Drive or Fly: Sanford, ME to Guilford, 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 PSM–BGR. At 161 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 18m

Distance

161.6 mi

Total Cost

$71

CO2

65 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$36
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

3h 51m

17m in the air

Air Distance

138 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sanford, ME → PSM 38m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 17m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
BGR → Guilford, ME 56m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Sanford, ME PSM — Portsmouth International Airport at Pease 25 mi, ~38m drive
Guilford, ME BGR — Bangor International Airport 37 mi, ~56m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PSM and BGR. 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

5h 24m

3h 44m on road

Total Cost

$15

CO2

8 kg

Route

Greyhound US0265s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sanford, ME → Wells Transportation Center (WLS6) 17m
Boarding 15m
Bus ride 224m
Arrival 10m
Bangor Park & Ride (BGV6) → Guilford, ME 58m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From WLS6 — Wells Transportation Center 12 mi, ~17m drive
To BGV6 — Bangor Park & Ride 38 mi, ~58m 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 18m 3h 51m 5h 24m
Total cost (1 person) $71 $126 $15
Carbon footprint 65 kg CO2 35 kg CO2 8 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 13, 2026.

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