College Visit Guides

Fly-in guide · 2 days, 1 campus

University of Maine in 2 Days: An Orono, Maine College Visit Fly-In Trip

A parent-first plan for visiting the University of Maine in Orono: how the student-led campus tour works and where to sign up, Future Black Bear parking in the Bennett Lot, four hotels from budget to upscale on UMaine's lodging list (one right on campus), drive times from Bangor International Airport, sibling stops at the free Hudson Museum and the campus planetarium, and Bangor weather by season, every fact sourced and checked Oct 30, 2026.

A dark bronze statue of a standing bear, the University of Maine mascot Bananas T. Bear, framed by big pink and cream hydrangea blooms, with the red-brick facade of the Alumni Memorial Gymnasium behind it under a gray, drizzly sky
The Bananas T. Bear statue in front of the Alumni Memorial Gymnasium, facing the mall at the University of Maine, Orono (September 2024). Photo: ToddC4176 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Last checked Oct 30, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).

The short version

Trip at a glance

School
University of Maine (Orono, ME)
Days
2 days: fly in and check in, then a UMaine admissions welcome and student-led campus tour the next day.
Fly into
Bangor International Airport (BGR), about 22 minutes from Hotel Ursa with no traffic.
Best base
Hotel Ursa, on the UMaine campus, about an 8-minute walk or 3-minute drive from the Ferland Center where tours start.
Car or no car
Rent a car. UMaine's lodging list spans Orono and Bangor, and tour visitors park in the Bennett Lot.
Registration
All visitors must pre-register for campus tours on UMaine's events calendar. Walk-in tours aren't available.

1. Who this guide is for

This plan is for parents bringing a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, to see the University of Maine, home of the Black Bears in Orono, Maine.

UMaine sits on Marsh Island between the Stillwater and Penobscot rivers, about 5 miles from Bangor. The photo in this guide shows the Bananas T. Bear statue in front of the Alumni Memorial Gymnasium.

Why this order

  • Day 1: fly into BGR, about 22 minutes from Hotel Ursa on campus or 12 minutes from the Hampton Inn in Bangor, and check in.
  • Day 2: start at the Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center for a brief admissions welcome, then a campus tour led by current students.
  • With extra time, the free Hudson Museum and the Versant Power Astronomy Center are both on campus, each about a 6- to 7-minute walk from the Ferland Center.
Plan ahead: registration and timing
  • Register online or call 207.581.1524 to attend a campus tour. All visitors must pre-register, and walk-in tours aren't available.
  • Tours may not be available during holidays or university student breaks, so check the calendar before you book flights.
  • UMaine's Open House events add academic department tours, lunch in a dining hall and a chance to cheer on the Black Bears at a football or hockey game. Major-specific Enhanced Visits are also listed on the visit page.
  • If you have trouble registering, contact UMaine at 207.581.1524 or um.campustours@maine.edu.
Tour availability varies by season.
  • Winter is cold and snowy: January averages about 28°F highs, 9°F lows and 19 inches of snow at the Bangor airport, and December, February and March each average about 15 inches or more.
  • Summer is mild: July averages about 80°F highs and 59°F lows.
  • Fall is cool and the wettest season: October averages about 58°F highs and 38°F lows with about 4.6 inches of rain, the most of any month.
  • If bad weather is expected, UMaine posts campus closures on its homepage, and you can call 207.581.7669 for updates. Check the Black Bears schedule too, since game days bring extra traffic.

2. The suggested 2-day plan

  • Drive and walk times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, with addresses geocoded by OpenStreetMap Nominatim (Hotel Ursa's position is taken from its Expedia map). Campus times are to the Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center at 75 Long Rd., where tours begin and end.

Day 1: fly into Bangor and check in

  1. Bangor International Airport (BGR) → Hotel Ursa (UMaine campus)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~22 min, 12.0 mi
    Driving
    Rental car

  2. Bangor International Airport (BGR) → Black Bear Inn (Orono)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~17 min, 11.1 mi
    Driving
    Rental car

  3. Bangor International Airport (BGR) → Hampton Inn Bangor

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~12 min, 5.8 mi
    Driving
    Rental car

  4. Bangor International Airport (BGR) → Residence Inn by Marriott Bangor

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~10 min, 5.1 mi
    Driving
    Rental car or hotel airport shuttle
  • The Residence Inn lists a free round-trip airport shuttle on request during daytime hours on Expedia. Confirm hours with the hotel before you land.
  • UMaine says Orono is about 20 minutes north of Bangor International Airport, reached by Union Street to I-95 North.

Day 2: University of Maine campus visit

  1. Hotel Ursa → Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center (75 Long Rd.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~3 min, 0.5 mi (about an 8-minute walk)
    Driving
    Walk or drive

  2. Black Bear Inn → Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center (75 Long Rd.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~9 min, 2.6 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  3. Hampton Inn Bangor → Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center (75 Long Rd.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~18 min, 8.9 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  4. Residence Inn by Marriott Bangor → Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center (75 Long Rd.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~24 min, 14.4 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  5. Ferland Center → Hudson Museum (Collins Center for the Arts)

    Driving (no traffic)
    about a 6-minute walk, 0.3 mi
    Driving
    Walk

  6. Ferland Center → Versant Power Astronomy Center

    Driving (no traffic)
    about a 7-minute walk, 0.3 mi
    Driving
    Walk

  7. Ferland Center → Bangor International Airport (BGR)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~23 min, 12.9 mi
    Driving
    Drive
  • Plan to arrive 15 minutes before your tour to allow time for parking and check-in. Park in a Future Black Bear space in the Bennett Lot across from the Ferland Center.
  • Part of the tour is outdoors, so wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.

3. Campus by campus

A dark bronze statue of a standing bear, the University of Maine mascot Bananas T. Bear, framed by big pink and cream hydrangea blooms, with the red-brick facade of the Alumni Memorial Gymnasium behind it under a gray, drizzly sky
The Bananas T. Bear statue in front of the Alumni Memorial Gymnasium, facing the mall at the University of Maine, Orono (September 2024). Photo: ToddC4176 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

University of Maine (Orono, ME)

Where visits start
  • Campus tours begin and end at the Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center, 75 Long Rd., Orono. There's a brief admissions welcome before the tour starts.
  • Tours are led by current students, and part of the tour takes place outdoors. Tell UMaine when you register if you'll need special accommodations, since the program includes walking.
Visitor parking
  • Park in a Future Black Bear space in the Bennett Lot, across from the Ferland Center.
  • From I-95, take exit 191 to Kelley Road, then Main Street, take the third exit at the traffic circle onto Rangeley Road and turn left onto Long Road. The Ferland Center is on the left and parking is on the right. Check the campus tours page for current construction detours.
Getting there
  • Campus is about 23 minutes by car from BGR with no traffic. UMaine says Orono is about twenty minutes north of the airport.
What to know
  • UMaine describes historic brick buildings housing modern academic and research facilities, and admissions counselors are available to answer questions about applying and student life.
  • For a full map of campus, the building directory and a printable map, use UMaine's campus map page.
Contact
UMaine Undergraduate Admissions: umaineadmissions@maine.edu, 207.581.1561. 115 Estabrooke Hall, Orono, ME 04469. Campus tours: um.campustours@maine.edu, 207.581.1524.

Last checked Oct 30, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: UMaine: Visit (all visit types) · UMaine: Campus Tours (directions, parking, FAQ) · UMaine: While on Campus (hotels, dining, attractions) · UMaine: Open House · UMaine: Campus map

4. Where to stay: on campus in Orono or near the Bangor airport

Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Hotel · Our pickUpscale

Hotel Ursa

1 Moosehead Dr., Orono, ME 04469

Why here

  • It's the hotel UMaine highlights for staying on campus, within walking distance of campus facilities, about an 8-minute walk or 3-minute drive from the Ferland Center with no traffic.
  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 4-star property, so we place it in the Upscale tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists free self-parking, a gym, a café, an on-the-go breakfast for a fee, dogs for a fee and a minimum check-in age of 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateMid-range

Black Bear Inn, an Ascend Collection Hotel

4 Godfrey Dr., Orono, ME 04473

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's on UMaine's lodging list, 1.1 miles from campus by UMaine's count and about 9 minutes by car from the Ferland Center with no traffic.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists free parking, a free self-serve breakfast, a gym, a sauna, a nightly resort fee, pets for a fee and a minimum check-in age of 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateBudget

Hampton Inn Bangor

261 Haskell Rd., Bangor, ME 04401

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 2.5-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's on UMaine's lodging list, about 18 minutes by car from the Ferland Center and 12 minutes from BGR with no traffic.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists free self-parking, a free buffet breakfast, an indoor pool, a gym, pets for a fee and a minimum check-in age of 18. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateMid-range

Residence Inn by Marriott Bangor

22 Bass Park Blvd., Bangor, ME 04401

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's on UMaine's lodging list, about 10 minutes from BGR and 24 minutes by car from the Ferland Center with no traffic.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists a free daytime airport shuttle on request, free self-parking, a free continental breakfast, an indoor pool, in-room kitchens, pets for a fee and a minimum check-in age of 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Stay on campus at Hotel Ursa to walk to the tour, or in Bangor near the airport to save on the drive in: all four hotels are on UMaine's lodging list and within about 25 minutes of the Ferland Center with no traffic.

5. Meals between tours

Hours change, so check before you go.

At the hotels

The Black Bear Inn, Hampton Inn and Residence Inn include breakfast, and Hotel Ursa offers an on-the-go breakfast for a fee.

6. Things for siblings along the route

With siblings

Hudson Museum

Collins Center for the Arts, 2 Flagstaff Rd., Orono, ME

UMaine's museum of ethnographic and archaeological collections, free and open to the public on weekdays and during Collins Center events, closed weekends and holidays. It's inside the Collins Center for the Arts, about a 6-minute walk from the Ferland Center.

Official page →

With siblings

Versant Power Astronomy Center and Maynard Jordan Planetarium

167 Rangeley Rd., Orono, ME 04469

The campus planetarium runs weekly public shows and events each month, including music light shows. It's about a 7-minute walk from the Ferland Center, so check its events page for a show that fits your visit.

Official page →

7. Practical tips

Getting to campus

  • Head for the Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center at 75 Long Rd. and park in a Future Black Bear space in the Bennett Lot across the road.
  • From Hotel Ursa, campus is close enough to walk, about 8 minutes to the Ferland Center.

Flying in and out

  • Bangor International Airport (BGR) is about 23 minutes from campus with no traffic, and the Residence Inn lists a free daytime airport shuttle.

Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Bangor International Airport station)

  • Spring: April averages about 53°F highs and 32°F lows, with about 3.6 inches of rain and 4 inches of snow; May warms to about 66°F/43°F.
  • Summer: July averages about 80°F/59°F, with about 3.2 inches of rain.
  • Fall: October averages about 58°F/38°F, with about 4.6 inches of rain; November averages about 46°F/29°F and 4.3 inches of snow.
  • Winter: January averages about 28°F/9°F, with about 3.2 inches of precipitation and 19 inches of snow.

Parent checklist

  • Pre-register for a campus tour on UMaine's events calendar (walk-ins aren't available).
  • Check that your dates don't fall on a holiday or student break, when tours may not run.
  • Book flights into BGR and plan a rental car.
  • Book a hotel from UMaine's lodging list.
  • Save the Ferland Center (75 Long Rd., Orono) in your map app and plan to arrive 15 minutes early.
  • After each visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.

8. Student-athlete recruiting visits

For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.

Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.

Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.

1 Division I

NCAA basics for parents

  • Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
  • Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
  • Division I (University of Maine): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
  • Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.

Planning around the season

  • Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
  • Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.

Student-athlete sources

All checked Oct 26, 2026.

  1. NCAA, 2026-27 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (pp. 3, 21–25)
  2. NCAA.org: NCAA Recruiting
  3. NCAA: Division I and II Recruiting Calendars and Guides
  4. NCAA Directory: University of Maine
  5. University of Maine Athletics (official site)
  6. University of Maine Athletics: Staff Directory
  7. University of Maine Athletics: schedule of events

Trip planner

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Sources

All checked Oct 30, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.

  1. University of Maine Undergraduate Admissions: Visit
  2. University of Maine Undergraduate Admissions: Campus Tours
  3. University of Maine: Campus Tour registration calendar (official sign-up)
  4. University of Maine Undergraduate Admissions: While on Campus (hotels, dining, attractions)
  5. Expedia listing: Hotel Ursa (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Orono-Hotels-Hotel-Ursa.h98480473.Hotel-Information)
  6. Expedia listing: Black Bear Inn, an Ascend Collection Hotel (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Bangor-Hotels-Black-Bear-Inn-And-Conference-Center.h15765.Hotel-Information)
  7. Expedia listing: Hampton Inn Bangor (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Bangor-Hotels-Hampton-Inn-Bangor.h5171785.Hotel-Information)
  8. Expedia listing: Residence Inn by Marriott Bangor (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Bangor-Hotels-Residence-Inn-By-Marriott-Bangor.h11451255.Hotel-Information)
  9. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), driving and walking profiles
  10. OpenStreetMap Nominatim geocoder
  11. NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Monthly Normals, Bangor Intl AP, ME (USW00014606)
  12. University of Maine: Hudson Museum
  13. University of Maine: Versant Power Astronomy Center and Maynard Jordan Planetarium
  14. Maine Black Bears Athletics: Composite Schedule
  15. University of Maine: Campus Map