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Trip from Rangeley, ME to Sanford, ME

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 15m

Distance

147.4 mi

237 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 4m ★
6 AM
3h 16m
8 AM
3h 40m
10 AM
3h 24m
12 PM
3h 22m
3 PM
3h 25m
5 PM
3h 38m
8 PM
3h 9m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Rangeley, ME, ME

Rangeley, ME

James Mirakian

Downtown Sanford, ME, ME

Sanford, ME

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Rangeley, ME to Sanford, ME covers 147.4 miles and takes about 3h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Maine Turnpike, Main Street, Weld Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 42.4 miles on Maine Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.73 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

73.7 miles from Rangeley, ME

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 15m. Total distance: 147.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 15m drive with frequent turns across 147.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Maine Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 42.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near ME 4 / Main Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 147.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (ME 4 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 20.3 miles (ME 142 / Weld Road): Navigation decision point; at 45.6 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | ME 4 / Main Street

Turn left onto ME 4 / Main Street

Navigation decision point

4
20.3 mi into trip | ~31m in | ME 142 / Weld Road

Turn right onto ME 142 / Weld Road

Navigation decision point

5
45.6 mi into trip | ~1h 13m in | Main Street

At end of road, turn right onto Main Street

Navigation decision point

6
83 mi into trip | ~1h 58m in | ME 4 / Union Street Bypass

Keep slight right at fork onto ME 4 / Union Street Bypass

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
131.3 mi into trip | ~2h 52m in

Take the exit toward ME 111: Biddeford

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 32 Toward ME 111: Biddeford

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Maine Turnpike 42.4 mi 46m
Main Street 20.6 mi 29m
Weld Road 14.1 mi 23m
Auburn Road 12.7 mi 14m
Federal Road 9.5 mi 10m
Rangeley Road 8.3 mi 12m
Alfred Road 8.2 mi 9m
Phillips Road 5.9 mi 9m
Longest stretch: Maine Turnpike — 42.4 mi, about 46m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rangeley, ME and Sanford, ME.

1

Start on High Street

422 ft · 18 sec · High Street
2

Continue on Pond Street

528 ft · 28 sec · Pond Street
3

Turn left onto ME 4

12 mi · 18 min · Main Street
4

Continue on ME 4

8.3 mi · 12 min · Rangeley Road
5

Turn right onto ME 142

5.9 mi · 8 min · Weld Road
6

Continue on Phillips Road

5.9 mi · 9 min · Phillips Road
7

Continue on Church Street

0.3 mi · 35 sec · Church Street
8

Continue on School Street

5.0 mi · 8 min · School Street
9

Continue on ME 156

8.2 mi · 14 min · Weld Road
10

At end of road, turn right onto Main Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street
11

Turn left onto US 2

0.3 mi · 34 sec · US Route 2 East
12

Continue on US 2

501 ft · 10 sec · United States Highway 2
13

Turn right onto ME 4

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Maine Route 4 Southbound
14

Merge onto ME 4

8.0 mi · 9 min · Main Street
15

Turn right onto ME 4

510 ft · 6 sec · Bridge Street
16

Continue on ME 4

9.5 mi · 10 min · Federal Road
17

Continue on ME 4

13 mi · 14 min · Auburn Road
18

Continue on ME 4

2.9 mi · 3 min · Turner Road
19

Continue on ME 4

2.9 mi · 3 min · Center Street
20

Keep slight right at fork onto ME 4

0.4 mi · 30 sec · Union Street Bypass
Use the straight / right lanes.
21

Continue on US 202; ME 4; ME 11; ME 100

0.7 mi · 50 sec · Minot Avenue
22

Turn slight left onto US 202; ME 4; ME 100

4.1 mi · 5 min · Washington Street
23

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 18 sec
24

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
25

Merge onto I 95

7.7 mi · 8 min · Maine Turnpike
26

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95

35 mi · 38 min · Maine Turnpike
27

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 32 Toward ME 111: Biddeford
28

Turn right onto ME 111

1.4 mi · 1 min · Alfred Street
29

Continue on ME 111

8.2 mi · 9 min · Alfred Road
30

Continue on ME 111

1.8 mi · 2 min · Biddeford Road
31

Continue on US 202; ME 4A

2.4 mi · 3 min · Sanford Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
32

Continue on US 202; ME 4A

1.2 mi · 3 min · Cottage Street
33

Turn left onto River Street

0.2 mi · 26 sec · River Street
34

Continue on Washington Street

0.1 mi · 25 sec · Washington Street
35

Turn left

89 ft · 6 sec
36

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.7 miles from Rangeley, ME, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.4 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 32 miles or 49m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 73.7 miles or 1h 47m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 41m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sanford, ME than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Rangeley, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Rangeley, ME

This is one driving day of about 147.4 miles and 3h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Rangeley, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Maine Turnpike for about 42.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 73.7 mi from Rangeley, ME · 1h 47m into the drive

Downtown Livermore, ME, ME

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Livermore, ME

74 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Rumford, ME

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Auburn, ME

Meal break

The midpoint is around 73.7 miles from Rangeley, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Sanford, ME

The final approach into Sanford, ME usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Sanford, ME.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

La Fleurs Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Jay, Maine

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 52.6

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+12078972117

Visit website

Orchid Lewiston

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lewiston, Maine

1 mi

Loon Lodge Inn and Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rangeley, Maine

1.4 mi

La Fleurs Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 52.6

Jay, Maine

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+12078972117

Visit website

Orchid Lewiston

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $20 to $30 mile 84.2

Lewiston, Maine

Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm

+12077530389

Visit website

Loon Lodge Inn and Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour

Rangeley, Maine

+12078645666

Visit website

The Heritage Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 84.2

Lewiston, Maine

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

+12075137005

Governor's Restaurant & Bakery

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 84.2

Lewiston, Maine

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+12077530173

Visit website

Thatcher's Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20 mile 84.2

Auburn, Maine

Hours: 11 am–7 pm

+12077822135

Visit website

Nom Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 115.8

Portland, Maine

Hours: 9 am–2 pm

+12076139332

Visit website

Riverbank Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 115.8

Westbrook, Maine

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

Visit website

FunZ Trampoline Park

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 84.2

Lewiston, Maine

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+12077833888

Visit website

Maine Escape Games

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 115.8

South Portland, Maine

Hours: 1–7 pm

+12072746007

Visit website

Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 115.8

South Portland, Maine

Hours: 4–8 pm

+12078087696

Visit website

Kineowatha Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 42.1

Wilton, Maine

Hours: 8 am–8:30 pm

+12076454825

Visit website

Maine Military Museum & Learning Center

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 115.8

South Portland, Maine

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+12077678227

Visit website

The Escape Room

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 115.8

Portland, Maine

Hours: 12–8:15 pm

+12076193775

Visit website

Western Maine Play Museum

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 42.1

Wilton, Maine

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+12076453555

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.73 one way

$47.46 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 52 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $26.11 $52.22
premium $4.86 $28.23 $56.45
diesel $5.61 $32.54 $65.09

Estimated Tolls: $2.54

Maine Turnpike (42.4 mi) $2.54

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$24

Tolls

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 51.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 44.2 0 $15.48 $7.08
Efficient EV 36.9 0 $12.90 $5.90
EV Truck/SUV 59 0 $20.64 $9.43

Gas CO2

52 kg

EV CO2

17 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Rangeley, ME

Afternoon in Rangeley on Friday

Local time

3:54 PM

EDT

Current temp

39°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sanford, ME

Afternoon in Sanford on Friday

Local time

3:54 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

56°F

Livermore, ME

74 mi in

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

12 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 15m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Rangeley, ME to Sanford, ME covers 147.4 miles and takes about 3h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Maine Turnpike, Main Street, Weld Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 73.7 miles from Rangeley, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.73 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 147.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (ME 4 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 20.3 miles (ME 142 / Weld Road): Navigation decision point; at 45.6 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point.

The route from Rangeley, ME to Sanford, ME does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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