These Maine Highways Are Two of the Most Loathed in America

Maine is known for being a peaceful state with a limited population. That smaller population leads visitors to believe that driving in Maine is an absolute breeze. No problems, no worries.

But those native to Maine understand that isn't necessarily the case. Mainers face plenty of roadway challenges throughout the year. From bumper-to-bumper traffic on single-lane roads to those who plant themselves in the passing lane on the highway while doing five under the speed limit.

And lest we forget about winter. Snow removal, sanding, and salting followed by the subsequent potholes can all present major challenges in navigating the road in Vacationland.

So it shouldn't be a huge surprise that two key Maine roadways were named among the 100 Most Loathed Highways in America from Gunther Volvo. The survey asked participants to name the roadways they despise the most and why.

I-95 (#27 on the list)

The race to get in and get out first on I-95 in Maine has slowed down in recent years. For far too long, traffic snarls at toll booths were maddening to both locals and visitors. The Maine Turnpike has worked diligently to alleviate that with more lanes and express E-Z Pass.

But summer tourism still leaves portions of I-95 near Bangor a nightmare. Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park remain two of Maine's most sought after destinations, bringing lots of vehicles and traffic to the area.

Route One (#48 on the list)

Route One in Maine is less of a highway and more of a key roadway to many of Maine's hottest summer destinations. And it's because of that proximity to those locations that it's mentioned on this list.

Route One can become a bumper-to-bumper nightmare at several hotspots throughout the summer. From traffic snarls in Wells to backups in Wiscasset and a few more in between, repeat visitors to Maine plan their trip around encounter heavy traffic on Route One.

I-295 (Not on List)

One stretch of highway that didn't make the list but easily could is I-295 between Portland and Freeport. Morning and afternoon commutes have become ugly in recent years. The highway is narrow in some sections, and traffic snarls happen regularly.