Vittles restaurant
Around the midpoint, short detour
Pittsfield, Maine
Hours: Closed
+12074878181
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 10m
Distance
222.7 mi
358 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
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
Medway, ME
PhotoShoot Studio | Candid, Birthday Pre Wedding, Baby, Maternity & Child Photographer in Pune Ps Studio
Sanford, ME to Medway, ME is 222.7 miles and takes about 4h 10m via Maine Turnpike and I-295, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maine, moving from the southern part of the state up through its central region. Given the relatively short duration and consistent highway travel, it’s a straightforward drive suitable for a single day. You'll find the bulk of the miles are on major interstates, making for efficient travel between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
111.3 miles from Sanford, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Turnpike | 153.1 mi | 2h 42m |
| I 295 | 52.5 mi | 1h 1m |
| Alfred Road | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| Sanford Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Biddeford Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Alfred Street | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Cottage Street | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| Medway Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 39 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,557 veh/hr typical · worst 3,064
Quietest
2 AM
~87 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
29.4×
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 Medway, 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
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto ME 157
Turn sharp left onto Town Road
Turn right onto Village Lane
Turn right onto Schoolhouse Road
Continue on School Street
At end of road, turn right onto Main Road
Arrive at destination
For this 4h 10m drive, leaving Sanford in the morning will give you ample time to reach Medway comfortably. Since it’s a single-day trip, you have flexibility in departure time. The $40 fuel estimate is based on the 222.7 miles, so ensure your tank is full before you leave or plan a stop. The longest stretch without a major change in road type is over 150 miles, so plan your first break around the midpoint of your highway driving to stretch your legs. Watch for the transition from highway to local roads as you near Medway.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 49 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.3 miles or 2h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Medway, ME than in the middle of the route.
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 222.7 miles and 4h 10m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
111 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 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 111.3 miles from Sanford, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Maine Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 153.1 miles.
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 · around the midpoint
Pittsfield, Maine
Around the midpoint, short detour
Hours: Closed
+12074878181
Roca Azul Mexican Restaurant Bangor
Bangor, Maine
The Back Alley Bar & Restaurant
Bangor, Maine
Best coffee break · home stretch
Medway, Maine
Near the end, right off the route
Hours: 6 am–8 pm
+12077466009
Nom Cafe
Portland, Maine
Freeport Cafe
Freeport, Maine
Around the midpoint, short detour
Pittsfield, Maine
Hours: Closed
+12074878181
Visit websiteLater in the drive, right off the route
Bangor, Maine
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+12073077097
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Bangor, Maine
Hours: 5–9 pm
+12073077056
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Brewer, Maine
Hours: 11 am–6 pm
+12074019115
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Brewer, Maine
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+12079893300
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Bangor, Maine
Hours: 4–8 pm
+12075731136
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Bangor, Maine
Hours: 11 am–8:45 pm
+12079479991
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Waterville, Maine
Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm
+12078732828
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Medway, Maine
Hours: 6 am–8 pm
+12077466009
Near the start, short detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 9 am–2 pm
+12076139332
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Freeport, Maine
Hours: 7 am–2 pm
+12078695113
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 11 AM–1:30 PM
Visit websiteLater in the drive, ~9 min detour
Old Town, Maine
Hours: 6:30 am–9 pm
+12078274277
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Bangor, Maine
Hours: 12–5 pm
+12079477193
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
South Portland, Maine
Hours: 11 am–5 pm
+12077678227
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 12–8:15 pm
+12076193775
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Bangor, Maine
Hours: 5–11 pm
+12078485850
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+12072337485
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
South Portland, Maine
Hours: 1–7 pm
+12072746007
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Portland, Maine
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+12077741822
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Bangor, Maine
Hours: 11 am–11:30 pm
+12074330844
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.5 and 222.3 — 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 right at fork onto I 295 toward Downtown Portland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward ME 157: Medway, Millinocket
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn sharp left onto Town Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Regular Gas
$39.37 one way
$78.73 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $43.12 | $86.24 |
| premium | $5.29 | $46.37 | $92.74 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $46.91 | $93.81 |
Estimated Tolls: $9.19
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
$39
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 66.8 | 0 | $23.38 | $10.69 |
| Efficient EV | 55.7 | 0 | $19.49 | $8.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 89.1 | 1 | $31.18 | $14.25 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
3:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Scattered Rain Showers
Destination
Afternoon in Medway on Wednesday
Local time
3:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Areas Of Frost
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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
National Monument
Spread across a wild landscape offering spectacular views of Katahdin, Katahdin Woods and Waters invites discovery of its rivers, streams, woods, flora, fauna, geology, and the night skies that have a...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
You'll spend most of your time on highways, with 92% of the drive utilizing major roads like the Maine Turnpike and I-295. The longest continuous stretch on these highways is 153.1 miles. After this extended highway portion, you'll transition to surface roads, so expect a change in pace and potentially more local traffic as you approach your destination. Keep an eye out for the increase in exit activity as you get closer to populated areas.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Maine Turnpike and I 295. 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 is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 222.7 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: 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; at 221.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
721 ft
Total Descent
747 ft
Highest Point
486 ft
~143.1 mi in
Elevation Range
464 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sanford, ME and Medway, ME, road signs point toward Augusta and Portland.
Augusta
Portland
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 4h 10m. Total distance: 222.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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