Origin
Sanford, ME
Morning in Sanford on Tuesday
Local time
8:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sanford, ME to Strong, ME
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 33m
Distance
119.1 mi
192 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 23m
★
6 AM
2h 34m
8 AM
2h 54m
10 AM
2h 41m
12 PM
2h 39m
3 PM
2h 42m
5 PM
2h 53m
8 PM
2h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sanford, ME
Wikimedia Commons
Strong, ME
Krzysztof Biernat
Trip Overview
Sanford, ME to Strong, ME is 119.1 miles and takes about 2h 33m via Maine Turnpike and Auburn Road, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maine, connecting two points in the Northeast region. You'll experience a mix of highway driving and surface roads as you make your way north. With a single recommended day, this route is manageable for a day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
59.6 miles from Sanford, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m 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 |
| Main Street | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| Alfred Road | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| Farmington Road | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Washington Street | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| US Route 2 East | 4.2 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Maine Turnpike
— 42.7 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sanford, ME and Strong, 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
·
11 sec
·
Bridge Street
23
At end of road, turn left onto ME 4; ME 17
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Main Street
24
Merge onto US 2; ME 4
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
United States Highway 2
25
Continue on US 2; ME 4
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
US Route 2 East
26
Continue on US 2; ME 4
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Wilton Road
27
Turn left onto Oakes Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Oakes Street
28
Continue on Town Farm Road
3.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Town Farm Road
29
At end of road, turn left onto ME 4
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Fairbanks Road
30
Continue on ME 4
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Farmington Road
31
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
South Main Street
32
Turn straight onto Lambert Hill Road
124 ft
·
2 sec
·
Lambert Hill Road
33
Arrive at destination
Lambert Hill Road
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 33m estimated drive time, leaving Sanford, ME in the morning is ideal to maximize your time in Strong, ME. You can easily complete this drive in one day, so there's no need to rush. The estimated fuel cost is $19, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before departing. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in how you pace your travel. Keep an eye out for the transition from the Maine Turnpike to Auburn Road, as this marks a significant change in the driving environment as you move from highway to surface roads.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 59.6 miles from Sanford, ME, or about 1h 11m 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 26 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.6 miles or 1h 11m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Strong, 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.
+
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 119.1 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Sanford, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
60 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 59.6 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 63.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Washington Street
Turn right onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.17 one way
$38.35 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $21.10 | $42.19 |
| premium | $4.86 | $22.81 | $45.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.30 | $52.59 |
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
$19
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.7 | 0 | $12.51 | $5.72 |
| Efficient EV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.42 | $4.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47.6 | 0 | $16.67 | $7.62 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Strong, ME
Morning in Strong on Tuesday
Local time
8:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Auburn, ME
60 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
1 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
2h 33m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
About 40% of this 119.1-mile drive is on highways. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 42.7 miles on the Maine Turnpike. After this highway segment, you'll transition to surface roads like Auburn Road and Federal Road for the remainder of the trip. Expect to notice a shift from faster highway speeds to more local traffic and potentially more intersections as you move onto these surface roads.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
33 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?
9/10
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 early in the drive near Washington Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 119.1 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: near the start (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Strong, 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
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 2h 33m. Total distance: 119.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). 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 Strong, ME before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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: near the start (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Strong, 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 EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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