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

The driving distance from Cape Elizabeth, ME to Bar Harbor, ME is about 170 miles (273.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 114.4 miles (184.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 28m 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
170.02 mi
03h 44m
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 Cape Elizabeth.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
170.02 mi
Kilometers
273.62 km
Drive Time
03h 44m

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 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bar Harbor
Wed, Jul 15, 6:23 AM EDT
Return by in Cape Elizabeth
Wed, Jul 15, 10:07 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cape Elizabeth
2026-07-15T02:39
Arrive Bar Harbor
Wed, Jul 15, 6:23 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:44 AM to 11:44 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
9:32 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cape Elizabeth
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 Cape Elizabeth
84.9 mi
01h 52m
To Bar Harbor
85.1 mi
01h 52m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
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
Destination
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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    55 m · 19 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Two Lights Road

    2941 ft · 2 min · Two Lights Road

  3. 3

    Keep slight right to continue on Two Lights Road

    1 mi · 4 min · Two Lights Road

  4. 4

    Continue on Two Lights Road

    34 m · 5 sec · Two Lights Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Ocean House Road

    3.7 mi · 7 min · Ocean House Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Ocean House Street

    1055 ft · 23 sec · Ocean House Street

  7. 7

    Continue on Ocean Street

    2519 ft · 52 sec · Ocean Street

  8. 8

    Continue on Ocean House Street

    999 ft · 22 sec · Ocean House Street

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Broadway

    1094 ft · 34 sec · Broadway

  10. 10

    Continue on Casco Bay Bridge

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Casco Bay Bridge

  11. 11

    Turn straight onto York Street

    785 ft · 19 sec · York Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto High Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · High Street

  13. 13

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 295 North, US 1 North: Falmouth

    1360 ft · 33 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    46.8 mi · 53 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike

    9.8 mi · 11 min · Maine Turnpike

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward ME 3: Augusta, Belfast

    767 ft · 26 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight right

    834 ft · 20 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Augusta Bypass

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Augusta Bypass

  19. 19

    Continue on North Belfast Avenue

    8.1 mi · 12 min · North Belfast Avenue

  20. 20

    Continue on Belfast Road

    1077 ft · 17 sec · Belfast Road

  21. 21

    Continue on Route 3

    17.6 mi · 21 min · Route 3

  22. 22

    Continue on Acadia Highway

    4 mi · 4 min · Acadia Highway

  23. 23

    Continue on Belfast Augusta Road West

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Belfast Augusta Road West

  24. 24

    Continue on Augusta Road

    4.8 mi · 5 min · Augusta Road

  25. 25

    Continue on Belmont Avenue

    4 mi · 5 min · Belmont Avenue

  26. 26

    Take the exit left

    1586 ft · 44 sec

  27. 27

    Merge slight left onto Route 1

    1.1 km · 1 min · Route 1

  28. 28

    Continue on Searsport Avenue

    2.7 mi · 5 min · Searsport Avenue

  29. 29

    Continue on West Main Street

    7 mi · 8 min · West Main Street

  30. 30

    Keep slight right to continue on East Main Street

    6.3 mi · 8 min · East Main Street

  31. 31

    Continue on US Highway 1

    1.2 mi · 3 min · US Highway 1

  32. 32

    Continue on Route 1

    155 m · 12 sec · Route 1

  33. 33

    Continue on Route 1

    1 mi · 1 min · Route 1

  34. 34

    Continue on Acadia Highway

    9.4 mi · 11 min · Acadia Highway

  35. 35

    Continue on Bucksport Road

    8.5 mi · 10 min · Bucksport Road

  36. 36

    Continue on West Main Street

    1116 ft · 17 sec · West Main Street

  37. 37

    Turn right onto Water Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · Water Street

  38. 38

    Continue on Bayside Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Bayside Road

  39. 39

    Turn left onto Beechland Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Beechland Road

  40. 40

    Turn right onto High Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · High Street

  41. 41

    Continue on Bar Harbor Road

    6.7 mi · 12 min · Bar Harbor Road

  42. 42

    Turn slight right onto State Highway 102

    3.7 mi · 6 min · State Highway 102

  43. 43

    Continue on Main Street

    3243 ft · 1 min · Main Street

  44. 44

    Turn left onto Sound Drive

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Sound Drive

  45. 45

    Turn left onto Eagle Lake Road

    5.8 mi · 9 min · Eagle Lake Road

  46. 46

    Continue on Mount Desert Street

    2459 ft · 47 sec · Mount Desert Street

  47. 47

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

    8 m · 1 sec · Main Street

  48. 48

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
48 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
4 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
28.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 295 North
47.1 mi · 28%
Route 3
17.6 mi · 10%
Acadia Highway
13.4 mi · 8%
Maine Turnpike
9.8 mi · 6%
Bucksport Road
8.5 mi · 5%
North Belfast Avenue
8.06 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

I 295 North

Merge slight left

46.8 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 44m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+55.6 mi
114.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Palermo
01h 52m from Cape Elizabeth
Leave By
9:32 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 170 miles (273.6 km) and usually takes 03h 44m 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 84.9 miles from Cape Elizabeth and 85.1 miles from Bar Harbor.

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 55.6 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 9:32 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.67 one way or $47.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 53.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 13.4 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 13.9 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 Cape Elizabeth and Bar Harbor. Straight-line distance: 114.41 mi (184.13 km).

Cape Elizabeth

#1 Cape Elizabeth

Town in Cumberland County, Maine, USA

Population9,322
Coordinates43.5637000, -70.2000500
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Bar Harbor

#2 Bar Harbor

Town in Hancock County, Maine, United States

Population5,594
Coordinates44.3875800, -68.2039000
Altitude18
CountryUnited States
Start: Cape Elizabeth (-70.20005, 43.5637)
End: Bar Harbor (-68.2039, 44.38758)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 274 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 15m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 50m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 07m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6 gal
22.71 L · about $23.67
Round trip
$47.34
12 gal · 45.42 L
Estimated CO2
53.3 kg one way
Round trip: 106.6 kg / 235 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $23.67 $47.34
Mid-grade $4.46 $26.74 $53.48
Premium $4.86 $29.15 $58.30
Diesel $6.00 $35.98 $71.96

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 Cape Elizabeth and Bar Harbor. The current time is 02:39:41.

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.