How far is Bar Harbor, ME from Sanford, ME?

The driving distance from Bar Harbor, ME to Sanford, ME is about 209 miles (336.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 38m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 143.7 miles (231.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 16m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
209 mi
03h 38m
Flight
143.73 mi
231.31 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bar Harbor.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
143.73 mi
Kilometers
231.31 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
209 mi
Kilometers
336.36 km
Drive Time
03h 38m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 38m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sanford
Tue, May 12, 9:46 PM EDT
Return by in Bar Harbor
Wed, May 13, 1:24 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bar Harbor
2026-05-12T18:07
Arrive Sanford
Tue, May 12, 9:46 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 38m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:38 AM to 11:38 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:44 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bar Harbor
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Windsor
ME

Town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States

From Bar Harbor
96.7 mi
01h 49m
To Sanford
112.3 mi
01h 49m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Bar Harbor Weather
ME
Live fallback forecast
54°F
Tuesday
Using Ellsworth as the closest live forecast in the Hancock County weather hub.

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph NW
Destination
59°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bar Harbor and Sanford.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bar Harbor and Sanford.

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    8 m · 7 sec · Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Mount Desert Street

    2478 ft · 44 sec · Mount Desert Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Eagle Lake Road

    5.8 mi · 9 min · Eagle Lake Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Sound Drive

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Sound Drive

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Main Street

    3243 ft · 55 sec · Main Street

  6. 6

    Continue on State Highway 102

    3.5 mi · 5 min · State Highway 102

  7. 7

    Continue on Triangle Road

    696 ft · 18 sec · Triangle Road

  8. 8

    At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 3

    739 ft · 16 sec · State Highway 3

  9. 9

    Continue on Bar Harbor Road

    6.7 mi · 12 min · Bar Harbor Road

  10. 10

    Continue on High Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · High Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Beechland Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Beechland Road

  12. 12

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Bayside Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Bayside Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Water Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · Water Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    806 ft · 10 sec · West Main Street

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on Main Street

    85 m · 4 sec · Main Street

  16. 16

    Continue on Bucksport Road

    8.5 mi · 10 min · Bucksport Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Acadia Highway

    9.4 mi · 11 min · Acadia Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on Route 1

    1.6 km · 1 min · Route 1

  19. 19

    Continue on Main Street

    41 m · 9 sec · Main Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Route 1

    682 ft · 17 sec · Route 1

  21. 21

    Continue on US Highway 1

    1.2 mi · 3 min · US Highway 1

  22. 22

    Continue on Route 1

    13.4 mi · 16 min · Route 1

  23. 23

    Continue on Searsport Avenue

    2.7 mi · 5 min · Searsport Avenue

  24. 24

    Continue on Route 1

    1.1 km · 1 min · Route 1

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right

    1414 ft · 39 sec

  26. 26

    Keep slight right

    114 m · 12 sec

  27. 27

    Merge slight left onto Belmont Avenue

    3.9 mi · 5 min · Belmont Avenue

  28. 28

    Continue on Augusta Road

    4.8 mi · 5 min · Augusta Road

  29. 29

    Continue on Belfast Augusta Road East

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Belfast Augusta Road East

  30. 30

    Continue on Acadia Highway

    4 mi · 4 min · Acadia Highway

  31. 31

    Continue on Belfast Augusta Road

    17.6 mi · 21 min · Belfast Augusta Road

  32. 32

    Continue on Belfast Road

    1077 ft · 17 sec · Belfast Road

  33. 33

    Continue on North Belfast Avenue

    8.1 mi · 12 min · North Belfast Avenue

  34. 34

    Turn left onto North Belfast Avenue

    1.6 km · 2 min · North Belfast Avenue

  35. 35

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Bangor Street

    2936 ft · 53 sec · Bangor Street

  36. 36

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Cony Circle

    49 m · 3 sec · Memorial Drive

  37. 37

    Exit the rotary onto Memorial Drive

    1.1 km · 2 min · Memorial Drive

  38. 38

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Memorial Circle

    122 m · 7 sec · State Street

  39. 39

    Exit the rotary onto State Street

    1007 ft · 19 sec · State Street

  40. 40

    Turn right onto Capitol Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · Capitol Street

  41. 41

    Turn straight onto Armory Street

    915 ft · 20 sec · Armory Street

  42. 42

    Turn left onto Western Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · Western Avenue

  43. 43

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95: Portland, Waterville, Bangor

    1829 ft · 44 sec

  44. 44

    Keep slight left to continue on I-95 South: Portland, Kittery

    3262 ft · 1 min

  45. 45

    Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike

    5.9 mi · 6 min · Maine Turnpike

  46. 46

    Keep slight right to continue on I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick

    50.5 mi · 59 min

  47. 47

    Keep slight left

    2.6 mi · 4 min

  48. 48

    Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike

    11.6 mi · 12 min · Maine Turnpike

  49. 49

    Take the exit slight right toward ME 111: Biddeford

    1.2 km · 2 min

  50. 50

    Turn right onto Alfred Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Alfred Street

  51. 51

    Continue on Alfred Road

    8.2 mi · 9 min · Alfred Road

  52. 52

    Continue on Biddeford Road

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Biddeford Road

  53. 53

    Continue on Sanford Road

    2.4 mi · 4 min · Sanford Road

  54. 54

    Continue on Cottage Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Cottage Street

  55. 55

    Turn left onto River Street

    872 ft · 26 sec · River Street

  56. 56

    Continue on Washington Street

    763 ft · 25 sec · Washington Street

  57. 57

    Turn left

    27 m · 7 sec

  58. 58

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bar Harbor and Sanford.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
58 steps
22 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
3 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
27.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 295 South
53.2 mi · 25%
Belfast Augusta Road
17.6 mi · 8%
Maine Turnpike
17.5 mi · 8%
Route 1
15.5 mi · 7%
Acadia Highway
13.4 mi · 6%
North Belfast Avenue
9.05 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

I 295 South

Keep slight right to continue on I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick

50.5 mi · 00h 59m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 38m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+65.3 mi
143.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Windsor
01h 49m from Bar Harbor
Leave By
9:44 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Bar Harbor and Mostly Sunny near Sanford.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bar Harbor to Sanford?

The road trip is about 209 miles (336.4 km) and usually takes 03h 38m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Windsor is a useful midpoint, sitting about 96.7 miles from Bar Harbor and 112.3 miles from Sanford.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 143.7 miles (231.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 65.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:44 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.11 one way or $58.23 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Bar Harbor and Mostly Sunny near Sanford.

Stop Ideas Near Windsor

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Windsor and the surrounding midpoint area.
Waterville Opera House
Scenic stop 14.2 mi away

Waterville Opera House

Waterville , ME
1 Common St, Waterville, ME 04901
Rating 4.7/5 291 reviews Opera house,Comedy club,Concert hall,Historical landmark,Performing arts theater
Augusta City Hall
Meeting point 6.1 mi away

Augusta City Hall

Augusta , ME
16 Cony St, Augusta, ME 04330
Rating 4.1/5 22 reviews City Hall
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 6.2 mi away

Inn At City Hall

Augusta , ME
1 Cony St, Augusta, ME 04330
Rating 5.0/5 1 reviews Retirement home

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Windsor.

BUS

Augusta, ME

18 mi away
9 Industrial Drive
BUS

Waldoboro, Maine

28 mi away
US hwy 1 and hwy 32
BUS

Damariscotta, Maine

31 mi away
167 Main St.
BUS

Wiscasset, Maine

36 mi away
279 Bath Rd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bar Harbor and Sanford. Straight-line distance: 143.73 mi (231.31 km).

Bar Harbor

#1 Bar Harbor

Town in Hancock County, Maine, United States

Population5,594
Coordinates44.3875800, -68.2039000
Altitude18
CountryUnited States
Sanford

#2 Sanford

City in York County, Maine, United States

Population21,253
Coordinates43.4392500, -70.7742200
Altitude92
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Street (-68.204238, 44.387546)
End: (-70.77414, 43.439348)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 336 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 36m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.38 gal
27.92 L · about $29.11
Round trip
$58.23
14.76 gal · 55.84 L
Estimated CO2
65.6 kg one way
Round trip: 131.2 kg / 289 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $29.11 $58.23
Mid-grade $4.46 $32.89 $65.79
Premium $4.86 $35.85 $71.70
Diesel $6.00 $44.26 $88.52

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Maine · May 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Bar Harbor and Sanford. The current time is 18:07:51.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.