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Trip from Sanford, ME to Livermore Falls, ME

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Compiled 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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 43m ★
6 AM
1h 51m
8 AM
2h 8m
10 AM
1h 57m
12 PM
1h 55m
3 PM
1h 58m
5 PM
2h 7m
8 PM
1h 46m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Sanford, ME, ME

Sanford, ME

Wikimedia Commons

town in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States

Livermore Falls, ME

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

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 .

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: Maine Turnpike — 42.7 mi, about 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sanford, ME and Livermore Falls, 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 left at fork onto I 95

22 mi · 25 min · Maine Turnpike
Toward I 95 North: Lewiston, Augusta
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95

8.1 mi · 8 min · Maine Turnpike
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward US 202, ME 4, ME 100: Auburn
15

At end of road, turn left onto US 202; ME 4

4.2 mi · 6 min · Washington Street
16

Merge onto US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100

0.5 mi · 38 sec · Minot Avenue
17

Continue on ME 4

0.4 mi · 30 sec · Union Street Bypass
Use the straight / right lanes.
18

Merge onto ME 4

2.9 mi · 3 min · Center Street
Use the straight lane.
19

Continue on ME 4

2.9 mi · 3 min · Turner Road
20

Continue on ME 4

13 mi · 14 min · Auburn Road
21

Continue on ME 4

9.5 mi · 10 min · Federal Road
22

Continue on ME 4

510 ft · 9 sec · Bridge Street
23

At end of road, turn right onto ME 17

198 ft · 3 sec · Main Street
24

Turn left onto Church Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Church Street
25

Arrive at destination

Church Street

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.1 miles from Sanford, ME, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.7 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 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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Sanford, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Maine Turnpike for about 42.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Maine, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Auburn, ME

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Biddeford, ME

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ireland Corner, ME

Meal break

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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · final third

Thatcher's Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Auburn, Maine

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third · 32min to go 0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 11 am–7 pm

+12077822135

Visit website

La Fleurs Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Jay, Maine

2 mi

Orchid Lewiston

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lewiston, Maine

2.3 mi

Thatcher's Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Auburn, Maine

Hours: 11 am–7 pm

+12077822135

Visit website

La Fleurs Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Jay, Maine

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+12078972117

Visit website

Orchid Lewiston

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $20 to $30

Lewiston, Maine

Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm

+12077530389

Visit website

The Heritage Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Lewiston, Maine

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

+12075137005

Nom Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

Early stretch 3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20

Portland, Maine

Hours: 9 am–2 pm

+12076139332

Visit website

Artemisia Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

Early stretch 3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour $20 to $30

Portland, Maine

Hours: 11 AM–1:30 PM

Visit website

Governor's Restaurant & Bakery

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~10 min detour

Final third 4 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20

Lewiston, Maine

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+12077530173

Visit website

Riverbank Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Westbrook, Maine

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

Visit website

Maine Escape Games

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

South Portland, Maine

Hours: 1–7 pm

+12072746007

Visit website

Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 3 mi from route ~7 min detour

South Portland, Maine

Hours: 4–8 pm

+12078087696

Visit website

FunZ Trampoline Park

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Lewiston, Maine

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+12077833888

Visit website

The Escape Room

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

Early stretch 3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour

Portland, Maine

Hours: 12–8:15 pm

+12076193775

Visit website

Portland Observatory

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

Early stretch 4 mi from route ~10 min detour

Portland, Maine

+12072531800

Visit website

Maine Day Ventures/ formerly Maine Foodie Tours

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

Early stretch 4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour

Portland, Maine

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+12072337485

Visit website

Fuller Farm

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~10 min detour

Early stretch 3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour

Scarborough, Maine

Hours: 5 am–9 pm

+12072891199

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

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.

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
6
28 mi into trip | ~35m in | I 95 / Maine Turnpike

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

Toward I 95 North: Lewiston, Augusta
5
58.5 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in

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

Toward US 202, ME 4, ME 100: Auburn
5
63.9 mi into trip | ~1h 18m in | ME 4 / Center Street

Merge onto ME 4 / Center Street

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
92 mi into trip | ~1h 50m in | ME 17 / Main Street

At end of road, turn right onto ME 17 / Main Street

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.52 one way

$25.05 round trip

$3.45/gal 25.4 MPG avg 32 kg CO2
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

Maine Turnpike (42.7 mi) $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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Oct 18, 2026

Origin

Sanford, ME

Evening in Sanford on Sunday

Local time

6:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

24°F

Clear

NW 0 to 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Livermore Falls, ME

Evening in Livermore Falls on Sunday

Local time

6:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

26°F

Clear

W 0 to 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

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

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

1h 51m on the road

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.

What kind of drive is this?

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.

46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.7 mi on Maine Turnpike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

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 around 15.5 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

433 ft 71 ft

Total Climb

436 ft

Total Descent

341 ft

Highest Point

433 ft

~85.6 mi in

Elevation Range

362 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

15.5 mi in | ~22m

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 Livermore Falls, ME

Full guide →

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 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 42.7 miles on Maine Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $2.56 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 Livermore Falls, ME before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

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: 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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Livermore Falls, 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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Sanford, ME or browse trips ending in Livermore Falls, ME.

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