Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
64.5 mi
104 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburn, ME
Wikimedia Commons
South Sanford, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Auburn to South Sanford is 64.5 miles and takes about 1h 16m via Maine Turnpike and Alfred Road, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Maine, connecting two points in the Northeast region. The route is predominantly highway, making it a quick transit rather than a scenic exploration. It's a straightforward drive that's easy to fit into a busy schedule, offering a practical way to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Turnpike | 42.4 mi | 46m |
| Alfred Road | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| Washington Street | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| Alfred Street | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Jordan Springs Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Biddeford Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Minot Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Sanford Circle | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, ME and South Sanford, ME.
Start on US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
Turn slight left onto US 202; ME 4; ME 100
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Take the exit
Turn right onto ME 111
Continue on ME 111
Continue on ME 111
Turn left onto ME 4
Continue on ME 4
Enter roundabout onto ME 4
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 32.2 miles from Auburn, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 64.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Maine Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward ME 111: Biddeford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn right onto ME 111 / Alfred Street
Navigation decision point
Enter roundabout onto ME 4 / South Sanford Circle
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Regular Gas
$10.74 one way
$21.49 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.70 | $11.92 | $23.84 |
| premium | $5.07 | $12.86 | $25.73 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $14.22 | $28.44 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.54
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$3
Total
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.77 | $3.10 |
| Efficient EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.64 | $2.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.03 | $4.13 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Auburn on Friday
Local time
6:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Mostly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
Destination
Morning in South Sanford on Friday
Local time
6:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Chance Rain Showers
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
You'll spend about 66% of this 64.5-mile drive on the highway, specifically the Maine Turnpike for a stretch of 42.4 miles. After that, you'll transition to surface roads like Alfred Road and Washington Street. Expect a more suburban feel as you approach your destination, with more frequent exits and potential for local traffic. The highway portion offers consistent speed, while the latter part requires more attention to local conditions.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and Alfred Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 16m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 13.1 miles (I 95 / Maine Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 47.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
396 ft
Total Descent
305 ft
Highest Point
315 ft
~18.4 mi in
Elevation Range
264 ft
Lewiston-Auburn is a city in Androscoggin County, in the central Maine region of Maine. The Androscoggin River divides the city into two separate municipalities: the east bank is Lewiston, with a population of about 39,000 (2016), and the west bank is Auburn, with about 23,000 people (2016). They are known locally as the "Twin Cities" or "L–A".
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 64.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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