After thirty years operating maineguide.com, the single most-asked planning question we receive is some variant of “how far is X from Y in Maine?” — usually as travelers try to figure out whether they can combine destinations in a single trip. This guide gives you the real driving distances and times, plus when the fast route differs meaningfully from the scenic route. Maine’s geography is deceptive: the state is larger than the other five New England states combined, with no interstate connecting many of the most-visited destinations. Plan with these distances and you’ll plan well.
Quick reference: Boston to Portland is 108 miles / 1h 50m. Portland to Bar Harbor is 175 miles / 3h 20m (fast route). Portland to Camden is 83 miles / 1h 45m. Bar Harbor to Camden is 78 miles / 1h 50m. Portland to Rangeley is 120 miles / 2h 30m. Bangor to Bar Harbor is 50 miles / 1h. Detailed distances and routes below.
Boston and Portland — The Approach to Maine
Most Maine trips begin with Boston Logan Airport (BOS) or driving up I-95. Portland is the gateway city for southern and midcoast Maine; Bangor International Airport (BGR) is the closer gateway for Acadia and the North Woods.
| From | To | Distance | Driving Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | Portland, ME | 108 mi | 1h 50m | I-95 / I-295 |
| Boston, MA | Kennebunkport, ME | 87 mi | 1h 35m | I-95 to Exit 25 |
| Boston, MA | Ogunquit, ME | 71 mi | 1h 20m | I-95 to Exit 7 |
| Boston, MA | York, ME | 67 mi | 1h 15m | I-95 to Exit 7 |
| Portland, ME | Boston, MA | 108 mi | 1h 50m | Same route reversed |
Portland to Major Maine Destinations
Portland is Maine’s natural hub for southern and central Maine trips. Distance and time from Portland to the major destinations:
| From Portland to: | Distance | Driving Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bar Harbor / Acadia | 175 mi | 3h 20m | I-95 + Route 1 + Route 3 |
| Camden | 83 mi | 1h 45m | I-295 + Route 1 |
| Rockland | 80 mi | 1h 40m | I-295 + Route 1 |
| Boothbay Harbor | 62 mi | 1h 30m | Route 27 from Wiscasset |
| Bath | 36 mi | 45m | I-295 |
| Brunswick | 30 mi | 35m | I-295 |
| Freeport | 20 mi | 25m | I-295 |
| Kennebunkport | 33 mi | 45m | I-95 south |
| Ogunquit | 40 mi | 55m | I-95 south |
| Old Orchard Beach | 15 mi | 25m | I-195 |
| Wells | 33 mi | 45m | I-95 south |
| Bangor | 130 mi | 2h 15m | I-95 north |
| Bethel | 72 mi | 1h 30m | Route 26 north |
| Rangeley | 120 mi | 2h 30m | Route 17 north |
| Moosehead Lake / Greenville | 150 mi | 2h 45m | I-95 + Route 15 |
| Jackman | 175 mi | 3h 15m | Route 201 north |
| Augusta | 57 mi | 1h | I-95 north |
| Lewiston / Auburn | 35 mi | 40m | I-95 north |
| Ellsworth | 149 mi | 2h 45m | I-95 + Route 1A |
| Castine | 116 mi | 2h 30m | Route 1 + Route 175 |
| Calais | 225 mi | 4h 15m | I-95 + Route 9 |
| Presque Isle | 290 mi | 5h 15m | I-95 north |
Portland to Bar Harbor — Two Routes
The most-asked driving distance in Maine deserves its own section. From Portland to Bar Harbor / Acadia National Park, there are effectively two routes:
The fast route (175 miles, 3h 20m): I-95 north from Portland to Bangor (130 miles), then Route 1A east to Ellsworth (20 miles), then Route 3 south to Bar Harbor (25 miles). This is the route Google Maps will recommend. It’s the right choice if you’re trying to maximize time at the destination.
The scenic route (200+ miles, 4h 30m+): Route 1 north from Portland through Brunswick, Bath, Wiscasset, Damariscotta, Belfast, Searsport, Bucksport, and Ellsworth before hitting Route 3 to Bar Harbor. This adds significant time but includes most of midcoast Maine’s scenic highlights. Best done as a multi-day trip with stops in Camden, Belfast, or Castine, not as a single-day drive.
Recommendation: take the fast route if you have only one Acadia day and want to maximize it. Take the scenic route if you can spread the journey over 2-3 days with planned stops. See our Bar Harbor Without a Car guide for the bus alternative from Portland and Boston.
Bar Harbor to Major Maine Destinations
Bar Harbor is far from most other Maine destinations. Driving distances to plan around:
| From Bar Harbor to: | Distance | Driving Time |
|---|---|---|
| Portland | 175 mi | 3h 20m |
| Bangor | 50 mi | 1h |
| Ellsworth | 20 mi | 30m |
| Camden | 78 mi | 1h 50m |
| Rockland | 75 mi | 1h 45m |
| Boothbay Harbor | 115 mi | 2h 30m |
| Calais / Canadian border | 105 mi | 2h 15m |
| Lubec / Eastport | 95-115 mi | 2h-2h 30m |
| Stonington (Deer Isle) | 70 mi | 2h |
| Castine | 60 mi | 1h 30m |
| Old Orchard Beach | 190 mi | 3h 30m |
| Augusta | 140 mi | 2h 30m |
Camden and Midcoast Distances
Camden anchors midcoast Maine. From Camden to surrounding destinations:
| From Camden to: | Distance | Driving Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bar Harbor / Acadia | 78 mi | 1h 50m |
| Portland | 83 mi | 1h 45m |
| Boothbay Harbor | 30 mi | 45m |
| Rockland | 8 mi | 15m |
| Belfast | 17 mi | 25m |
| Bangor | 60 mi | 1h 15m |
| Augusta | 50 mi | 1h 5m |
| Brunswick | 55 mi | 1h 10m |
| Stonington (Deer Isle) | 50 mi | 1h 30m |
Southern Maine Coastal Distances
The southern Maine beach towns are clustered close together. Most are within easy day-trip range of each other:
| From | To | Distance | Driving Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| York | Ogunquit | 9 mi | 15m |
| Ogunquit | Wells | 5 mi | 10m |
| Wells | Kennebunkport | 9 mi | 15m |
| Kennebunkport | Old Orchard Beach | 22 mi | 35m |
| Old Orchard Beach | Portland | 15 mi | 25m |
| Ogunquit | Portland | 40 mi | 55m |
| Ogunquit | Portsmouth, NH | 20 mi | 25m |
| Old Orchard Beach | Bar Harbor | 190 mi | 3h 30m |
| Old Orchard Beach | Bangor | 140 mi | 2h 30m |
Western Maine and North Woods Distances
The western mountains and northern lakes regions are more spread out. Plan for longer drives between destinations:
| From | To | Distance | Driving Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel | Rangeley | 50 mi | 1h 10m |
| Bethel | Portland | 72 mi | 1h 30m |
| Rangeley | Portland | 120 mi | 2h 30m |
| Rangeley | Greenville / Moosehead | 95 mi | 2h 30m |
| Greenville | Portland | 150 mi | 2h 45m |
| Greenville | Bangor | 75 mi | 1h 30m |
| Jackman | Portland | 175 mi | 3h 15m |
| Jackman | Quebec City, QC | 110 mi | 2h 15m |
| Millinocket / Baxter | Bangor | 70 mi | 1h 15m |
| Millinocket | Portland | 200 mi | 3h 30m |
| Presque Isle | Bangor | 160 mi | 2h 45m |
Bangor and Northern Maine Distances
Bangor is the gateway city for Acadia and the North Woods. Distances from Bangor:
| From Bangor to: | Distance | Driving Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bar Harbor / Acadia | 50 mi | 1h |
| Ellsworth | 30 mi | 40m |
| Portland | 130 mi | 2h 15m |
| Camden | 60 mi | 1h 15m |
| Greenville / Moosehead | 75 mi | 1h 30m |
| Millinocket / Baxter | 70 mi | 1h 15m |
| Calais | 100 mi | 1h 50m |
| Presque Isle | 160 mi | 2h 45m |
| Old Orchard Beach | 140 mi | 2h 30m |
| Lewiston / Auburn | 120 mi | 2h |
Choosing Between Scenic and Fast Routes
For most Maine destinations, Google Maps will route you on the fastest path — almost always I-95 / I-295. But Maine’s appeal often lives along the slower scenic routes, particularly Route 1 along the coast. Trade-offs to consider:
Route 1 along the coast from Portland to Bar Harbor adds about 1-2 hours to the trip but takes you through Brunswick, Bath, Wiscasset, Damariscotta, Rockland, Camden, Belfast, Searsport, and Bucksport. Worth doing once, ideally as a multi-day journey with overnight stops. Not recommended as a single-day push.
Route 17 through the mountains from Mexico to Rangeley is one of New England’s most beautiful drives, particularly in fall foliage. The Height of Land overlook is Maine’s most-photographed scenic view. Add 30-60 minutes vs the fastest route to Rangeley.
Route 201 north (Old Canada Road) through Jackman to the Canadian border is a designated National Scenic Byway. Worth doing in fall foliage; minimal extra time vs the same destination via different routes.
See our Maine Fall Foliage Drives guide for the full ranking of scenic drives.
Practical Driving Tips for Maine
Cell service is unreliable in much of inland and northern Maine. Download offline maps for any trips north of Bangor or into the western mountains. Verizon has the strongest coverage in remote Maine; AT&T is variable; T-Mobile is sparse outside major cities.
Gas stations are sparse in the North Woods. Fill up at Greenville, Jackman, or Millinocket before heading into remote areas.
Moose collisions are real. Drive slowly at dawn, dusk, and at night anywhere north of Augusta. Moose-vehicle collisions are seriously dangerous given the size of Maine moose. Slow down and scan ahead.
Winter driving can extend any of these times significantly. November through March, plan extra time and check road conditions before traveling, especially into the western mountains and northern forests.
Summer Saturday traffic on Route 1 through midcoast Maine (especially Wiscasset, where Route 1 narrows through downtown) can add 30-60 minutes to driving times. Travel mid-week or early/late in the day to avoid the worst congestion.
Plan Your Maine Trip
For destination-specific planning, see our regional guides: Southern Maine, Midcoast Maine, Downeast Maine, Western Maine, and Northern Maine. For comparing destinations side-by-side: Camden vs Bar Harbor, Bangor vs Portland, Bar Harbor vs Portland, and Freeport vs Portland.