How far is Ellsworth, ME from Sanford, ME?
The driving distance from Ellsworth, ME to Sanford, ME is about 188.8 miles (303.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 06m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 139.7 miles (224.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 12m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 06m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Ellsworth and Sanford.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ellsworth and Sanford.
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1
Start on Main Street
2477 ft · 41 sec · Main Street
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2
Keep slight right to continue on Main Street
85 m · 4 sec · Main Street
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3
Continue on Bucksport Road
8.5 mi · 10 min · Bucksport Road
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4
Continue on Acadia Highway
9.4 mi · 11 min · Acadia Highway
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5
Continue on Route 1
1.6 km · 1 min · Route 1
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6
Continue on Main Street
41 m · 9 sec · Main Street
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7
Turn left onto Route 1
682 ft · 17 sec · Route 1
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8
Continue on US Highway 1
1.2 mi · 3 min · US Highway 1
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9
Continue on Route 1
13.4 mi · 16 min · Route 1
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10
Continue on Searsport Avenue
2.7 mi · 5 min · Searsport Avenue
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11
Continue on Route 1
1.1 km · 1 min · Route 1
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12
Take the exit slight right
1414 ft · 39 sec
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13
Keep slight right
114 m · 12 sec
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14
Merge slight left onto Belmont Avenue
3.9 mi · 5 min · Belmont Avenue
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15
Continue on Augusta Road
4.8 mi · 5 min · Augusta Road
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16
Continue on Belfast Augusta Road East
3.4 mi · 4 min · Belfast Augusta Road East
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17
Continue on Acadia Highway
4 mi · 4 min · Acadia Highway
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18
Continue on Belfast Augusta Road
17.6 mi · 21 min · Belfast Augusta Road
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19
Continue on Belfast Road
1077 ft · 17 sec · Belfast Road
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20
Continue on North Belfast Avenue
8.1 mi · 12 min · North Belfast Avenue
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21
Turn left onto North Belfast Avenue
1.6 km · 2 min · North Belfast Avenue
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22
At the end of the road, turn left onto Bangor Street
2936 ft · 53 sec · Bangor Street
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23
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Cony Circle
49 m · 3 sec · Memorial Drive
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24
Exit the rotary onto Memorial Drive
1.1 km · 2 min · Memorial Drive
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25
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Memorial Circle
122 m · 7 sec · State Street
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26
Exit the rotary onto State Street
1007 ft · 19 sec · State Street
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27
Turn right onto Capitol Street
1.3 km · 1 min · Capitol Street
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28
Turn straight onto Armory Street
915 ft · 20 sec · Armory Street
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29
Turn left onto Western Avenue
1.1 km · 1 min · Western Avenue
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30
Take the exit slight right toward I 95: Portland, Waterville, Bangor
1829 ft · 44 sec
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31
Keep slight left to continue on I-95 South: Portland, Kittery
3262 ft · 1 min
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32
Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike
5.9 mi · 6 min · Maine Turnpike
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33
Keep slight right to continue on I 295 South, ME 9, ME 126: Gardiner, Brunswick
50.5 mi · 59 min
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34
Keep slight left
2.6 mi · 4 min
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35
Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike
11.6 mi · 12 min · Maine Turnpike
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36
Take the exit slight right toward ME 111: Biddeford
1.2 km · 2 min
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37
Turn right onto Alfred Street
1.4 mi · 2 min · Alfred Street
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38
Continue on Alfred Road
8.2 mi · 9 min · Alfred Road
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39
Continue on Biddeford Road
1.8 mi · 2 min · Biddeford Road
-
40
Continue on Sanford Road
2.4 mi · 4 min · Sanford Road
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41
Continue on Cottage Street
1.2 mi · 3 min · Cottage Street
-
42
Turn left onto River Street
872 ft · 26 sec · River Street
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43
Continue on Washington Street
763 ft · 25 sec · Washington Street
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44
Turn left
27 m · 7 sec
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45
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Ellsworth and Sanford.
Interchange-aware route
The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.
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.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Ellsworth 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 Ellsworth to Sanford?
The road trip is about 188.8 miles (303.9 km) and usually takes 03h 06m 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?
Hallowell is a useful midpoint, sitting about 85.8 miles from Ellsworth and 103 miles from Sanford.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 139.7 miles (224.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 49.1 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 10:48 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.27 one way or $52.55 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 59.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Ellsworth and Mostly Sunny near Sanford.
Stop Ideas Near Hallowell
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Hallowell.
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Wiscasset, Maine
Damariscotta, Maine
Waldoboro, Maine
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Ellsworth and Sanford. Straight-line distance: 139.71 mi (224.84 km).
#1 Ellsworth
City in Maine
| Population | 8,249 |
| Coordinates | 44.5434100, -68.4194600 |
| Altitude | 33 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Sanford
City in York County, Maine, United States
| Population | 21,253 |
| Coordinates | 43.4392500, -70.7742200 |
| Altitude | 92 |
| Country | United States |
End: (-70.77414, 43.439348)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 304 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 06h 17m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 43m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 46m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 08m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 41m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 21m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.95 | $26.27 | $52.55 |
| Mid-grade | $4.46 | $29.68 | $59.37 |
| Premium | $4.86 | $32.35 | $64.71 |
| Diesel | $6.00 | $39.94 | $79.88 |
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 04, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.