Origin
Sanford, ME
Late night in Sanford on Friday
Local time
5:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sanford, ME to Camden, ME
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 40m
Distance
114.3 mi
184 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 30m
★
6 AM
2h 40m
8 AM
3h 1m
10 AM
2h 48m
12 PM
2h 46m
3 PM
2h 49m
5 PM
3h 0m
8 PM
2h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sanford, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Camden, ME
Lonneke Meijer
Trip Overview
Sanford to Camden is 114.3 miles and takes about 2h 40m via I 295 and Route 1, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maine, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a manageable drive that combines highway cruising with surface road travel, making it suitable for a single day. You'll want to factor in the time it takes to transition from faster roads to slower ones as you get closer to your destination. Consider this a straightforward route for a quick escape.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
57.1 miles from Sanford, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 295 | 28.2 mi | 34m |
| Route 1 | 19 mi | 26m |
| Maine Turnpike | 12.2 mi | 13m |
| Mill Street | 9.2 mi | 13m |
| Atlantic Highway | 9.1 mi | 13m |
| Alfred Road | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| Camden Road | 6.3 mi | 8m |
| West Street | 4.1 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 28.2 mi, about 34m
Traffic on I-295
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 78 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,550 veh/hr typical · worst 3,104
Quietest
2 AM
~86 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
29.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sanford, ME and Camden, ME.
1
Start on this road
89 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Washington Street
3
Continue on River Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
River Street
4
Turn right onto US 202; ME 4A
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Cottage Street
5
Continue on US 202; ME 4A
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Sanford Road
6
Continue on ME 111
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Biddeford Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on ME 111
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Alfred Road
8
Continue on ME 111
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Alfred Street
9
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
1 min
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 95 North Toll: Portland, Augusta
11
Merge onto I 95
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Maine Turnpike
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
28 mi
·
34 min
·
I 295
Exit 44
Toward Downtown Portland
Use the slight right lane.
13
Take the exit
1.3 mi
·
2 min
Exit 28
Toward US 1: Brunswick, Bath, Coastal Route
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on US 1
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Pleasant Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto Mill Street
9.2 mi
·
13 min
·
Mill Street
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on US 1
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
17
Continue on US 1
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Route 1
18
Continue on US 1
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Bath Road
19
Continue on US 1; ME 27
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
20
Continue on US 1; ME 27
8.7 mi
·
12 min
·
Route 1
21
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Route 1
22
Continue on US 1
9.1 mi
·
13 min
·
Atlantic Highway
23
Turn left onto ME 90
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Camden Road
24
Continue on ME 90
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Farwell Drive
25
Continue on ME 90
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
West Street
26
Turn left onto US 1
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Commercial Street
27
Continue on US 1
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Elm Street
28
Turn right onto Bay View Street
22 ft
·
1 sec
·
Bay View Street
29
Arrive at destination
Bay View Street
Trip Plan
For this 2 hour and 40 minute drive, leaving Sanford in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. With only 1 recommended stop and a relatively short distance, you have flexibility. The fuel cost is estimated at $19, so fill up before you leave or at a convenient point along the Maine Turnpike. Pay attention as you transition from I 295 to Route 1, as this is where the driving pace will change significantly.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 57.1 miles from Sanford, ME, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 25 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.1 miles or 1h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Camden, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sanford, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sanford, ME
This is one driving day of about 114.3 miles and 2h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Sanford, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 295 for about 28.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 57.1 miles from Sanford, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 58.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Washington Street
Turn right onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
7
15.5 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 North Toll: Portland, Augusta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 North Toll: Portland, Augusta
8
28 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
I 295
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 toward Downtown Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 44
Toward Downtown Portland
8
56.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Brunswick, Bath, Coastal Route
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 28
Toward US 1: Brunswick, Bath, Coastal Route
5
58.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
Mill Street
Turn left onto Mill Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.04 one way
$38.08 round trip
$4.23/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.70 | $21.13 | $42.26 |
| premium | $5.07 | $22.80 | $45.59 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $25.20 | $50.39 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.73
Maine Turnpike
(12.2 mi)
$0.73
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.3 | 0 | $12.00 | $5.49 |
| Efficient EV | 28.6 | 0 | $10.00 | $4.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.7 | 0 | $16.00 | $7.32 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Camden, ME
Late night in Camden on Friday
Local time
5:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Brunswick, ME
57 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 40m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Frances Perkins National Monument
National Monument
Known as the first woman to hold a presidential cabinet position and the “Woman behind the New Deal,” Frances Perkins championed many labor rights that Americans enjoy today, including safety standard...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 82.7
Park Closure: For Current Visitor Information
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This 114.3-mile drive is mixed highway and surface road. About 52% of the route is on highways like I 295 and the Maine Turnpike. The longest stretch on a single highway is 28.2 miles on I 295. Expect to transition from faster highway speeds to more typical surface road speeds around the halfway point, with more frequent exits and potentially slower traffic as you approach Camden.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.2 mi on I 295.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Washington Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 114.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
306 ft
20 ft
Total Climb
314 ft
Total Descent
588 ft
Highest Point
306 ft
Elevation Range
286 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sanford, ME and Camden, ME, road signs point toward Augusta, Portland, Bath and Coastal Route.
Augusta
15.5 mi in
|
~22m
Portland
28 mi in
|
~35m
|
via I 295
Bath
56.2 mi in
|
~1h 10m
Coastal Route
56.2 mi in
|
~1h 10m
About the Cities
Starting in Sanford, ME
Full guide →Founded 1739
Sanford is a small town is southern Maine. It includes the village of Springvale.
Top landmarks
- • Sanford Mills Historic District — historic district in Maine, United States
Arriving in Camden, ME
Full guide →Founded 1791
Camden is an affluent town in the state of Maine, a little over an hour north of Portland, in the mid-coast region of Maine. It has been a tourist destination for years and is home to some of the wealthiest individuals in Maine. It had an economic boom in the 1990s when credit card giant MBNA placed major offices there and paid for major town renovations while providing jobs to locals. Now it is an upscale seaside community with many different shops and restaurants.
Top landmarks
- • Grace Bailey — schooner
- • Lewis R. French — 1871 schooner launched in Maine
- • Mercantile — 1914–1916 Schooner built in Maine
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 40m. Total distance: 114.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.2 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.73 in tolls one way, starting with Maine Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Camden, ME before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through ME can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28 miles (I 295): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Frances Perkins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Camden, ME before heading back.
How this page is built
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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