ME-9 — The Airline
The eastern section of Maine State Route 9 from Bangor to Calais — known since the 1850s as 'The Airline' for being the shortest overland route between the two cities, saving roughly 60 miles over coastal US-1. The road cuts through one of the most remote stretches of pavement in the Northeast: Hancock and Washington counties' unbroken boreal forest, with long sweeping curves, minimal services, and almost no traffic. The isolation is genuine — cell coverage disappears for extended stretches. Communities en route include Clifton, Aurora, Beddington, Wesley, Crawford, and Alexander. Fuel up before departing Bangor; the next reliable pump is well into Washington County.
What you'll hit along the way.
Rider-verified stops, overlooks, fuel, and the corners worth knowing about — in the order you'll meet them.
Hampden
The western starting point of ME-9 where you can fuel up and get oriented before heading into the Maine woods.
Amherst
A small inland town at roughly the midpoint of the route, good for a stretch stop amid the surrounding forest.
Birch Hill
A modest summit landmark offering a sense of the rolling terrain that defines this stretch of eastern Maine.
No runs logged on this road yet — be the first.
Runs are rider-logged & GPS-traced in the app
Ride your own ride — times are rider-logged & GPS-traced, never a race on public roads.
Shot by the riders who've run it.
Riders upload photos to their profile and tag the road or stop — tagged shots show up here automatically.