Traffic from Boston to Bar Harbor on Memorial Day

We will be arriving in Boston around 11 am on Saturday (Memorial Day weekend). Not sure whether to take Route 1 or just I-95. How is the traffic on Route 1 during the weekend? Also would appreciate any advice on stopovers on the way to Bar Harbor.

Traffic from Boston to Bar Harbor on Memorial Day

I would do my best to stay off of Route 1. Traffic should be a horrible.

I%26#39;d advise getting to I-95 ASAP and staying there for most of the trip. Bring plenty of patience. :)

Traffic from Boston to Bar Harbor on Memorial Day

Really, Michelle?? I%26#39;m surprised. I would have said that for the July 4th time period. But way up here in Bar Harbor things are still pretty slow on Memorial Day weekend. I have no idea what things are like south of Portland. I made a resolution about eight years ago to never drive south of Portland again.

I would advise the poster to get on I-95 until Freeport, Maine and then take highway one if you want to. It%26#39;s scenic and there%26#39;s the pretty new bridge!

Stop in Portland, Freeport, Camden, and at the bridge observatory, just south of Bucksport.

My experience with holiday weekends is that traffic is multiplied on those weekends, and Saturday mornings are the worse. Seems like no matter what time of the day you drive, you%26#39;re running into folks coming up to Maine (from Boston, CT, NYC, Jersey).

South of Portland I%26#39;d be very worried about a bottleneck in Ogunquit. I for sure wouldn%26#39;t pick up Route 1 before Maine (not sure if the poster meant to take Route 1 from Boston or pick it up in Maine somewhere.)

You can sure venture over to Route 1 at Freeport or Brunwick and see how things are going and if it looks bad, dart back over to I-95 at Topsham.

I%26#39;d be tempted to take one leg of the trip via Belfast, however, so I could climb the new observation tower at Bucksport. Can%26#39;t wait to take in that view!

Does Route 1 north from Freeport have many traffic lights?

Not too many traffic lights once you get north of Bath and Brunswick.

One thing that may influence your decision is your eagerness to reach your destination - Bar Harbor - and how long your vacation is. Are you in BH for the long weekend or for a week?

Keep in mind that normal driving time from Boston Logan Airpport to Bar Harbor, no traffic, is aboout 5 - 6 hours. That is I-95 to Bangor and then state roads to BH. Take I-95 to Kittery, ME and then drive Rte 1 to BH, with no traffic, and my guess wouldbe to add an hour or more to the drive just because you cannot sustain 65mph and there are traffic lights. Make stops along the way and you have to add in that time. You are arriving at 11AM. It will take time to get your car rental, a bit longer if you check your luggage. So, maybe you begin your drive at noon or so. If you drive direct to BH, you get there at about 6PM, later if there is traffic, and later if you get off, drive Rte 1 and make stops to enjoy the views, shop, dine, etc.

If you are going to be in BH for the long weekend, I would get there as quickly as possible and enjoy it as fully as possible. IF you are there for the week, it is more of a coin toss. Your drive along the coast will more than likely have you arriving in BH after dark. If that is okay with you, then go ahead.

It%26#39;s not so much the traffic lights as it%26#39;s just the fact that you can%26#39;t--as another poster noted--maintain 65+ mph on Route 1.

Route 1 is predominantly two-laned, the speed limit drops as you go thru little towns, and some towns (Wiscasset, Ogunquit and Camden) are legendary for the traffic getting backed up.

Even out on the open road, the traffic slows with tourists rubbernecking and folks just out for a leisurely drive. Often it%26#39;s miles before you can find a good place to pass.

And, of course, there will be lots of places you%26#39;ll be tempted to stop. And, if you don%26#39;t stop, you%26#39;ll be beating yourself up for missing something.

When I first moved to Maine, I stopped at the Welcome Center to ask the distance to Bangor. A fellow behind the counter said very dryly ';its three HOURS if you stay on I-95 and three DAYS if you get off on Route 1.';

If you can afford to overnight somewhere like Camden, then take Route 1. If you need to get to Bar Harbor by nightfall, stay on 95 and make good time.

NextStopIs said ';...normal driving time from Boston Logan Airpport to Bar Harbor, no traffic, is aboout 5 - 6 hours. That is I-95 to Bangor and then state roads to BH.';

Mapquest estimates it%26#39;s a 278-mile drive, so that means 45-55 mph average speed without traffic.. A major part of this route is on an interstate highway 95 and the average speed should be around 65, right? So unless the drive from Bangor to Bar Harbor is with 20 mph speed, I found it%26#39;s hard to believe it could take 6 hours without traffic.

Any comments?

From Logan to Portland will take up to two hours, from Portland to Bangor is another two hours, and from Bangor to Bar Harbor is another hour. Consequently, it is a minimum of five hours from Logan to Bar Harbor, depending upon traffic.

';Mapquest estimates it%26#39;s a 278-mile drive, so that means 45-55 mph average speed without traffic.. A major part of this route is on an interstate highway 95 and the average speed should be around 65, right? So unless the drive from Bangor to Bar Harbor is with 20 mph speed, I found it%26#39;s hard to believe it could take 6 hours without traffic.

Any comments? ';

Just one.

You are basing the above on theory; what people on this forum have been telling you is from their experience. Take your choice.