Drive or Fly: Sanford, ME to Roberts Corner, 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–PWM. At 20 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

37m

Distance

20.9 mi

Total Cost

$40

CO2

8 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$5

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

2h 57m

2m in the air

Air Distance

17 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

4 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sanford, ME → PSM 38m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PWM → Roberts Corner, ME 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Sanford, ME PSM — Portsmouth International Airport at Pease 25 mi, ~38m drive

Roberts Corner, ME PWM — Portland International Jetport 11 mi, ~17m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PSM and PWM. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

1h 28m

17m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Downeaster

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sanford, ME → Wells 17m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 17m

Arrival 10m

Saco Amtrak Station → Roberts Corner, ME 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

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

Stations

From Wells 12 mi, ~17m drive

To Saco Amtrak Station 9 mi, ~14m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~90/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 36m

35m on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Greyhound US0265s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sanford, ME → Wells Transportation Center (WLS6) 17m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 35m

Arrival 10m

City of Portland (PVT6) → Roberts Corner, ME 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

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

Stations

From WLS6 — Wells Transportation Center 12 mi, ~17m drive

To PVT6 — City of Portland 13 mi, ~19m 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	37m	2h 57m	1h 28m	1h 36m
Total cost (1 person)	$40	$121	$3	$3
Carbon footprint	8 kg CO₂	4 kg CO₂	1 kg CO₂	2 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: Amtrak GTFS, 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

20.9 mi 36m

via US 202; ME 4

Alternative (+5 min)

27.6 mi 42m

via ME 111, ME 112

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