Fly Portland or Bangor into Bar Harbor, Maine?
Jan 29th, 2013, 04:10 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Fly Portland or Bangor into Bar Harbor, Maine?
We are traveling to Bar Harbor for a wedding at the end of June. First planned to fly to Portland and then drive up, stoping in Camden. However, mapquest lists the scenic route 1 as over 4 hours. Just discovered we can fly into Bangor and drive to Bar Harbor in 1 1/2 hours. We plan to stay in Bar Harbor for 4 nights. Is it worth the extra driving time to see another town along the way? Would it be better to have more time in Bar Harbor? Did not plan on spending time in Portland as our son was married there 2 years ago. Would appreciate any thoughts.
Jan 30th, 2013, 01:48 AM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 31,036
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The view from Cadillac is great but I prefer the view from the top of Mt Battie in Camden (you can take the auto road). The end of June is slightly before tourist season really gets going but there should be a lot of activity in Camden harbor which is home to several windjammers. So beautiful to see them sailing along the coast from Mt Battie. You could also stop at the Cellar Door Winery in Lincolnville for a tasting and a few bottles.
We usually stay on I95 past Portland until we get to Brunswick and then switch to Rt 1 but we are usually vacationing in the Bath/Wiscasset area. I would not stay on I95 for the speediest trip to Bar Harbor. It's pretty boring so the extra time might be even longer than 4 hours if you travel part way on Rt 1.
If you don't plan on returning to Maine anytime soon, I would add the extra driving time and enjoy some of the prettiest towns in Maine. I like Wiscasset, too. If you will be driving during daylight hours and have a chance to stop someplace for a meal, you could estimate about where and ask for suggestions on Chowhound.com. I'd love to get back to Just Barb's on Rt 1 in Stockton Springs south of Ellsworth. Nothing special, just good ol' Maine.
We usually stay on I95 past Portland until we get to Brunswick and then switch to Rt 1 but we are usually vacationing in the Bath/Wiscasset area. I would not stay on I95 for the speediest trip to Bar Harbor. It's pretty boring so the extra time might be even longer than 4 hours if you travel part way on Rt 1.
If you don't plan on returning to Maine anytime soon, I would add the extra driving time and enjoy some of the prettiest towns in Maine. I like Wiscasset, too. If you will be driving during daylight hours and have a chance to stop someplace for a meal, you could estimate about where and ask for suggestions on Chowhound.com. I'd love to get back to Just Barb's on Rt 1 in Stockton Springs south of Ellsworth. Nothing special, just good ol' Maine.
Jan 30th, 2013, 02:05 AM
#3
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,912
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't have much experience with Maine as we visited last fall for the first time. Just want to let you know, from Bangor, it took us an hour to drive from the airport to our hotel in Bar Harbor. I think Mapquest guesstimated an hour 20 min.
Jan 30th, 2013, 03:36 AM
#4
Last time I was there I flew into Portland and drove to Bar Harbor; stopped in Camden and a couple other places. Well worth the time IMO. Why not take advantage of the various scenic spots even though it takes a little more time to do so?
Jan 31st, 2013, 11:54 AM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is a lot to see on Mount Dessert Island especially if you circumnavigate the island, so many quaint towns. Acadia is beautiful year around. Bass Harbor headlight President Obama and family visited.You are right it is only 1.5 hours from Bangor. Camden, Wiscassett and Rockland are beautiful. It will be a long drive with traffic. The pretty towns can be far between though. I guess my final recommendation would be fly to Bangor and enjoy Bar Harbor. 
Jan 31st, 2013, 03:01 PM
#6
In California it's called "scenic route 1", in Maine it's just plain Route 1. At least for 90% of it anyway. For Bar Harbor I'd just take freeway 95 to Route 3.
I don't like BGR because there are so few flights in and out of that airport. When there is a delay or cancellation, seems you wait forever to get another flight because there aren't many flights to begin with, and all the flights are full. Might depend on what city you're flying from and whether or not there is frequent service back and forth in case of any cancellations.
I don't like BGR because there are so few flights in and out of that airport. When there is a delay or cancellation, seems you wait forever to get another flight because there aren't many flights to begin with, and all the flights are full. Might depend on what city you're flying from and whether or not there is frequent service back and forth in case of any cancellations.
Feb 3rd, 2013, 03:10 PM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you all for your replies! Since we may not get back to Maine for awhile, we decided to continue our original plan of flying into Portland. We'll drive the "quick" way up to Bar Harbor and join the wedding group on Thursday, spend three nights in Bar Harbor, and then leave Sunday for the drive back, stopping in Camden for an overnight. Now, the next post will be where to stay in Camden......
Feb 4th, 2013, 01:00 PM
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We're new in the Boston area and have explored various places in Maine for several years. I can't imagine staying three nights in Bar Harbor with all the delightful Maine sea coast towns. Well, enjoy the wedding.
Bill in Boston
Bill in Boston
