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There is no scheduled passenger ferry from Boston to Bar Harbor, Maine, so the five-to-six-hour boat trip some guides describe does not exist. To get there, drive about 285 miles (roughly 4 hours 40 minutes without traffic, mostly on I-95), fly nonstop from Logan to Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport on Cape Air, or take a bus to Bangor and a weekday connection on to Bar Harbor.
The one scheduled ferry at Bar Harbor itself is The CAT, which crosses to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, in about 3.5 hours between mid-May and mid-October. It is a way on to Canada, not a link back to Boston.
Going on to Bar Harbor? Top-rated Acadia tours on Viator
Narrated Bus Tour of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park★ 4.7 (2,086 reviews) · Free cancellationFrom $69 per personCheck dates on Viator
Bar Harbor Premium Tour with Cadillac Mountain and Acadia Park★ 4.7 (372 reviews) · Free cancellationFrom $159 per personCheck dates on ViatorPrices, ratings and review counts are from Viator as of Oct 11, 2026 and can change.
Boston to Bar Harbor at a glance
| Option | Route | Time | When it runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive | I-95 north, then Route 3 via Augusta or Route 1A via Bangor to Ellsworth and Mount Desert Island | About 4 hr 40 min to 4 hr 50 min without traffic | Year-round |
| Fly | Cape Air nonstop, Logan (BOS) to Hancock County-Bar Harbor (BHB), then about 20 minutes by road | Flight plus airport time | Year-round |
| Bus | Concord Coach Lines to Bangor (change in Portland), then Downeast Transportation to Bar Harbor | About 7 hours on the one daily connection | Bar Harbor leg Monday to Friday only |
| Train | Amtrak Downeaster to Brunswick, then about 2 hr 40 min by car | Not a practical through route | Year-round to Brunswick |
| Ferry | None from Boston | Not available | Not available |
How far is Bar Harbor from Boston by car?
Google Maps puts the drive from downtown Boston to Bar Harbor at about 285 miles (459 km) and 4 hours 40 minutes with no traffic, almost all of it on I-95 north. Treat that as a minimum: it excludes traffic, fuel and food stops.
The National Park Service's directions to Acadia give two ways onto Mount Desert Island. Take I-95 north to Augusta, then Route 3 east through Ellsworth; or stay on I-95 to Bangor, then take Route 1A east to Ellsworth and Route 3 onto the island. Routed through Augusta, Google Maps gives about 287 miles and 4 hours 50 minutes.
Is the drive from Boston to Bar Harbor scenic?
The fastest route is mostly interstate. A coastal route through Camden is shorter on the map, about 269 miles, but slower: Google Maps puts it at roughly 5 hours 10 minutes without traffic, before you stop anywhere. Choose it if the Midcoast towns are part of the trip rather than a detour from it.
Can you fly from Boston to Bar Harbor?
Yes. Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport (BHB) says Cape Air flies nonstop between BHB and Boston year-round, and the flights can also be booked through JetBlue, Cape Air's partner. The airport is in Trenton, between Ellsworth and Bar Harbor; Google Maps puts the drive into Bar Harbor at about 12.5 miles and 20 minutes. The National Park Service notes that rental cars are available there.
Bangor International Airport (BGR) is the bigger airport, about 51 miles and 1 hour 15 minutes by road from Bar Harbor, but none of its airlines flies to Boston: Allegiant, American, Breeze, Delta and United serve Florida, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Newark and other hubs. From Boston, Bangor is easier to reach by bus.
Is there a bus from Boston to Bar Harbor?
Not a direct one, but there is a weekday connection. Concord Coach Lines runs from Boston's South Station and Logan Airport to Bangor with a change of bus in Portland; on the schedule effective May 31, 2026, the 8:00 a.m. from South Station reaches Bangor at 12:10 p.m.
From Bangor, Downeast Transportation runs one bus a day to Bar Harbor, Monday through Friday and not on Monday holidays. It leaves the Concord Coach stop at 1:30 p.m. and the Bangor airport at 1:45 p.m., and reaches Kebo Street in Bar Harbor at 3:10 p.m. That makes the whole trip about seven hours door to door on a weekday. On weekends there is no public bus for the last leg; the Island Explorer's travel guide points to a private van service, taxis and rental cars at Bangor.
Once you arrive, you may not need a car at all in season. The fare-free Island Explorer buses serve Acadia National Park and the island towns; in 2026 the main service runs June 23 through October 12, with some routes starting May 20.
Can you take a train from Boston to Bar Harbor?
No. The nearest passenger rail is the Amtrak Downeaster, which runs five daily round trips between Boston's North Station and Brunswick, Maine. Brunswick is still about 151 miles and 2 hours 40 minutes by car from Bar Harbor, so the train suits a trip that also takes in Portland or Freeport, with a rental car for the rest of the way.
Where does the ferry from Bar Harbor go?
To Nova Scotia. The CAT, run by Bay Ferries, sails between Bar Harbor and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, in about 3.5 hours, and its 2026 season runs May 14 to October 14. The operator strongly encourages reservations. It is a useful leg if you are continuing into Canada, but it does not help with getting from Boston to Maine.
Staying a night or two on Mount Desert Island? Compare Bar Harbor hotels for your dates:
Which way should you go?
Drive if Acadia is the point of the trip and you want to reach trailheads outside the bus season or on your own schedule. Fly if you have a long weekend and want to trade most of a day on the road for a short flight. Take the bus if you are traveling on a weekday, want to leave the car at home, and will use the Island Explorer once you arrive.
Planning other trips out of Boston? See how far Cape Cod is from Boston, how to get to Salem from Boston, and what the Boston to Salem ferry costs.