How far is Bar Harbor, ME from Cape Elizabeth, ME?

The driving distance from Bar Harbor, ME to Cape Elizabeth, ME is about 168.8 miles (271.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 45m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 114.4 miles (184.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 31m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
168.74 mi
03h 45m
Flight
114.41 mi
184.13 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bar Harbor.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
114.41 mi
Kilometers
184.13 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
168.74 mi
Kilometers
271.56 km
Drive Time
03h 45m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 45m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cape Elizabeth
Wed, Jul 15, 5:19 AM EDT
Return by in Bar Harbor
Wed, Jul 15, 9:05 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bar Harbor
2026-07-15T01:33
Arrive Cape Elizabeth
Wed, Jul 15, 5:19 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 45m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:46 AM to 11:46 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:28 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bar Harbor
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Palermo
ME

Town in Waldo County, Maine, United States of America

From Bar Harbor
84.3 mi
01h 52m
To Cape Elizabeth
84.4 mi
01h 52m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Bar Harbor Weather
ME
Live fallback forecast
85°F
Wednesday
Using Ellsworth as the closest live forecast in the Hancock County weather hub.

Areas Of Smoke then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Jul 15 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 12 mph W
Destination
Cape Elizabeth Weather
ME
Live fallback forecast
85°F
Wednesday
Using Scarborough as the closest live forecast in the Cumberland County weather hub.

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Jul 15 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bar Harbor and Cape Elizabeth.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bar Harbor and Cape Elizabeth.

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    8 m · 7 sec · Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Mount Desert Street

    2478 ft · 44 sec · Mount Desert Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Eagle Lake Road

    5.8 mi · 9 min · Eagle Lake Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Sound Drive

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Sound Drive

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Main Street

    3243 ft · 55 sec · Main Street

  6. 6

    Continue on State Highway 102

    3.5 mi · 5 min · State Highway 102

  7. 7

    Continue on Triangle Road

    696 ft · 18 sec · Triangle Road

  8. 8

    At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 3

    739 ft · 16 sec · State Highway 3

  9. 9

    Continue on Bar Harbor Road

    6.7 mi · 12 min · Bar Harbor Road

  10. 10

    Continue on High Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · High Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Beechland Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Beechland Road

  12. 12

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Bayside Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Bayside Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Water Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · Water Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    806 ft · 10 sec · West Main Street

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on Main Street

    85 m · 4 sec · Main Street

  16. 16

    Continue on Bucksport Road

    8.5 mi · 10 min · Bucksport Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Acadia Highway

    9.4 mi · 11 min · Acadia Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Route 1

    1.6 km · 1 min · Route 1

  19. 19

    Continue on Main Street

    41 m · 9 sec · Main Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Route 1

    682 ft · 17 sec · Route 1

  21. 21

    Continue on US Highway 1

    1.2 mi · 3 min · US Highway 1

  22. 22

    Continue on Route 1

    13.4 mi · 16 min · Route 1

  23. 23

    Continue on Searsport Avenue

    2.7 mi · 5 min · Searsport Avenue

  24. 24

    Continue on Route 1

    1.1 km · 1 min · Route 1

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right

    1414 ft · 39 sec

  26. 26

    Keep slight right

    114 m · 12 sec

  27. 27

    Merge slight left onto Belmont Avenue

    3.9 mi · 5 min · Belmont Avenue

  28. 28

    Continue on Augusta Road

    4.8 mi · 5 min · Augusta Road

  29. 29

    Continue on Belfast Augusta Road East

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Belfast Augusta Road East

  30. 30

    Continue on Acadia Highway

    4 mi · 4 min · Acadia Highway

  31. 31

    Continue on Belfast Augusta Road

    17.6 mi · 21 min · Belfast Augusta Road

  32. 32

    Continue on Belfast Road

    1077 ft · 17 sec · Belfast Road

  33. 33

    Continue on North Belfast Avenue

    8.1 mi · 12 min · North Belfast Avenue

  34. 34

    Turn left onto North Belfast Avenue

    1.6 km · 2 min · North Belfast Avenue

  35. 35

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Bangor Street

    2936 ft · 53 sec · Bangor Street

  36. 36

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Cony Circle

    49 m · 3 sec · Memorial Drive

  37. 37

    Exit the rotary onto Memorial Drive

    1.1 km · 2 min · Memorial Drive

  38. 38

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Memorial Circle

    122 m · 7 sec · State Street

  39. 39

    Exit the rotary onto State Street

    1007 ft · 19 sec · State Street

  40. 40

    Turn right onto Capitol Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · Capitol Street

  41. 41

    Turn straight onto Armory Street

    915 ft · 20 sec · Armory Street

  42. 42

    Turn left onto Western Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · Western Avenue

  43. 43

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95: Portland, Waterville, Bangor

    1829 ft · 44 sec

  44. 44

    Keep slight left to continue on I-95 South: Portland, Kittery

    3262 ft · 1 min

  45. 45

    Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike

    5.9 mi · 6 min · Maine Turnpike

  46. 46

    Keep slight right to continue on I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick

    46.5 mi · 53 min

  47. 47

    Take the exit slight right toward US 1A

    2130 ft · 1 min

  48. 48

    Turn right onto Marginal Way

    2795 ft · 1 min · Marginal Way

  49. 49

    Continue on State Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · State Street

  50. 50

    Continue on Casco Bay Bridge

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Casco Bay Bridge

  51. 51

    Continue on Broadway

    1007 ft · 20 sec · Broadway

  52. 52

    Turn right onto Ocean House Street

    1037 ft · 26 sec · Ocean House Street

  53. 53

    Continue on Ocean Street

    2519 ft · 52 sec · Ocean Street

  54. 54

    Continue on Ocean House Street

    1055 ft · 21 sec · Ocean House Street

  55. 55

    Continue on Ocean House Road

    3.7 mi · 7 min · Ocean House Road

  56. 56

    Turn slight left onto Two Lights Road

    530 ft · 23 sec · Two Lights Road

  57. 57

    Keep slight left to continue on Two Lights Road

    1.5 km · 4 min · Two Lights Road

  58. 58

    Continue on Two Lights Road

    3131 ft · 2 min · Two Lights Road

  59. 59

    Turn right

    55 m · 13 sec

  60. 60

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bar Harbor and Cape Elizabeth.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
60 steps
22 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
2 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
35.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 295 South
46.5 mi · 28%
Belfast Augusta Road
17.6 mi · 10%
Route 1
15.5 mi · 9%
Acadia Highway
13.4 mi · 8%
North Belfast Avenue
9.05 mi · 5%
Bucksport Road
8.5 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

I 295 South

Keep slight right to continue on I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick

46.5 mi · 00h 53m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 45m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+54.4 mi
114.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Palermo
01h 52m from Bar Harbor
Leave By
9:28 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Areas Of Smoke then Mostly Sunny leaving Bar Harbor and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny near Cape Elizabeth.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bar Harbor to Cape Elizabeth?

The road trip is about 168.8 miles (271.6 km) and usually takes 03h 45m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Palermo is a useful midpoint, sitting about 84.3 miles from Bar Harbor and 84.4 miles from Cape Elizabeth.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 114.4 miles (184.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 54.4 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:28 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.47 one way or $46.95 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Areas Of Smoke then Mostly Sunny around Bar Harbor and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny near Cape Elizabeth.

Stop Ideas Near Palermo

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Palermo and the surrounding midpoint area.
Waterville Opera House
Scenic stop 14.1 mi away

Waterville Opera House

Waterville , ME
1 Common St, Waterville, ME 04901
Rating 4.7/5 291 reviews Opera house,Comedy club,Concert hall,Historical landmark,Performing arts theater
Sidney Town Hall
Meeting point 14.4 mi away

Sidney Town Hall

Sidney , ME
2986 Middle Rd, Sidney, ME 04330
Rating 4.9/5 10 reviews City Hall

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Palermo.

BUS

Augusta, ME

26 mi away
9 Industrial Drive
BUS

Waldoboro, Maine

35 mi away
US hwy 1 and hwy 32
BUS

Belfast, Maine

36 mi away
Belmont Ave & US Hwy 1
BUS

Camden/Rockport, Maine

38 mi away
234 Park St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bar Harbor and Cape Elizabeth. Straight-line distance: 114.41 mi (184.13 km).

Bar Harbor

#1 Bar Harbor

Town in Hancock County, Maine, United States

Population5,594
Coordinates44.3875800, -68.2039000
Altitude18
CountryUnited States
Cape Elizabeth

#2 Cape Elizabeth

Town in Cumberland County, Maine, USA

Population9,322
Coordinates43.5637000, -70.2000500
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Start: Bar Harbor (-68.2039, 44.38758)
End: Cape Elizabeth (-70.20005, 43.5637)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 272 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 22m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.95 gal
22.54 L · about $23.47
Round trip
$46.95
11.9 gal · 45.08 L
Estimated CO2
52.9 kg one way
Round trip: 105.8 kg / 233 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $23.47 $46.95
Mid-grade $4.46 $26.52 $53.04
Premium $4.86 $28.91 $57.81
Diesel $6.00 $35.68 $71.36

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Maine · Jul 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Bar Harbor and Cape Elizabeth. The current time is 01:33:52.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.