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Trip from Skowhegan, ME to Bangor, 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 8m

Distance

52.1 mi

84 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 3m ★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in Somerset County, Maine, United States

Skowhegan, ME

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Bangor, ME, ME

Bangor, ME

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Stretching 52.1 miles through the heart of Maine, this trip between Skowhegan and Bangor is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 8 minutes. Given the short duration, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to easily complete the round trip if needed. You can anticipate a fuel budget of approximately $8, making this an economical choice for a quick regional commute. The route utilizes a combination of I-95, Main Street, and Canaan Road to bridge these two Northeast locations. Because the drive is efficient and uncomplicated, it offers a reliable way to traverse the state without the need for an overnight stay.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 26 mi 28m
Main Street 12 mi 16m
Canaan Road 11.1 mi 14m
Hammond Street 1.2 mi 3m
Water Street 1 mi 2m
Ox Bow Road 0.4 mi 1m
Banks Road <0.1 mi <1m
Island Avenue <0.1 mi

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: I 95 — 26 mi, about 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Skowhegan, ME and Bangor, ME.

1

Start on US 2; US 201

28 ft · 0 sec · Island Avenue
2

Continue on US 2; US 201

1.0 mi · 2 min · Water Street
3

Continue on US 2

6.4 mi · 9 min · Canaan Road
4

Continue on US 2

4.1 mi · 4 min · Main Street
5

Continue on US 2

4.7 mi · 5 min · Canaan Road
6

Continue on US 2

7.8 mi · 11 min · Main Street
7

Turn right onto Banks Road

340 ft · 14 sec · Banks Road
8

Turn right onto ME 11; ME 100

0.4 mi · 1 min · Ox Bow Road
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
10

Merge onto I 95

26 mi · 28 min · I 95
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Toward US 2, ME 100: Hammond Street, Airport
12

Turn right onto US 2; ME 100

1.2 mi · 3 min · Hammond Street
13

Arrive at destination

US 2; ME 100

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Palmyra, ME, ME

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Palmyra, ME

26 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

Canaan, ME

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Palmyra, ME

Meal break

The midpoint is around 26.1 miles from Skowhegan, 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 6

5 decision points cluster between mile 24 and 50.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

3
24 mi into trip | ~34m in | Banks Road

Turn right onto Banks Road

Navigation decision point

3
24.1 mi into trip | ~34m in | ME 11; ME 100 / Ox Bow Road

Turn right onto ME 11; ME 100 / Ox Bow Road

Navigation decision point

3
24.4 mi into trip | ~35m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

3
24.7 mi into trip | ~36m in | I 95

Merge onto I 95

Merge point - match speed before joining

5
50.7 mi into trip | ~1h 4m 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

$8.39 one way

$16.77 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 18 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $9.23 $18.46
premium $4.86 $9.98 $19.95
diesel $5.61 $11.50 $23.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 15.6 0 $5.47 $2.50
Efficient EV 13 0 $4.56 $2.08
EV Truck/SUV 20.8 0 $7.29 $3.33

Gas CO2

18 kg

EV CO2

6 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

Skowhegan, ME

Late night in Skowhegan on Sunday

Local time

12:39 AM

EDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bangor, ME

Late night in Bangor on Sunday

Local time

12:39 AM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

33°F

Palmyra, ME

26 mi in

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 8m 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 offers a mixed-road experience, balancing local travel with faster interstate transit. You will spend roughly 50% of your time on the highway, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 26 miles on I-95. Transitioning from the slower pace of Main Street and Canaan Road onto the interstate provides a clear change in rhythm as you head toward Bangor. While the route is functional rather than purely scenic, the contrast between local corridors and the open highway keeps the drive engaging. Expect a steady, predictable pace behind the wheel that transitions smoothly from suburban-style roads to the efficient flow of the interstate.

50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 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?

2/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 24 miles in near Banks Road.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Skowhegan, ME to Bangor, ME is easy. At 1h 8m with 50% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 24 miles (Banks Road): Navigation decision point; at 24.1 miles (ME 11; ME 100 / Ox Bow Road): Navigation decision point; at 24.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 52.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (50%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 26 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: at 24 miles (Banks Road): Navigation decision point; at 24.1 miles (ME 11; ME 100 / Ox Bow Road): Navigation decision point; at 24.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bangor, 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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