Why Mainers Measure Distance in Minutes Instead of Miles

Ask someone in Maine how far it is to the next town and there's a pretty good chance they won't give you a number of miles.

Instead, you'll hear something like, "Oh, it's about 20 minutes."

Ask how far it is to Bangor and you might get, "About an hour from here." The lake? Fifteen minutes. The nearest grocery store? Maybe 10 minutes. The camp? Forty-five minutes—unless it's mud [...]

Things People Don’t Understand About Living in Northern Maine Until They Move Here