Bath airport to city centre: trains, buses, taxis and costs

Bath sits on the Midcoast, roughly 60 km northeast of Portland. The nearest commercial airport is Portland International Jetport (PWM), and every option below starts there. Brunswick, about 20 km southwest of Bath, is the rail and bus gateway for the area.

There is no train or bus that runs from the airport to Bath. You either drive yourself, take a taxi or rideshare, or ride to Portland or Brunswick first and cover the last leg from there. The table gives the shape of each choice.

This is the default for Bath and the Midcoast. Pick up at the airport, drive I-295 north and then US-1 into Bath. The run takes about 45–60 minutes outside rush hour, and Portland's commute can add 15 minutes between 07:00 and 09:00 or 16:00 and 18:00.

Rates start around US$45 a day for a compact and climb with an SUV or a one-way drop. Check what the base rate covers: liability limits in Maine are low in many packages, and the airport concession fee is built into the quoted price. Parking in Bath is easy and usually free or cheap, which is the other reason a car wins here.

Uber and Lyft both serve the Portland airport and Bath, with pickup from the signposted rideshare zone outside arrivals. Expect US$70–120 for the run, more at peak times or in bad weather. A metered taxi from the airport ranks is similar, and you can ask the driver for a fixed price before you get in.

This is the simplest choice if you are arriving late, carrying a lot of luggage, or staying only a night or two in Bath and do not want a car. For three or more people it costs about the same as a rental for a single day.

Amtrak's Downeaster runs from Portland to Brunswick, about 20 km from Bath, and continues toward Freeport and Boston in the other direction. From Brunswick you still need a taxi or rideshare for the last 20–25 minutes, roughly US$30–50. There is no station in Bath itself.

Regional buses connect Portland with Brunswick and coastal towns, but schedules are thin and geared to commuters rather than flights. If your flight lands in the afternoon, check the last departure before you commit; a missed connection leaves you with a taxi anyway.

For one person, the bus-and-train combination is the cheapest way to reach the Bath area, but it takes the longest and depends on timings. For two or more, a taxi or rideshare is usually cheaper than paying per person, and a rental car is the best value once you plan to move around the Midcoast.

All figures are 2026 estimates. Tipping is expected on taxi and rideshare fares at 15–20%, usually added in the app.

Arrive with a plan for the last leg. Bath is small and the airport is in another city, so the transfer is the part of the trip most likely to go wrong if you leave it to the arrivals hall.

If you are heading further up the coast, to Freeport, Camden or Bar Harbor, sort the car at the airport rather than in Bath; the choice is bigger and the rates are usually lower.