How Much Does it Cost to Drive from Bar Harbor to Boston?

Are you planning a road trip from Bar Harbor, Maine to Boston, Massachusetts? Before you hit the road, it’s important to calculate your budget and expenses for the trip. Upfront costs like gas, tolls and food expenses can add up quickly.

To help you with your budget, we've put together a guide to the estimated cost of driving from Bar Harbor to Boston, based on current gas prices. Here are the routes to consider and how much each one costs:

Route 1: I-95 S

This is the most direct and popular route to travel between Bar Harbor and Boston. The total distance on this route is approximately 288 miles and it takes around 4 and a half hours to complete.

If your vehicle has an average gas mileage of 25 miles per gallon and gasoline is sold at $2.70 in Maine, you can estimate to spend around $70 for a one-way trip.

Tolls will also play a role in your expenses, especially when traveling in Massachusetts. Before you reach Boston, tolls amount to around $20 heading southbound.

In total, you can expect to spend around $90 for gas and tolls on this route.

Route 2: US-1 S and I-495 S

An alternative route to consider is taking US-1 south and then merging onto I-495 S. This route is slightly longer with a total distance of approximately 307 miles and it takes approximately 5 hours to complete.

As you’re driving from Maine to Massachusetts, you can expect to spend roughly around $80 on gas for one-way trip, according to the same gas price and based on the average vehicle gas mileage.

Tolls are less of an expense on this route, with only $5 of tolls in your one-way trip.

In total, you can expect to spend around $85 for gas and tolls on this route.

Route 3: The Coastal Route

For those searching for a more scenic and touristy-driven approach, US-1 is the best option. This route will take you along the coast and through seaside towns, but it adds up to over 400 miles and will take about 8 hours to complete.

This route will likely cost between $100 - $120 depending on your vehicle's gas mileage and on the given gas prices in Maine.

This route charges the least in tolls, with only one single $1 toll in Maine.

In total, you can expect to spend around $105 - $125 for gas and tolls on this route.

Final Verdict

Before embarking on any road trip, it's important to budget and consider the different routes, the time it takes, and the costs involved.

Route 1 is the most straightforward, quickest and common route to take. It costs around $90 in total for gas and tolls.

Route 2 is a good alternate option and avoids most of the costly tolls. It will cost around $85 in total for gas and tolls.

Route 3 is the most scenic route and the longest and has only one minimum toll. It will cost between $105 - $125 in total for gas and tolls.

No matter which route you take, it's important to travel safely and plan ahead to avoid disconcerting costs. Happy travels!