The Cost of a Trip Between Brunswick, Maine and Peacham, Vermont in the Age of Gas Prices

When it comes to traveling between Brunswick, Maine, and Peacham, Vermont, there are different route options. Each route has varying distances and costs associated with it, especially when accounting for the current gas prices. This article delves into the different routes and relevant expenses to help travelers plan their trip.

Route 1: Traveling through New Hampshire

The first route for anyone traveling between Brunswick and Peacham involves traveling through New Hampshire. Firstly, you would need to first reach Portsmouth, NH via Route 1 North. From there, you would take Exit 7 to Interstate-95 North towards Maine. At this point, you would continue on to I-295 North, taking Exit 31 to I-95 North towards Augusta. Following that, you would take Exit 182 to I-395 to Bangor. From there, you would take Exit 174A to U.S Route 1A North/Ellsworth Road. From this, U.S Route 1A North becomes Route 9 East. and after following Route 9 East for a while, you would take the bar harbor road to U.S Route 1 and follow that until you get to Whiting.

Once you reach Whiting, you would continue on to Folsom Drive, which leads to Route 192, and follow that into the village of Peacham.

This route is the longest, with a distance of approximately 318 miles. It will take you around 5 and a half hours to cover this distance by car. Based on gas prices as of August 2021, you will incur a cost of about $52.65 for a car with a fuel capacity of about 14 gallons, with gas prices averaging $3.76 per gallon.

Route 2: Traveling through Quebec, Canada

The second route involves traveling through Montreal, Quebec. First, you need to move North on Route 125 towards St. Lin-Laurentides. From there, you would get onto Route 158 down to Joliette. From there, take Route 31 (Autoroute 31) all the way to Saint-Georges-de-Clarenceville. After that, you cross the US-Canada border into New York and continue towards West Chazy via the New York State Route 276. Eventually, you would pass through Colchester and take Interstate 89 South to Exit 21 in Swanton. Here, from Exit 21, you would use Route 78 East to Route 105 East in Richford. You would then proceed to take Route 58 East until you reach Irasburg. Eventually, you'll arrive in the village of Peacham.

Though this route covers a longer distance of approximately 481 miles, it is the fastest in terms of travel time. It will take you roughly around 8.5 hours to travel if you opt for this route. With gas prices averaging $3.76 per gallon, a car with a fuel capacity of about 14 gallons will incur a cost of about $65.84 for this route.

Route 3: Traveling through New Hampshire and Vermont

The third route also passes through New Hampshire but uses the shorter distance to Peacham through Vermont. This route requires you to start at Brunswick and take Route 1 all the way down to Portland. From Portland, you would take exit 44 to Interstate 295 North and then take Exit 32 towards Topsham. From there, you would take Route 196 West until you reach Lewiston. Once you reach the city, take Route 4 North towards Farmington, then Route 43 towards East Dixfield, and ultimately Route 2 West until you reach Gorham, NH.

After Gorham, take Route 16 North until you reach the outskirts of Berlin, then proceed on Route 110 East toward Northumberland, NH. From there, you would cross the border into Vermont on Route 102 and follow it through Bloomfield, eventually arriving in Guildhall. From Guildhall, Route 102 will lead to a turn onto Route 5 South to St. Johnsbury, where after you will continue onto Route 2 East until you reach Peacham.

With an approximate distance of 260 miles and a travel time of 4 hours, this route is faster than the first but longer than the second. Based on the current gas prices, the cost of a car with a fuel capacity of about 14 gallons traveling this route will be approximately $44.40.

Recommendation

The most convenient and shortest route for traveling between Brunswick and Peacham is Route 3. This route is the most time-efficient, taking only 4 hours to cover the distance of 260 miles. The second fastest route is through Quebec, though with a travel time of 8.5 hours and a distance of 481 miles, it presents a considerably long drive. The first route through New Hampshire, on the other hand, is almost as long as the second route at 318 miles, and has less to offer in terms of scenery.

Conclusion

This article outlined the three main routes for anyone traveling between Brunswick, Maine, and Peacham, Vermont, detailing their lengths, travel times, and fuel costs based on current gas prices. While the most convenient and shortest route is Route 3, motorists can undoubtedly find value in the other two routes, depending on their priorities. Ultimately, whichever route you choose, the drive alone with offers enough sights and memorable experiences to make the trip worthwhile.