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

The driving distance from Sanford, ME to City of Portland, ME is about 38.5 miles (62 km), with a travel time of about 04h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 33.6 miles (54 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 45m 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
38.52 mi
04h 52m
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 Sanford.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
38.52 mi
Kilometers
61.99 km
Drive Time
04h 52m

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 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in City of Portland
Wed, Jun 3, 5:51 PM EDT
Return by in Sanford
Wed, Jun 3, 10:44 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sanford
2026-06-03T12:59
Arrive City of Portland
Wed, Jun 3, 5:51 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 52m
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 Sanford
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 Sanford
19 mi
02h 26m
To City of Portland
19.6 mi
02h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Jun 3 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph W
Destination
City of Portland Weather
ME
Live fallback forecast
63°F
Wednesday
Using Portland as the closest live forecast in the Cumberland County weather hub.

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Jun 3 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 15 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    27 m · 8 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Washington Street

    763 ft · 23 sec · Washington Street

  3. 3

    Continue on River Street

    872 ft · 26 sec · River Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Cottage Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Cottage Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Sanford Road

    2.4 mi · 4 min · Sanford Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Biddeford Road

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Biddeford Road

  7. 7

    Continue on Alfred Road

    8.2 mi · 9 min · Alfred Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Alfred Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Alfred Street

  9. 9

    Take the ramp left

    735 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 95 North Toll: Portland, Augusta

    1317 ft · 33 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike

    12.2 mi · 13 min · Maine Turnpike

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Downtown Portland

    2.8 mi · 4 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward Casco Bay Bridge, Portland, Waterfront

    1.2 km · 1 min

  14. 14

    Turn straight onto Blue Star Memorial Highway

    556 ft · 9 sec · Blue Star Memorial Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on Veterans Memorial Bridge

    1953 ft · 35 sec · Veterans Memorial Bridge

  16. 16

    Continue on Fore River Parkway

    848 ft · 17 sec · Fore River Parkway

  17. 17

    Continue on West Commercial Street

    1.9 mi · 4 min · West Commercial Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Maine State Pier

    668 ft · 29 sec · Maine State Pier

  19. 19

    Turn slight right

    57 m · 14 sec

  20. 20

    Turn straight onto Portland - Peaks Island

    2.5 mi · 20 min · Portland - Peaks Island

  21. 21

    Continue straight

    65 m · 16 sec

  22. 22

    Continue on Welch Street

    1078 ft · 50 sec · Welch Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Oakland Avenue

    594 ft · 26 sec · Oakland Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn slight left onto Whitehead Street

    107 m · 15 sec · Whitehead Street

  25. 25

    Continue on Seashore Avenue

    1046 ft · 46 sec · Seashore Avenue

  26. 26

    Continue on Seashore Avenue

    3044 ft · 2 min · Seashore Avenue

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Seashore Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
70.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Maine Turnpike
12.2 mi · 32%
Alfred Road
8.23 mi · 21%
Downtown Portland
2.84 mi · 7%
Portland - Peaks Island
2.58 mi · 7%
Sanford Road
2.39 mi · 6%
West Commercial Street
1.91 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Maine Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike

12.2 mi · 00h 13m

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 52m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.9 mi
33.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Saco
02h 26m from Sanford
Leave By
7:14 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Sanford and Sunny near City of Portland.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 38.5 miles (62 km) and usually takes 04h 52m 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 miles from Sanford and 19.6 miles from City of Portland.

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 4.9 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 $5.37 one way or $10.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Sanford and Sunny near City of Portland.

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 Sanford and City of Portland. Straight-line distance: 33.57 mi (54.03 km).

Sanford

#1 Sanford

City in York County, Maine, United States

Population21,253
Coordinates43.4392500, -70.7742200
Altitude92
CountryUnited States
City of Portland

#2 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
Start: (-70.77414, 43.439348)
End: Seashore Avenue (-70.181795, 43.65347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 62 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 17m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.36 gal
5.15 L · about $5.37
Round trip
$10.73
2.72 gal · 10.3 L
Estimated CO2
12.1 kg one way
Round trip: 24.2 kg / 53 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $5.37 $10.73
Mid-grade $4.46 $6.06 $12.12
Premium $4.86 $6.61 $13.21
Diesel $6.00 $8.16 $16.31

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 · Jun 03, 2026

There is no time difference between Sanford and City of Portland. The current time is 12:59:06.

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.