Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
34.4 mi
55 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portland, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Sanford, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Portland to Sanford, Maine, is a quick 34.4-mile journey that typically takes about 46 minutes behind the wheel. Because of the short distance, this trip is perfectly suited as a simple day outing rather than an overnight excursion. You will primarily navigate via the Maine Turnpike, I-295, and Alfred Road to reach your destination. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $6, this is an efficient way to traverse the Northeast region. The route offers a straightforward connection between these two Maine cities, making it an easy addition to your travel itinerary. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, the lack of required stops ensures a direct and hassle-free transit.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Turnpike | 11.6 mi | 12m |
| Alfred Road | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| I 295 | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Sanford Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Biddeford Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Alfred Street | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Cottage Street | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| Park Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Portland, ME and Sanford, ME.
Start on Congress Street
Turn right onto Brown Street
Turn left onto Cumberland Avenue
Turn right onto ME 77
Turn left onto Park Avenue
Continue on Congress Street
Turn left onto Fore River Parkway
Take the ramp onto US 1A
Merge onto I 295; US 1
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Turn right onto ME 111
Continue on ME 111
Continue on ME 111
Continue on US 202; ME 4A
Continue on US 202; ME 4A
Turn left onto River Street
Continue on Washington Street
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.2 miles from Portland, 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 0.1 and 18.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Brown Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Cumberland Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto ME 77 / High Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Fore River Parkway
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward ME 111: Biddeford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Regular Gas
$5.54 one way
$11.08 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.09 | $12.19 |
| premium | $4.86 | $6.59 | $13.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.60 | $15.19 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.70
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.61 | $1.65 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.01 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.82 | $2.20 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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
Late night in Portland on Sunday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Destination
Late night in Sanford on Sunday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
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.
Expect a mixed driving experience that shifts from major thoroughfares to more localized transit. The highway portion accounts for 48% of your journey, providing a fast pace during the initial segments. You will spend your longest uninterrupted time on the road covering an 11.6-mile stretch along the Maine Turnpike. As you transition away from the interstate, the character of the road changes, requiring you to adjust to the flow of Alfred Road. This combination of high-speed highway travel and secondary road driving keeps the commute engaging without becoming overly taxing.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Brown 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 34.4 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 0.1 miles (Brown Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Cumberland Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (ME 77 / High Street): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
637 ft
Total Descent
327 ft
Highest Point
387 ft
~33 mi in
Elevation Range
369 ft
Sanford is a small town is southern Maine. It includes the village of Springvale.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 34.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). 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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