The Sanford Lakes Region of Maine

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The Sanford Lakes Region of Maine

Sunset at Mousam Lake in the Sanford Lakes Region of Maine

The Sanford Lakes Region is in northwest York County, Maine’s southern most county. It is the lakes area that is closest to Boston in both mileage and minutes. This lakes area gets its name from the Town of Sanford, which is the regional shopping area for the entire region. Sanford, Maine, is only one hour and forty five minutes from downtown Boston, but it’s a world away from the hustle and bustle.


Although smaller in size than the neighboring Sebago Lakes Region to the north, the Sanford area features quite a few fine lakes and ponds. Here’s a quick travelogue sampling. Heading northwest from downtown Sanford/Springvale on Routes 109/11, you soon will come to a large fork. I first came to this fork fifty years ago and still get goose bumps as I view the length of Mousam Lake. The right fork, Route 11, will take you to Shapleigh, North Shapleigh and on to Newfield. Along the way you’ll travel along the east shore of  Mousam Lake and Square Pond. These two lakes rank high on the list of the area’s finer lakes. The left fork, Route 109, will take you to Acton, the home of the Acton Fair. Here you’ll find Wilson Lake and the magnificent Great East Lake, which sprawls over the border into New Hampshire.


Leaving Sanford on US 202 takes one north to Alfred. In Alfred, you’ll come to the intersection of US 202 and Route 111. If one proceeds North on US 202, you will enter Waterboro. Route 5 will take you by Little Ossipee Lake, a true gem of a lake. From Alfred, head east to Lyman on Route 111. Route 111 forms the southern boundary of an area in Lyman that contains a group of small, but lovely ponds–Bunganut, Kennebunk, and Wadley, to name a few.


Directly west of Sanford is West Lebanon and beautiful Northeast Pond, which we share with our friends in New Hampshire. Directly east of Sanford, you’ll find Estes Lake. As we mentioned, all of these lakes are a short drive from Boston and within easy reach of the Maine Turnpike.
Our Lakefront Locator will get you to available listings in the Sanford Lakes Region. LakeSmart is a research tool that will give you important information about area lakes. Remember, you can change the house but you can’t change the location. So, do your homework!  If you have a question or need a friend in the business, let us know. We love Maine’s lakes and ponds and want to share them with you.
Click on the green boxes above to learn more about lakefront property listings in the Sanford Lakes Region.
And to learn more about a few of the lakes themselves, just click on the links below:
Mousam Lake in Southern Maine – Perfect for Boaters, Anglers and Vacationers
Must See Gems on Balch Lake in Newfield and Acton, Maine
Northeast, Milton and Townhouse Ponds form Milton Three Ponds Chain in Lebanon, Maine

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