Getting Around Bangor: Summer crowds and winter roads
Commutes, congestion, transit, and parking: what getting around Bangor really takes.
Greg, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Greg moved to Maine before it was trendy, stayed when it got crowded, and 28 years later still loves it. He grew up here, went to UMaine, tried Connecticut, and survived eight years in Virginia before eventually packing up and moving back home. He is a former newspaper copy editor, pizza lover (Portland Pie, OTTO, & Cargo regular), and family man. At Snappy Scout, Greg helps newcomers decode Maine, a place that plays by its own rules and usually keeps them to itself.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
How Do You Get Around Bangor?
Commutes, congestion, transit, and parking: the daily logistics nobody puts on the listing.
The time I spend getting to/from work every day is
Ten minutes, tops, unless river smoke rolls in
Traffic congestion areas to avoid
Hogan Road and Stillwater Ave near Bangor Mall, rush hour,
Ability to get around without a car
Technically yes, realistically pack boots and memorize Community Connector schedules
Locals dream of driving around in a
Gleaming black pickup, heated seats, canoe strapped to the bed, obviously
The reality is that most locals drive
Ten year old Subaru Outback with salt freckles, a snow brush that's seen some things
Quirky local driving habit
In hunting season, you'll see bagged deer looking back at you from the bed of a pickup truck, or staring down from the roof of a Prius.
The likelihood of finding parking
Shockingly good, even downtown, unless a concert at the Cross
#1 driving tip
Beware black ice and large, mobile critters after dusk
Where I Go for a Quiet Escape
Nothing settles the soul like an early morning hike or jog along some of the nine miles of trails of the Bangor City Forest, which encompasses nearly 700 acres of wildlife habitat and working forest. When I'm feeling particularly Thoreau-esque, I head to the less-traveled Moose, Owl, and Bear Trails Loop.
— Greg Reid
Maine Local Expert
Ready to See If Bangor Fits You?
Compare neighborhoods, check the routes, or head back to the full Bangor guide for the bigger picture.