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Drive or Fly: Rangeley, ME to Sanford, ME?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for AUG–PSM. At 147 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 16m

Distance

147.4 mi

Total Cost

$68

CO2

60 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$33
Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0
Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35
+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines
+ Comfortable one-day drive
+ Stop anywhere along the route
+ Have your own car at the destination
+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying
Wear and tear on vehicle
Fuel price fluctuations
Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 23m

13m in the air

Air Distance

106 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

27 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Rangeley, ME → AUG 92m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 13m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
PSM → Sanford, ME 38m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Rangeley, ME AUG — Augusta State Airport 61 mi, ~92m drive
Sanford, ME PSM — Portsmouth International Airport at Pease 25 mi, ~38m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between AUG and PSM. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue
+ Predictable arrival time
Airport security and check-in overhead
No scheduled commercial flights found for this route
Luggage fees and restrictions
Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 51m

2h 45m on road

Total Cost

$11

CO2

6 kg

Route

Greyhound US0265s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Rangeley, ME → Waterville (J & S Oil Co) (WAV6) 84m
Boarding 15m
Bus ride 165m
Arrival 10m
Wells Transportation Center (WLS6) → Sanford, ME 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $11) $11

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From WAV6 — Waterville (J & S Oil Co) 56 mi, ~84m drive
To WLS6 — Wells Transportation Center 12 mi, ~17m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option
+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board
+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route
+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying
Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week
Travel time longer than driving
Need transportation to/from station
Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

Drive Fly Bus
Door-to-door time 3h 16m 4h 23m 4h 51m
Total cost (1 person) $68 $124 $11
Carbon footprint 60 kg CO2 27 kg CO2 6 kg CO2
Flexibility High Low
Luggage Unlimited Restricted
Reliability Weather dependent Data unavailable
Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices
Flight data: Statistical estimate
Airports: OurAirports
Transit: FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated
Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 18, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Rangeley, ME to Sanford, ME with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.