Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
39.6 mi
64 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sanford, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Falmouth Foreside, ME
Dominykas Sen
Sanford to Falmouth Foreside is 39.6 miles and takes about 54 minutes via Maine Turnpike and I 295, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip within the Northeast region, staying entirely within Maine. You'll experience a mixed drive, making it a convenient option for a quick journey. Given the short distance and duration, this route is ideal for a same-day trip, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Turnpike | 12.2 mi | 13m |
| Alfred Road | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| I 295 | 7.2 mi | 10m |
| Sanford Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Foreside Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Biddeford Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Alfred Street | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Cottage Street | 1.2 mi | 3m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 23 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,013 veh/hr typical · worst 3,512
Quietest
2 AM
~96 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
31.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Sanford, ME and Falmouth Foreside, ME.
Start on this road
Turn right onto Washington Street
Continue on River Street
Turn right onto US 202; ME 4A
Continue on US 202; ME 4A
Continue on ME 111
Continue on ME 111
Continue on ME 111
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
Take the exit onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Turn right onto ME 88
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 19.8 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 35.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 North Toll: Portland, Augusta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 toward Downtown Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto US 1 toward US 1 North: Falmouth, Foreside
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$7.00 one way
$14.00 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $7.67 | $15.33 |
| premium | $5.29 | $8.25 | $16.49 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $8.34 | $16.68 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.73
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.16 | $1.90 |
| Efficient EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.47 | $1.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.54 | $2.53 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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 Sanford on Wednesday
Local time
4:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Patchy Fog then Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Afternoon in Falmouth Foreside on Wednesday
Local time
4:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°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.
This route offers a mixed drive experience, with 53% of it on highways. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the Maine Turnpike, including a longest stretch of 12.2 miles without needing to exit. The drive transitions from local roads like Alfred Road to faster highway sections on the Maine Turnpike and I 295. Expect a blend of efficient travel and more local road navigation as you make your way north.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Washington 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 39.6 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 (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
295 ft
Total Descent
487 ft
Highest Point
306 ft
Elevation Range
277 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sanford, ME and Falmouth Foreside, ME, road signs point toward Augusta, Portland and Foreside.
Augusta
Portland
Foreside
Founded 1739
Sanford is a small town is southern Maine. It includes the village of Springvale.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 39.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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