trip Plan
For this 1-hour and 59-minute drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize your time at your destination in Bangor. Since the route is predominantly highway (91%) and covers 104.2 miles, you won't need to split the journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 73.5 miles on I-95, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you embark or during the initial part of the drive. The estimated fuel cost is $17, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you set off to avoid any unnecessary 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 52.1 miles from Lewiston, ME, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.5 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 23 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.1 miles or 1h 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bangor, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lewiston, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lewiston, ME
This is one driving day of about 104.2 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Lewiston, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 73.5 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 102.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|ME 126 / Sabattus Street
Turn sharp left onto ME 126 / Sabattus Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
28.5 mi into trip|~33m in|Macomber Avenue
Turn right onto Macomber Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
28.8 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward I 95: Portland, Waterville, Bangor
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95: Portland, Waterville, Bangor
6
29.1 mi into trip|~35m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I-95 North: Waterville, Bangor
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-95 North: Waterville, Bangor
5
102.8 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Take the exit toward US 2, ME 100: Hammond Street, Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 2, ME 100: Hammond Street, Airport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.77 one way
$33.55 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$18.46
$36.91
premium
$4.86
$19.95
$39.91
diesel
$5.61
$23.01
$46.01
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: 36.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.3
0
$10.94
$5.00
Efficient EV
26.1
0
$9.12
$4.17
EV Truck/SUV
41.7
0
$14.59
$6.67
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 15, 2026
Origin
Lewiston, ME
Late night
in Lewiston on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bangor, ME
Late night
in Bangor on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Augusta, ME
52 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
2 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 59m 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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 28.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with the vast majority of your journey, 91%, spent on major interstates and highways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 73.5 miles on I-95, offering a good opportunity for consistent travel. While primarily interstate, the route incorporates US 202, which might offer a slight change of pace before you rejoin the faster highway sections. Expect a smooth, relatively uninterrupted driving experience for most of the trip, designed for efficient transit rather than extensive sightseeing.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.5 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and US 202. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near ME 126 / Sabattus Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 59m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (ME 126 / Sabattus Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 28.5 miles (Macomber Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 28.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Lewiston, ME to Bangor, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Waterville along the way.
Waterville
28.8 mi in|~34m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 104.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 73.5 miles on I 95. 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: near the start (ME 126 / Sabattus Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 28.5 miles (Macomber Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 28.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Bangor, ME before heading back.
