Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
65.4 mi
105 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lewiston, ME
Wikimedia Commons
South Sanford, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Lewiston to South Sanford is 65.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 17 minutes via Maine Turnpike and Alfred Road, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Maine, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's a straightforward trip that's mostly highway, making it a convenient option for a quick local excursion. You'll find it’s a practical route for getting between these two towns 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 |
| Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lewiston, ME and South Sanford, ME.
Start on this road
Turn sharp left onto ME 126
Turn left onto US 202
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Turn left onto 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
33 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 32.7 miles from Lewiston, 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 0 and 65.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn sharp left onto ME 126 / Sabattus Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
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
Enter roundabout onto ME 4 / South Sanford Circle
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Regular Gas
$11.56 one way
$23.12 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $12.66 | $25.33 |
| premium | $5.29 | $13.62 | $27.24 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $13.78 | $27.55 |
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
$12
Tolls
$3
Total
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.87 | $3.14 |
| Efficient EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.72 | $2.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.16 | $4.19 |
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
Afternoon in Lewiston on Wednesday
Local time
4:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Sunny
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued May 21 at 2:27AM EDT until May 22 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gray ME
Destination
Afternoon in South Sanford on Wednesday
Local time
4:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Partly Sunny
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued May 21 at 2:27AM EDT until May 22 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Gray ME
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.
This route is primarily highway, with 65% of the drive on major roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 42.4 miles on the Maine Turnpike before transitioning to surface roads like Alfred Road and Washington Street. Expect a fair number of exits and merges as you navigate this section, typical for a highway-focused drive.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and Alfred Road. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near ME 126 / Sabattus Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 65.4 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (ME 126 / Sabattus Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 14.1 miles (I 95 / Maine Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
360 ft
Total Descent
295 ft
Highest Point
303 ft
~14 mi in
Elevation Range
273 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 17m. Total distance: 65.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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