The University of Maine in Orono is conveniently located off Interstate-95 in Central Maine; eight miles (under 15 minutes) from Bangor International Airport. It is a two-hour drive from Portland, Maine, another primary hub for air travel, and four hours from Logan International Airport in Boston. Affordable bus lines run directly from Logan Airport and Portland to Bangor.
Bangor International Airport is a small airport that caters to major airlines like American, United, and Delta. Though it is an international airport, it does not currently have regularly scheduled international carriers. International travelers will likely find routing through Philadelphia, New York (JFK, LaGuardia), or Newark to be the easiest and most direct. Bangor Airport is less than a 15 minute drive from the UMaine
Logan International Airport (Boston) is the largest airport within driving distance of UMaine (approximately 4 hours) and serves as a major hub for those traveling to and from New England. It offers a wide range of car services for rental, as well as serving as a pick-up/drop off for Concord Bus Lines, which service Bangor.
Portland International Airport (aka Portland Jetport) is another small airport located halfway between Bangor and Boston (approximately 2 hours to UMaine). In addition to major airlines like American and United, Portland also services JetBlue, Breeze, Southwest, and others. Like Bangor, it is currently not serving international flights directly, but are routing through the same larger cities as Bangor Airport. In addition to car rentals, Concord Bus Lines also have connections to Bangor. (Please note that the Jetport indicates Amtrak as a travel option; if travelling north, they will, in fact, place you on a Concord bus.)
We have a variety of options available for housing during the conference. Please note that we encourage those without a vehicle to stay at one of the following locations: Ursa Hotel, Black Bear Inn, or on-campus housing.
Shuttles will help transport attendees between Black Bear Inn and campus throughout each day of the conference. We cannot guarantee shuttles to and from Bangor hotels, though they are listed below for ease.
The Hotel Ursa ($169 per room/night) is a brand new boutique hotel on campus that offers 95 rooms and suites, as well as on-campus parking. If you are staying for the Lifespan Writing Research Conference (July 12-13) and want to secure the lowest rate for the entirety of the stay, please call the hotel directly. A booking link will be provided in late 2026.
The Black Bear Inn ($136 per room/night), located 1 mile from campus, has 68 rooms and parking. There are a variety of options for sharing, for those who are looking to reduce costs. Shuttles will be provided for attendees during each day of the conference. A booking link will be provided in late 2026.
The University of Maine has secured the Dorothy Twitchell Allen Village (DTAV) and Cumberland Hall for individuals who would prefer a low-cost option for staying on campus (rate per night TBD). Both residence halls are a 3- to 5-minute walk from the event spaces. Please note that dormitories do not have air conditioning. Individuals wishing to stay on campus will be able to secure that housing at the time of registration.
While the following hotels are not offering a reduced conference rate, they are still within a 15 minute drive to campus.Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate a shuttle to/from these locations and recommend attendees secure alternative transportation.