The Cost of Driving from Bangor to Portland, Maine

If you're planning on driving from Bangor to Portland, you may be wondering how much it will cost you. With gas prices fluctuating and tolls to consider, it can be hard to know what to expect. Here, we'll break down the cost of driving from Bangor to Portland and highlight a few different routes you can take.

Route 1: Via I-95 S

The most direct route between Bangor and Portland is to take I-95 South for 141 miles. This route should take approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes, depending on traffic.

Gas prices in Maine vary, but according to AAA, the current average price is $2.89 per gallon. With a typical car getting about 25 miles per gallon on the highway, you can expect to use around 6 gallons of gas for this trip. That means your total cost for gas will be around $17.34.

There are a few tolls on this route to consider. The first toll is the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, which costs $5 for cars. The next toll is the York Toll Plaza, which costs $3 for cars. That brings the total cost of tolls to $8.

Overall, the total cost of driving from Bangor to Portland via I-95 South is approximately $25.34.

Route 2: Via ME-9 W and I-95 S

If you want to avoid some of the tolls on I-95, you can take a slightly longer route by starting on ME-9 West and connecting to I-95 South. This route is approximately 145 miles and should take around 2 hours and 45 minutes, depending on traffic.

Gas prices and consumption will be similar to Route 1, but there are only two tolls to consider on this route. The first toll is the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, which costs $5 for cars. The second toll is the Maine Turnpike Exit 53 ramp toll, which costs $1 for cars. That brings the total cost of tolls to $6.

Overall, the total cost of driving from Bangor to Portland via ME-9 West and I-95 South is approximately $23.34.

Route 3: Via US-202 W and ME-4 S

For a more scenic route, you can take US-202 West and ME-4 South to Portland. This route is approximately 135 miles and should take around 3 hours, depending on traffic.

Gas prices and consumption will be similar to the other routes, but there are no tolls on this route. That means your only cost will be for gas, which should be around $16.89.

Overall, the total cost of driving from Bangor to Portland via US-202 West and ME-4 South is approximately $16.89.

Final Thoughts

When considering the cost of driving from Bangor to Portland, it's important to take into account not only the price of gas, but also any tolls you may encounter. While taking the most direct route may be the quickest, it's not always the most cost-effective. By taking a slightly longer route or skipping tolls altogether, you can save a few dollars on your trip.