Thatcher's Restaurant
Later in the drive, right off the route
Auburn, Maine
Hours: 11 am–7 pm
+12077822135
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 51m
Distance
92.2 mi
148 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
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
Livermore Falls, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Sanford, ME to Livermore Falls, ME is 92.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 51 minutes via Maine Turnpike and surface roads, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maine, taking you from the southern part of the state up towards the central region. The route offers a mix of highway speeds and local cruising, making it a straightforward drive for a single day. Given the manageable distance and duration, it's a good option for a day trip or an easy leg of a longer New England adventure.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.1 miles from Sanford, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Turnpike | 42.7 mi | 47m |
| Auburn Road | 12.7 mi | 14m |
| Federal Road | 9.5 mi | 10m |
| Alfred Road | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| Washington Street | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Center Street | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Turner Road | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Sanford Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Sanford, ME and Livermore Falls, 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
Continue on ME 4
Merge onto ME 4
Continue on ME 4
Continue on ME 4
Continue on ME 4
Continue on ME 4
At end of road, turn right onto ME 17
Turn left onto Church Street
Arrive at destination
For this 92.2-mile trip, departing Sanford in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight, especially since it's a single-day drive taking under two hours. With only a 1 hour 51 minute estimated duration, you likely won't need many stops, but it's wise to take a break around the 40-mile mark, perhaps as you exit the Maine Turnpike. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $15, so topping up before you leave Sanford or shortly after exiting the highway would be prudent. The flexibility of a shorter drive like this means you can adjust your timing based on traffic or if you decide to make an impromptu stop along the way.
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 20 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.1 miles or 56m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Livermore Falls, 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 92.2 miles and 1h 51m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
46 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 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 46.1 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.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Best meal stop · final third
Auburn, Maine
Later in the drive, right off the route
Hours: 11 am–7 pm
+12077822135
La Fleurs Restaurant
Jay, Maine
Orchid Lewiston
Lewiston, Maine
Later in the drive, right off the route
Auburn, Maine
Hours: 11 am–7 pm
+12077822135
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Jay, Maine
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+12078972117
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Lewiston, Maine
Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm
+12077530389
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Lewiston, Maine
Hours: 9 am–8 pm
+12075137005
Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 9 am–2 pm
+12076139332
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 11 AM–1:30 PM
Visit websiteLater in the drive, ~10 min detour
Lewiston, Maine
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+12077530173
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Westbrook, Maine
Hours: 7 am–6 pm
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
South Portland, Maine
Hours: 1–7 pm
+12072746007
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
South Portland, Maine
Hours: 4–8 pm
+12078087696
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Lewiston, Maine
Hours: 10 am–9 pm
+12077833888
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 12–8:15 pm
+12076193775
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Portland, Maine
+12072531800
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+12072337485
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, ~10 min detour
Scarborough, Maine
Hours: 5 am–9 pm
+12072891199
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.5 and 92 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
Merge onto ME 4 / Center Street
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
At end of road, turn right onto ME 17 / Main Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Regular Gas
$12.52 one way
$25.05 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $13.98 | $27.95 |
| premium | $4.15 | $15.06 | $30.13 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $13.61 | $27.22 |
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
$13
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.7 | 0 | $9.68 | $4.43 |
| Efficient EV | 23.1 | 0 | $8.07 | $3.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.9 | 0 | $12.91 | $5.90 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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 Sunday
Local time
6:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
24°F
Clear
Destination
Evening in Livermore Falls on Sunday
Local time
6:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
26°F
Clear
34°F
Auburn, ME
46 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.
This drive involves 46% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on the Maine Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 42.7 miles. After leaving the Turnpike, expect to transition to surface roads like Auburn Road and Federal Road, which will likely involve more local traffic and varied speed limits. You'll notice the change in road type as you move from faster highway travel to more integrated local routes.
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 around 15.5 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 92.2 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 15.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28 miles (I 95 / Maine Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
436 ft
Total Descent
341 ft
Highest Point
433 ft
~85.6 mi in
Elevation Range
362 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Sanford, ME to Livermore Falls, 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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 92.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). 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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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