How far is Sanford, ME from Fort Kent, ME?

The driving distance from Sanford, ME to Fort Kent, ME is about 347 miles (558.5 km), with a travel time of about 07h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 284.4 miles (457.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 10m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
347.06 mi
07h 05m
Flight
284.39 mi
457.68 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
284.39 mi
Kilometers
457.68 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
347.06 mi
Kilometers
558.54 km
Drive Time
07h 05m

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 07h 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fort Kent
Wed, May 13, 3:24 AM EDT
Return by in Sanford
Wed, May 13, 10:29 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sanford
2026-05-12T20:18
Arrive Fort Kent
Wed, May 13, 3:24 AM EDT
Route Timing
07h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:05 PM to 2:35 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
9:50 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sanford
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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
Milford
ME

Town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States of America

From Sanford
173.4 mi
03h 32m
To Fort Kent
173.6 mi
03h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph NW
Destination
48°F
Tuesday

Widespread Frost then Mostly Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Sanford and Fort Kent.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sanford and Fort Kent.

  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

    52.5 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike

    160.7 mi · 2 hr 49 min · Maine Turnpike

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward ME 158: Sherman, Patten

    1493 ft · 43 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left

    21 m · 3 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Main Street

    1898 ft · 32 sec · Main Street

  17. 17

    Continue on Station Road

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Station Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Route 11

    933 ft · 16 sec · Route 11

  19. 19

    Continue on Station Road

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Station Road

  20. 20

    Continue on South Patten Road

    3.2 mi · 5 min · South Patten Road

  21. 21

    Continue on Main Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Main Street

  22. 22

    Continue on North Road

    4.4 mi · 7 min · North Road

  23. 23

    Continue on Aroostook Scenic Highway

    30.2 mi · 45 min · Aroostook Scenic Highway

  24. 24

    Continue on Masardis Road

    11.7 mi · 17 min · Masardis Road

  25. 25

    Continue on Main Street

    2216 ft · 43 sec · Main Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Station Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · Station Street

  27. 27

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

    15.3 mi · 23 min · Portage Road

  28. 28

    Continue on Aroostook Road

    30.6 mi · 45 min · Aroostook Road

  29. 29

    Continue on Pleasant Street

    1 km · 1 min · Pleasant Street

  30. 30

    Turn right onto Bridge Street

    655 ft · 21 sec · Bridge Street

  31. 31

    Turn left onto Market Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Market Street

  32. 32

    Turn right onto East Main Street

    92 m · 11 sec · East Main Street

  33. 33

    Turn right onto Highland Avenue

    27 m · 4 sec · Highland Avenue

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Highland Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Sanford and Fort Kent.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
34 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Maine Turnpike
173 mi · 50%
Downtown Portland
52.5 mi · 15%
Aroostook Road
30.6 mi · 9%
Aroostook Scenic Highway
30.2 mi · 9%
Portage Road
15.3 mi · 4%
Masardis Road
11.7 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Maine Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Maine Turnpike

161 mi · 02h 49m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
07h 05m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
14h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+62.6 mi
284.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Milford
03h 32m from Sanford
Leave By
9:50 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Sanford and Widespread Frost then Mostly Sunny near Fort Kent.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Sanford to Fort Kent?

The road trip is about 347 miles (558.5 km) and usually takes 07h 05m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Milford is a useful midpoint, sitting about 173.4 miles from Sanford and 173.6 miles from Fort Kent.

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

The direct path is about 284.4 miles (457.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 62.6 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 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $48.33 one way or $96.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 108.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Sanford and Widespread Frost then Mostly Sunny near Fort Kent.

Stop Ideas Near Milford

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Milford, 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 Milford.

BUS

Orono (University of Maine), Maine

5 mi away
Squapan Rd and Gym Dr
BUS

Bangor, Maine

19 mi away
1039 Union St.
BUS

Searsport, Maine

58 mi away
161 East Main St.
BUS

Belfast, Maine

65 mi away
Belmont Ave & US Hwy 1

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sanford and Fort Kent. Straight-line distance: 284.39 mi (457.68 km).

Sanford

#1 Sanford

City in York County, Maine, United States

Population21,253
Coordinates43.4392500, -70.7742200
Altitude92
CountryUnited States
Fort Kent

#2 Fort Kent

Town in Maine, USA

Population3,805
Coordinates47.2586500, -68.5894900
Altitude171
CountryUnited States
Start: Sanford (-70.77422, 43.43925)
End: Fort Kent (-68.58949, 47.25865)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 559 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.25 gal
46.36 L · about $48.33
Round trip
$96.65
24.5 gal · 92.72 L
Estimated CO2
108.9 kg one way
Round trip: 217.7 kg / 480 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $48.33 $96.65
Mid-grade $4.46 $54.60 $109.20
Premium $4.86 $59.51 $119.02
Diesel $6.00 $73.46 $146.93

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 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Sanford and Fort Kent. The current time is 20:18:58.

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.