EN
The closest runway is Trenton’s BHB, about 12 miles from Bar Harbor. Bangor balances distance and flight choice; Portland offers a longer Maine drive. Boston, Providence, and New York are fly-and-drive hubs for wider flight choice. Once on Mount Desert Island, decide how little you want to move the car.
Drive times are approximate route-planning estimates, not promises; traffic, stops, weather, construction, and the exact island destination all matter.
About 12 miles / 20 minutes to Bar Harbor. The closest airport to the island, in Trenton. Cape Air flies to Boston Logan, so most trips connect there; rental cars and taxis meet arriving flights in season.
Official airport site ↗About 49 miles / 1¼ hours to Bar Harbor. The closer commercial-airport option. Choose it when a shorter transfer matters more than flight choice.
Route estimate ↗About 157 miles / 3½ hours to Bar Harbor. A much longer drive that can offer a broader flight search and an intentional coastal-Maine road-trip start.
Route estimate ↗About 280 miles / 4½–5 hours to Bar Harbor. New England’s biggest hub, with nonstop flights from most major US cities and many overseas gateways — and the airport BHB’s Cape Air flights connect through. Fares are often the lowest of this list; budget the drive across Boston traffic, or land early and enjoy the road north.
Official airport site ↗About 355 miles / 5½–6 hours to Bar Harbor. A smaller, calmer alternative just south of Boston, often with cheaper fares and parking. The drive joins I-95 past Boston, then follows the same Maine coast route as the Portland run.
Official airport site ↗About 480–500 miles / 7½–8½ hours to Bar Harbor. The widest flight choice on the East Coast — and the longest drive on this page. Treat it as the start of a New England road trip, ideally with a night en route in Portland or on the midcoast.
JFK official site ↗Do not assume inventory from an airport code alone. Compare availability and one-way fees for your exact dates before buying a flight; this static guide does not show live rental inventory.
Choose your town before routing: Bar Harbor for east-side access, Southwest Harbor for the Quiet Side, or Northeast Harbor for Somes Sound and ferries.
Compare Bar Harbor
The passenger ferry to Winter Harbor is seasonal; the published crossing is about 45 minutes. Check the operator’s current schedule.
Current ferry information ↗
The park’s Isle au Haut section is reached from Stonington, not Bar Harbor. Check passenger capacity and season before driving south.
Mail boat information ↗The fare-free network is seasonal and route dates vary. A park entrance pass is still required where applicable.
Schedules ↗
Use this base for Echo Lake, western peaks, Seawall, Wonderland, and Bass Harbor Head without crossing the island twice daily.
Open town hub
Best for Village Green shuttle connections, ferries, dining, and a car-light evening after a park day.
Open town hubHancock County–Bar Harbor Airport (BHB) in Trenton is the closest, about 12 miles from Bar Harbor, with Cape Air flights to Boston Logan. Bangor International (BGR) is the closest larger airport, about 1¼ hours by road.
It is possible in shuttle season if you stay near the Island Explorer network and choose trailheads it serves. Cadillac Summit Road is not served by the bus.