Traveling from Rangeley to Bangor covers 119.3 miles of Maine landscape, typically taking about 2 hours and 43 minutes behind the wheel. This route serves as a straightforward, single-day trip that connects the western mountains to the central hub of Bangor. With a projected fuel cost of approximately $19, it is an economical choice for those looking to traverse the state efficiently. You will utilize a mix of routes including US 2, Main Street, and I-95 to complete the journey. Since the duration is under three hours, you can easily handle this as a day trip without needing an overnight stay, allowing for significant flexibility in your departure schedule.
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
59.6 miles from Rangeley, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
26 mi
28m
Main Street
23.8 mi
34m
US 2
21.7 mi
24m
Rangeley Road
15.4 mi
22m
Canaan Road
11.1 mi
14m
Farmington Road
5.3 mi
7m
Town Farm Road
3.2 mi
7m
Skowhegan Road
3.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 26 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rangeley, ME and Bangor, ME.
1
Start on High Street
422 ft·18 sec·High Street
2
Continue on Pond Street
528 ft·28 sec·Pond Street
3
Turn left onto ME 4
12 mi·18 min·Main Street
4
Continue on ME 4
9.3 mi·13 min·Rangeley Road
5
Continue on ME 4
0.3 mi·25 sec·State Route 4
6
Continue on ME 4
6.1 mi·9 min·Rangeley Road
7
Continue on ME 4
1.4 mi·2 min·Phillips Road
8
Continue on ME 4
5.3 mi·7 min·Farmington Road
9
Continue on ME 4
2.3 mi·3 min·Fairbanks Road
10
Turn right onto Town Farm Road
3.2 mi·7 min·Town Farm Road
11
Turn left onto ME 43
0.2 mi·35 sec·Bridge Street
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 2; ME 4; ME 43
0.1 mi·18 sec·Bridge Street
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 2
22 mi·24 min·US 2
14
Turn left onto US 2; US 201A
3.1 mi·3 min·Skowhegan Road
15
Continue on US 2; US 201A
2.0 mi·2 min·West Front Street
16
Turn left onto US 2; US 201
206 ft·7 sec·Main Street
17
Continue on US 2; US 201
0.2 mi·33 sec·Island Avenue
18
Continue on US 2; US 201
1.0 mi·2 min·Water Street
19
Continue on US 2
6.4 mi·9 min·Canaan Road
20
Continue on US 2
4.1 mi·4 min·Main Street
21
Continue on US 2
4.7 mi·5 min·Canaan Road
22
Continue on US 2
7.8 mi·11 min·Main Street
23
Turn right onto Banks Road
340 ft·14 sec·Banks Road
24
Turn right onto ME 11; ME 100
0.4 mi·1 min·Ox Bow Road
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
26
Merge onto I 95
26 mi·28 min·I 95
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 2, ME 100: Hammond Street, Airport
28
Turn right onto US 2; ME 100
1.2 mi·3 min·Hammond Street
29
Arrive at destination
US 2; ME 100
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 2-hour and 43-minute journey, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the drive. Since the route is relatively short, you have the advantage of choosing your departure time based on traffic patterns rather than strict endurance limits. Keep in mind that your fuel budget is approximately $19, so topping off your tank before leaving Rangeley is a smart way to avoid unnecessary stops. Because the route relies on a combination of US 2 and I-95, pay close attention to the transitions between these roads, especially when navigating the Main Street segments. Staying mindful of these road changes will ensure your trip remains smooth and efficient from start to finish.
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 59.6 miles from Rangeley, ME, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26 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 26 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.6 miles or 1h 26m 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 18m
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 Rangeley, 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 Rangeley, ME
This is one driving day of about 119.3 miles and 2h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Rangeley, 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 26 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 117.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|ME 4 / Main Street
Turn left onto ME 4 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
3
36.7 mi into trip|~55m in|Town Farm Road
Turn right onto Town Farm Road
Navigation decision point
6
40 mi into trip|~1h 3m in|US 2; ME 4; ME 43 / Bridge Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 2; ME 4; ME 43 / Bridge Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
4
40.1 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|US 2
Keep slight right at fork onto US 2
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
117.9 mi into trip|~2h 39m 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
$19.21 one way
$38.41 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$21.13
$42.26
premium
$4.86
$22.85
$45.69
diesel
$5.61
$26.34
$52.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.8
0
$12.53
$5.73
Efficient EV
29.8
0
$10.44
$4.77
EV Truck/SUV
47.7
0
$16.70
$7.64
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 13, 2026
Origin
Rangeley, ME
Night
in Rangeley on Saturday
Local time
10:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Light Rain then Rain Showers
SW 10 to 15 mph84% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bangor, ME
Night
in Bangor on Saturday
Local time
10:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Rain
S 10 to 15 mph79% chanceLive 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
2h 43m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience that shifts between slower local transits and faster highway segments. About 40% of your time will be spent on highways, providing a nice balance to the more technical sections of the drive. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 26-mile segment on I-95, which offers a brief opportunity to settle into a consistent pace. As you transition from the local roads onto the interstate, the character of the drive changes from smaller, winding paths to more open, high-speed lanes. This variety helps keep the 119.3-mile trip engaging without becoming an overwhelming interstate grind.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near ME 4 / Main 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 2h 43m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (ME 4 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 36.7 miles (Town Farm Road): Navigation decision point; at 40 miles (US 2; ME 4; ME 43 / Bridge Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,735 ft116 ft
Total Climb
460 ft
Total Descent
1,892 ft
Highest Point
1,735 ft
~8.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,619 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 43m. Total distance: 119.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 26 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.2 miles (ME 4 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 36.7 miles (Town Farm Road): Navigation decision point; at 40 miles (US 2; ME 4; ME 43 / Bridge Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bangor, ME before heading back.
