Maine Transport: Plane, Bus, Train, Car & Ferryboat

Here's how to get to and around the state of Maine by bus, train, plane, car and ferryboat.

Schooner Heritage, a Maine windjammer—a cool way to travel!

Car

If you're driving north and east from Massachusetts or New Hampshire, be aware that the Maine Turnpike (I-95) is a toll road.

US 1 or its scenic alternate route, US 1A, parallels the Maine Turnpike all the way from Kittery to Brunswick, and while it's substantially slower, it costs nothing.

Bus

Greyhound operates buses between Boston MA and Portland ME, but Concord Coach Lines also runs that route and connects many more Maine cities and towns with one another and with coastal New Hampshire, Boston MA, Logan Airport (BOS), and New York City.

Here are the cities, towns and colleges in Maine served by Concord Coach Lines from Boston's South Station and Logan Airport:

Concord Coach also runs express buses between Portland ME and New York City (Midtown Manhattan).

Portland Region City Buses

Greater Portland Metro operates city buses in the Portland area, including the BREEZ line express buses to Yarmouth, Freeport and Brunswick. More...

Maine Beach Town Buses

Biddeford-Saco-Old Orchard Beach Transit, based in the Saco Transportation Center at 138 Main Street, Saco, (map), operates local buses among those towns. More...

Train

Amtrak's Downeaster glides through Old Orchard Beach ME

Amtrak's Downeaster train travels from Boston's North Station via coastal New Hampshire to the Maine beach towns of Wells and Saco, then to Portland, Freeport, and Brunswick taking 3 hours and 20 minutes for the full run; 2-1/4 hours between Boston and Portland—a more comfortable alternative to the bus (2 hours) or car (2 hours) on that route. More...

Flights & Airports

Maine's major national airport is the Portland International Jetport, served by several major airlines.

Cape Air provides the most extensive and convenient regional service from Boston MA to Maine airports in Augusta, Penobscot Bay (Knox County) and Acadia/Bar Harbor.

Augusta

Augusta State Airport, serves Maine's capital city and surrounding communities, with flights by Cape Air.

Bangor

Bangor International Airport serves that city as well as coastal towns to the south such as Rockland, Camden and Bar Harbor.

Penobscot Bay

Knox County Regional Airport near Rockland ME serves the Penobscot Bay region including Camden.

Acadia & Bar Harbor

The Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport near Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park is served by Cape Air.

Ferryboat

Ferryboats provide essential transportation all along Maine's thousand-mile coastline to the innumerable islands offshore.

Maine State Ferry Service

State Ferry Service sign in Rockland ME.

This division of the State of Maine Department of Transportation operates these ferry routes:

—Rockland to Vinalhaven, North Haven & Matinicus

—Lincolnville to Isleboro

—Bass Harbor to Frenchboro and Swans Island

Monhegan Island

For this delightful island without motor vehicles, take a ferry from Port Clyde (Monhegan Boat Line), New Harbor (Hardy Boat), or Boothbay Harbor (Balmy Day Cruises).

Bar Harbor - Nova Scotia Ferry

The Cat car ferry from Bar Harbor to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

The Cat is the international car ferry that cruises daily in the warm months between Bar Harbor, Maine and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. More...

Maine Windjammers

A Maine windjammer sailing ship is not public transportation, it's a fine and memorable way to spend some days sailing along the wonderful Maine coast. More...