Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 7, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 43m
Distance
82.3 mi
132 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
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
Leeds, ME
Ollie Craig
The drive from Sanford, ME to Leeds, ME covers 82.3 miles and takes about 1h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Maine Turnpike, Alfred Road, Route 202 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 42.7 miles on Maine Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.71 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.1 miles from Sanford, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Turnpike | 42.7 mi | 47m |
| Alfred Road | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| Route 202 | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| State Route 106 | 6.2 mi | 10m |
| Main Street | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Washington Street | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Sanford Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Biddeford Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Sanford, ME and Leeds, 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 left at fork onto I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
Take the exit
At end of road, turn left onto US 202; ME 4
Merge onto US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100
Turn right onto US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Continue on US 202; ME 11; ME 100
Turn left onto ME 106
Turn left onto Church Hill Road
Arrive at destination
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.
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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.1 miles or 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Leeds, ME than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Sanford, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sanford, ME
This is one driving day of about 82.3 miles and 1h 43m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 41.1 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 58.5 — 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 left at fork onto I 95 / Maine Turnpike toward I 95 North: Lewiston, Augusta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 202, ME 4, ME 100: Auburn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$13.71 one way
$27.42 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.70 | $15.21 | $30.43 |
| premium | $5.07 | $16.41 | $32.83 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $18.14 | $36.28 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.56
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
$14
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.7 | 0 | $8.64 | $3.95 |
| Efficient EV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.20 | $3.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.9 | 0 | $11.52 | $5.27 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Evening in Sanford on Monday
Local time
7:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Clear
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued August 28 at 9:31PM EDT until August 29 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Caribou ME
Destination
Evening in Leeds on Monday
Local time
7:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Clear
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued August 28 at 9:31PM EDT until August 29 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Caribou ME
55°F
Auburn, ME
41 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
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.
82.3 mi in 1h 43m, mostly highway — 42.7 mi of that is on Maine Turnpike.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and Alfred Road. 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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82.3 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: 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
418 ft
Total Descent
422 ft
Highest Point
341 ft
~70.5 mi in
Elevation Range
297 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Sanford, ME to Leeds, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Augusta along the way.
Augusta
Founded 1739
Sanford is a small town is southern Maine. It includes the village of Springvale.
Top landmarks
Founded 1801
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 82.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). 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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