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Trip from South Windham, ME to Sanford, ME

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

51m

Distance

31.5 mi

51 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 47m ★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m

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

Downtown South Windham, ME, ME

South Windham, ME

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Sanford, ME, ME

Sanford, ME

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

South Windham, ME to Sanford, ME is 31.5 miles and takes about 51 minutes via Main Street and Gray Road, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Northeast region and entirely within Maine, offering a straightforward local drive. It's a good option if you're looking for a quick connection between two points without venturing onto major highways. Expect a familiar feel as you navigate local roads, making it a simple, manageable excursion.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 31.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

51m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

This route is characterized by its frequent turns, with a 0% highway share, meaning you'll be on local roads the entire way. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.2 miles along Main Street. Prepare for a drive that requires constant attention to navigation, as you'll be weaving through familiar town and county settings. The profile suggests a dynamic driving experience where you'll be adjusting your speed and direction regularly.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Main Street is the longest continuous segment at about 8.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Depot Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 31.5 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Depot Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 202; ME 4 / Gray Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 202; ME 4 / Gray Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Depot Street

Turn right onto Depot Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 202; ME 4 / Gray Road

At end of road, turn left onto US 202; ME 4 / Gray Road

Navigation decision point

6
0.6 mi into trip | ~2m in | US 202; ME 4 / Gray Road

Enter roundabout onto US 202; ME 4 / Gray Road toward Gorham Center

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Toward Gorham Center
4
3.9 mi into trip | ~7m in | US 202; ME 4 / Main Street

At end of road, turn right onto US 202; ME 4 / Main Street

Navigation decision point

5
27.5 mi into trip | ~43m in | US 202; ME 4A / Sanford Road

Keep slight right at fork onto US 202; ME 4A / Sanford Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Main Street 8.2 mi 14m
Narragansett Trail 3.9 mi 4m
Gray Road 3.7 mi 6m
Hollis Road 3.1 mi 4m
Waterboro Road 2.5 mi 3m
Sanford Road 2.4 mi 3m
Bar Mills Road 2.1 mi 3m
Narragansett Street 2.1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Main Street — 8.2 mi, about 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

190 ft · 15 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto Depot Street

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Depot Street
3

At end of road, turn left onto US 202; ME 4

0.5 mi · 1 min · Gray Road
4

Enter roundabout onto US 202; ME 4

116 ft · 7 sec · Gray Road
Toward Gorham Center
5

Continue on US 202; ME 4

3.3 mi · 4 min · Gray Road
Toward Gorham Center
6

At end of road, turn right onto US 202; ME 4

0.5 mi · 36 sec · Main Street
7

Continue on US 202; ME 4

0.2 mi · 16 sec · State Street
8

Turn left onto US 202; ME 4

0.8 mi · 58 sec · Narragansett Street
9

Enter roundabout onto US 202; ME 4

107 ft · 2 sec · Narragansett Street
10

Continue on US 202; ME 4

1.3 mi · 1 min · Narragansett Street
11

Continue on US 202; ME 4

3.9 mi · 4 min · Narragansett Trail
12

Turn right onto ME 4A

1.4 mi · 2 min · Main Street
13

Continue on ME 4A

2.1 mi · 3 min · Bar Mills Road
14

Turn left onto Main Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Main Street
15

Turn right onto US 202; ME 4

3.1 mi · 4 min · Hollis Road
16

Continue on US 202; ME 4

1.0 mi · 1 min · Bartletts Bridge Road
17

Continue on US 202; ME 4; ME 5

1.2 mi · 2 min · Main Street
18

Turn left onto US 202; ME 4

4.9 mi · 8 min · Main Street
19

Continue on US 202; ME 4

2.5 mi · 3 min · Waterboro Road
20

Continue on US 202; ME 4

0.4 mi · 1 min · Oak Street
21

Keep slight right at fork onto US 202; ME 4A

2.4 mi · 3 min · Sanford Road
22

Continue on US 202; ME 4A

1.2 mi · 3 min · Cottage Street
23

Turn left onto River Street

0.2 mi · 26 sec · River Street
24

Continue on Washington Street

0.1 mi · 25 sec · Washington Street
25

Turn left

89 ft · 6 sec
26

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 15.8 mi from South Windham, ME · 23m into the drive

town in Maine, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Buxton, ME

16 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

South Sanford, ME

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Buxton, ME

Meal break

The midpoint is around 15.8 miles from South Windham, ME, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Sanford, ME

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Sanford, ME if you are unfamiliar with the area.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.07 one way

$10.14 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 11 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $5.58 $11.16
premium $4.86 $6.03 $12.06
diesel $5.61 $6.95 $13.91

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$5

Estimated CO2 emission: 11 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 9.5 0 $3.31 $1.51
Efficient EV 7.9 0 $2.76 $1.26
EV Truck/SUV 12.6 0 $4.41 $2.02

Gas CO2

11 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (64% 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 16, 2026

Origin

South Windham, ME

Late night in South Windham on Saturday

Local time

12:53 AM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sanford, ME

Late night in Sanford on Saturday

Local time

12:53 AM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

6 degrees cooler at arrival

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

Road read

51m 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 South Windham, ME to Sanford, ME covers 31.5 miles and takes about 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Main Street, Narragansett Trail, Gray Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 15.8 miles from South Windham, ME. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.07 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 31.5 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Depot Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 202; ME 4 / Gray Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 202; ME 4 / Gray Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

The route from South Windham, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Sanford, ME to South Windham, ME

Plan the drive back the other way.

31.5 mi 51m

Explore more options from South Windham, ME or browse trips ending in Sanford, ME.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse ME road trips.