Traveling from Westbrook to Bar Harbor covers 166.6 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 34 minutes of pure driving time. Because this route relies on turn-heavy local roads rather than major interstate corridors, it is best suited as a single-day commitment. You should budget approximately $27 for fuel to complete the trip. While both locations are situated within the Northeast, the transition from the suburban feel of Westbrook toward the coast keeps the drive engaging. It is a straightforward trip that works well for a long day of travel, provided you account for the slower pace of local transit.
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
83.3 miles from Westbrook, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
41.5 mi
46m
Route 3
17.6 mi
21m
Acadia Highway
13.4 mi
15m
Maine Turnpike
12.5 mi
14m
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
— 41.5 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Westbrook, ME and Bar Harbor, ME.
1
Start on ME 25 Business
308 ft·8 sec·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn sharp left onto William B Clarke Drive
1.0 mi·1 min·William B Clarke Drive
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on Westbrook Arterial
1.1 mi·2 min·Westbrook Arterial
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto Larrabee Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Larrabee Road
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
446 ft·10 sec
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
7
Merge onto I 95
2.7 mi·3 min·Maine Turnpike
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·39 sec
Exit 52Toward Falmouth, Freeport
9
Continue on Falmouth Spur
2.4 mi·2 min·Falmouth Spur
10
Keep slight left at fork onto Falmouth Spur
1.3 mi·1 min·Falmouth Spur
11
Keep slight right at fork
352 ft·8 sec
Toward I 295 North: Freeport, Brunswick
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·1 min
Toward I 295 North: Freeport, Brunswick
13
Merge onto I 295
41 mi·46 min·I 295
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 95
9.8 mi·10 min·Maine Turnpike
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·26 sec
Exit 113Toward ME 3: Augusta, Belfast
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·20 sec
17
Merge onto ME 3
2.5 mi·3 min·Augusta Bypass
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
8.1 mi·11 min·North Belfast Avenue
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
0.2 mi·16 sec·Belfast Road
20
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
18 mi·21 min·Route 3
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on ME 3
4.0 mi·4 min·Acadia Highway
22
Continue on ME 3
3.4 mi·3 min·Belfast Augusta Road West
23
Continue on ME 3
4.8 mi·5 min·Augusta Road
24
Continue on ME 3
4.0 mi·4 min·Belmont Avenue
25
Take the exit onto ME 3
0.3 mi·43 sec·ME 3
26
Merge onto US 1; ME 3
0.7 mi·1 min·Route 1
27
Continue on US 1; ME 3
2.7 mi·4 min·Searsport Avenue
Use the left lane.
28
Continue on US 1; ME 3
7.0 mi·8 min·West Main Street
29
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; ME 3
6.3 mi·7 min·East Main Street
30
Continue on US 1; ME 3
1.2 mi·2 min·US Highway 1
31
Continue on US 1; ME 3
508 ft·12 sec·Route 1
32
Continue on US 1; ME 3; ME 15
1.0 mi·1 min·Route 1
33
Continue on US 1; ME 3; ME 15
9.4 mi·10 min·Acadia Highway
34
Continue on US 1; ME 3
8.5 mi·9 min·Bucksport Road
35
Continue on US 1; ME 3
0.2 mi·17 sec·West Main Street
36
Turn right onto ME 230
0.8 mi·1 min·Water Street
Use the right lane.
37
Continue on ME 230
1.0 mi·1 min·Bayside Road
38
Turn left onto Beechland Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Beechland Road
39
Turn right onto ME 3
0.7 mi·1 min·High Street
40
Continue on ME 3
6.7 mi·11 min·Bar Harbor Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
41
Turn slight right onto ME 102
3.7 mi·5 min·State Highway 102
42
Continue on ME 102; ME 198
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
43
Turn left onto ME 3; ME 198
1.4 mi·2 min·Sound Drive
44
Turn left onto ME 233
5.8 mi·8 min·Eagle Lake Road
45
Continue on Mount Desert Street
0.5 mi·46 sec·Mount Desert Street
46
At end of road, turn right onto ME 3
25 ft·0 sec·Main Street
Use the right lane.
47
Arrive at destination
ME 3
Trip Plan
Planning your departure wisely is essential since the route’s local nature makes it sensitive to traffic volume. You should aim to leave early in the day to ensure you have enough time to navigate the turns comfortably without feeling rushed. With only one planned stop recommended for a trip of this duration, use that break strategically to refuel or stretch your legs before the final leg of the journey. Since you are not restricted by highway tolls or high-speed bypasses, enjoy the flexibility to adjust your pace as needed. Keep a close eye on your navigation throughout the trip, as the heavy reliance on local arteries requires frequent turns compared to a standard highway route.
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 83.3 miles from Westbrook, ME, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.5 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 37 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.3 miles or 1h 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 2h 48m
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 Westbrook, 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 Westbrook, ME
This is one driving day of about 166.6 miles and 3h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Westbrook, 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 41.5 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 166.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.2 mi into trip|~3m in|Larrabee Road
Turn left onto Larrabee Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
6.5 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward Falmouth, Freeport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 52
Toward Falmouth, Freeport
6
10.5 mi into trip|~15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 295 North: Freeport, Brunswick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 295 North: Freeport, Brunswick
7
10.6 mi into trip|~15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 295 North: Freeport, Brunswick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 295 North: Freeport, Brunswick
7
166.6 mi into trip|~3h 34m 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
$26.82 one way
$53.64 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$29.51
$59.02
premium
$4.86
$31.90
$63.81
diesel
$5.61
$36.78
$73.57
Estimated Tolls: $0.75
Maine Turnpike
(12.5 mi)$0.75
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
$27
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50
0
$17.49
$8.00
Efficient EV
41.7
0
$14.58
$6.66
EV Truck/SUV
66.6
0
$23.32
$10.66
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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 14, 2026
Origin
Westbrook, ME
Night
in Westbrook on Saturday
Local time
9:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Partly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
W 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bar Harbor, ME
Night
in Bar Harbor on Saturday
Local time
9:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
34°F
Brooks, ME
83 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
13 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 34m 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 40.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a very different experience than a standard interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. You will navigate via William B Clarke Drive, the Westbrook Arterial, and Larrabee Road, creating a technical, turn-heavy drive through the Maine landscape. Because the path relies entirely on local roads, you should prepare for a consistent rhythm of changing road conditions rather than long, monotonous stretches of high-speed travel. The personality of this drive is defined by its intimacy with the local infrastructure, requiring your full attention behind the wheel as you wind your way toward the coast.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
47 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.5 mi on I 295.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 2.2 miles in near Larrabee Road.
Driving Effort10/10
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 23 significant decision points across 166.6 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 2.2 miles (Larrabee Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Westbrook, ME and Bar Harbor, ME, road signs point toward Brunswick and Belfast.
Brunswick
10.5 mi in|~15m
Belfast
62.1 mi in|~1h 14m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 34m. Total distance: 166.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.5 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.75 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 2.2 miles (Larrabee Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Bar Harbor, ME, but most travelers stay overnight.
