Drive from Bartlett to Bar Harbour

Hi,

We are having a week in Bartlett to see the area and then travelling to Bar Harbor. Have any of you got a suggested route. We are happy to take all day as we will be in Bar Harbor for 3 days to see Acadia.

It would be nice to stop a few times to see the countryside,swim or walk a short trail. Can you also give us an idea of distances. I think its about 300 miles.

Many thanks Chris and Ken

Drive from Bartlett to Bar Harbour

The simplest route would probably be Route 16 North to Gorham, then Route 2 East all the way to Bangor, followed by Route 1 and Route 3 to Bar Harbor. Route 2 is a pleasant drive and really the only direct route that traverses inland Maine east-to-west; there may be other ways of criss-crossing the state, but I think you would risk getting lost. It%26#39;s happened to me before. ;)

I can%26#39;t advise on places to stop, but I%26#39;m sure there are places to walk and swim along the route. The drive is about 220 miles or 4.5 hours.

This is assuming that you%26#39;re planning to drive south along the Maine coast after you leave Bar Harbor (how can you miss the Maine coast?)

If for some reason you%26#39;re not coming back down the coast, then you should definitely take the coastal route to Bar Harbor. Take Route 302 East from Bartlett to Portland (visit Portland Head Light), then I-295 North to Route 1 North -- stop at Damariscotta, Pemaquid Point, Mt. Battie in Camden -- and finally Route 3 to Bar Harbor.

Drive from Bartlett to Bar Harbour

Thanks, yes we will be driving back down the coast over 2 days from Acadia to Boston to fly home, so will take your suggestions . Many thanks.

The previous post%26#39;s suggestion is a good one as far as US Rt 2 to Bangor....it traverses a combination of Maine woodlands and Maine dairy countryside....quite rural most of the way...

Depending on your timing, a short ways east of Bethel on your left is the Sunday River Brew Pub -- might make a nice lunch stop with a chance to sample some local micro-brew if that%26#39;s your taste.

Be aware that althought it%26#39;s a numbered route, US Rt 2 may not be the smoothest road you%26#39;ve ever driven... Maine%26#39;s Department of Transportation has had a chronic shortage of funds for several years and has postponed numerous highway maintenance projects -- not that the road won%26#39;t be paved all the way, but you may hit some less-than-smooth sections along the way.

And another word of caution: between Gorham, NH and Bethel, ME, you%26#39;ll definitely encounter a major highway construction project. They%26#39;re just finishing up one project they started last summer and have a second one scheduled to start up as soon as the first one is completed. They%26#39;ll be maintaining traffic through the work area and all that -- just plan on the possibility of short sections (1-2 miles maximum) of unpaved road and a longer-than-usual travel time for that section. It won%26#39;t be bad enough to consider changing your route or anything like that (not many good alternatives available anyway), just something to expect so you don%26#39;t get caught by surprise.

Thanks,when you live in the UK you get very used to traffic jams. We will leave Bartlett fairly early and take our time. Thanks for the tips.

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