How far is City of Portland, ME from Sanford, ME?

The driving distance from City of Portland, ME to Sanford, ME is about 39.1 miles (62.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 33.6 miles (54 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 46m 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
39.06 mi
04h 53m
Flight
33.57 mi
54.03 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from City of Portland.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
33.57 mi
Kilometers
54.03 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
39.06 mi
Kilometers
62.86 km
Drive Time
04h 53m

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 04h 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sanford
Sun, Apr 19, 2:08 PM EDT
Return by in City of Portland
Sun, Apr 19, 7:02 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave City of Portland
2026-04-19T09:15
Arrive Sanford
Sun, Apr 19, 2:08 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:53 AM to 12:53 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:14 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in City of Portland
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
Saco
ME

City in York County, Maine

From City of Portland
19.1 mi
02h 26m
To Sanford
19.9 mi
02h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
City of Portland Weather
ME
Live fallback forecast
48°F
Sunday
Using Portland as the closest live forecast in the Cumberland County weather hub.

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SW
Destination
57°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between City of Portland and Sanford.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between City of Portland and Sanford.

  1. 1

    Start on Seashore Avenue

    3044 ft · 2 min · Seashore Avenue

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Seashore Avenue

    1046 ft · 46 sec · Seashore Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on Whitehead Street

    107 m · 15 sec · Whitehead Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Oakland Avenue

    594 ft · 32 sec · Oakland Avenue

  5. 5

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

    1291 ft · 1 min · Welch Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Portland - Peaks Island

    2.5 mi · 20 min · Portland - Peaks Island

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    57 m · 14 sec

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Maine State Pier

    23 m · 31 sec · Maine State Pier

  9. 9

    Continue on Maine State Pier

    656 ft · 34 sec · Maine State Pier

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Commercial Street

    1.9 mi · 4 min · Commercial Street

  11. 11

    Continue on Fore River Parkway

    678 ft · 11 sec · Fore River Parkway

  12. 12

    Continue on Veterans Memorial Bridge

    2169 ft · 39 sec · Veterans Memorial Bridge

  13. 13

    Continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway

    2069 ft · 35 sec · Blue Star Memorial Highway

  14. 14

    Take the ramp slight right

    2229 ft · 54 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    1.2 km · 1 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left

    2.6 mi · 4 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike

    11.6 mi · 12 min · Maine Turnpike

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward ME 111: Biddeford

    1.2 km · 2 min

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Alfred Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Alfred Street

  20. 20

    Continue on Alfred Road

    8.2 mi · 9 min · Alfred Road

  21. 21

    Continue on Biddeford Road

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Biddeford Road

  22. 22

    Continue on Sanford Road

    2.4 mi · 4 min · Sanford Road

  23. 23

    Continue on Cottage Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Cottage Street

  24. 24

    Turn left onto River Street

    872 ft · 26 sec · River Street

  25. 25

    Continue on Washington Street

    763 ft · 25 sec · Washington Street

  26. 26

    Turn left

    27 m · 7 sec

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between City of Portland and Sanford.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
27 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
69.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Maine Turnpike
11.6 mi · 30%
Alfred Road
8.23 mi · 21%
Blue Star Memorial Highway
4.19 mi · 11%
Portland - Peaks Island
2.57 mi · 7%
Sanford Road
2.4 mi · 6%
Commercial Street
1.91 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Maine Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike

11.6 mi · 00h 12m

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
04h 53m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.5 mi
33.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Saco
02h 26m from City of Portland
Leave By
7:14 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving City of Portland and Rain Showers Likely near Sanford.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from City of Portland to Sanford?

The road trip is about 39.1 miles (62.9 km) and usually takes 04h 53m 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?

Saco is a useful midpoint, sitting about 19.1 miles from City of Portland and 19.9 miles from Sanford.

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

The direct path is about 33.6 miles (54 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.5 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 7:14 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.44 one way or $10.89 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around City of Portland and Rain Showers Likely near Sanford.

Stop Ideas Near Saco

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Saco, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Saco Transportation Center

1 mi away
130 Main Street
RAIL

Old Orchard Beach

6 mi away
11 First Street
RAIL

Portland Transportation Center

21 mi away
100 Thompson's Point Road
RAIL

Wells Regional Transportation Center

24 mi away
696 Sanford Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between City of Portland and Sanford. Straight-line distance: 33.57 mi (54.03 km).

City of Portland

#1 City of Portland

The twenty-eighth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Portland metropolitan area.

Population653,115
Coordinates43.6470800, -70.1682300
Altitude36
CountryUnited States
Sanford

#2 Sanford

City in York County, Maine, United States

Population21,253
Coordinates43.4392500, -70.7742200
Altitude92
CountryUnited States
Start: Seashore Avenue (-70.181795, 43.65347)
End: (-70.77414, 43.439348)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 63 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 18m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.38 gal
5.22 L · about $5.44
Round trip
$10.89
2.76 gal · 10.44 L
Estimated CO2
12.3 kg one way
Round trip: 24.5 kg / 54 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $5.44 $10.89
Mid-grade $4.46 $6.15 $12.30
Premium $4.86 $6.70 $13.41
Diesel $6.00 $8.28 $16.55

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 · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between City of Portland and Sanford. The current time is 09:15:24.

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.