Where is Sanford, North Carolina, USA?

Written and fact-checked by | Reviewed by WhereIG Editorial Team | Last updated: August 14, 2026, 18:45 ET

Where is Sanford Located? - Sanford is a city located in the Lee County of North Carolina, United States. Sanford lies between 40.9167654 Degrees North latitudes and 74.171811 Degrees West longitudes.

Location Map of Sanford, North Carolina

Where is Sanford, North Carolina

Sanford Map, North Carolina, USA

Where is Sanford?: The Google Map showing the location of Sanford in the U.S. state of North Carolina.

Where is Sanford Located?

Sanford is a city located in the Lee County of North Carolina, United States. Sanford lies between 40.9167654 Degrees North latitudes and 74.171811 Degrees West longitudes. According to 2020 U.S.census, the population of Sanford city is 30261 people and the city has a total area of 29.06 sq mi. The city has numerous parks and recreational facilities.

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Sanford, North Carolina Quick Facts

AttributeDetails
CitySanford
CountyLee County
StateNorth Carolina
State CapitalRaleigh
US RegionSouth
Latitude35.4799° N
Longitude79.1803° W
Elevation364 ft (111 m)
Land Area27.65 sq mi
Water Area0.03 sq mi
Total Area27.68 sq mi
Population (2020 Census)30,261
Population Density1,094 per sq mi
ZIP Codes27330, 27332
Area Code919, 984
Time Zone StandardEastern Standard Time (EST), UTC−5
Time Zone DaylightEastern Daylight Time (EDT), UTC−4
CurrencyUnited States Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code37-59260
Congressional DistrictNorth Carolina's 9th Congressional District

Transportation and Connectivity in Sanford, North Carolina

Transportation TypeDetails
Airport NameRaleigh-Durham International Airport
IATA CodeRDU
PortPort of Wilmington (Regional Access)
Major HighwaysU.S. Highway 1, U.S. Highway 15-501, U.S. Highway 421, Interstate 73/74
Train ServiceFreight rail service available
Local Bus/Transit ServiceSanford Area Transit System
  • U.S. Highway 1: Major north-south route connecting Sanford with Raleigh and southern North Carolina.
  • U.S. Highway 421: Provides regional access toward Greensboro and the Piedmont Triad.
  • U.S. Highway 15-501: Connects Sanford with Chapel Hill, Pittsboro, and nearby communities.
  • Raleigh-Durham International Airport: Provides domestic and international air service for the region.

Top Places to Visit in Sanford, North Carolina

Landmark NameType
San-Lee ParkPark and Outdoor Recreation Area
Temple TheatreHistoric Performing Arts Venue
Sanford Historic DistrictHistoric Downtown Area
Depot ParkCommunity Park
House in the HorseshoeHistoric Site
Deep River State TrailOutdoor Recreation Trail
Carolina Trace Country ClubGolf and Recreation Facility
White Pines Nature PreserveNature Preserve
Jordan Lake State Recreation AreaLake and Recreation Area
Haw River State ParkState Park

Driving Distances from Sanford, North Carolina to Nearby Cities

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
PittsboroNorth Carolina20 mi30 minutes
Chapel HillNorth Carolina35 mi45 minutes
RaleighNorth Carolina40 mi50 minutes
DurhamNorth Carolina45 mi55 minutes
FayettevilleNorth Carolina45 mi50 minutes
GreensboroNorth Carolina75 mi1 hour 15 minutes
CharlotteNorth Carolina120 mi2 hours
WilmingtonNorth Carolina130 mi2 hours 15 minutes
AshevilleNorth Carolina220 mi3 hours 45 minutes
Washington, D.C.District of Columbia300 mi5 hours

Colleges and Universities Near Sanford, North Carolina

Institution NameTypeLevelNotable For
Central Carolina Community CollegePublicCommunity CollegeTechnical education, healthcare, business, and workforce programs
University of North Carolina at Chapel HillPublicUniversityMedicine, research, business, and liberal arts programs
North Carolina State UniversityPublicUniversityEngineering, agriculture, technology, and research
Elon UniversityPrivateUniversityBusiness, communications, education, and arts programs
Lee County SchoolsPublicK–12 DistrictPrimary and secondary education

Waterbodies Near Sanford, North Carolina

Deep River, Cape Fear River, Jordan Lake, Falls Lake, and nearby waterways throughout Lee County and central North Carolina.

Golf Courses Near Sanford

Carolina Trace Country Club, Quail Ridge Country Club, Sanford Golf Club, and Whispering Pines Golf Club.

Sanford, North Carolina — Key Historical Facts

  • The Sanford area was originally inhabited by Native American communities before European settlement.
  • The city was founded in the late 19th century and developed around railroad connections.
  • Sanford was incorporated in 1891 and became an important transportation and industrial center in central North Carolina.
  • The city grew through industries including brick manufacturing, textiles, agriculture, and manufacturing.
  • Today, Sanford is known for its historic downtown, manufacturing economy, outdoor recreation, and location between the Triangle and Triad regions.

Stadiums and Sports Facilities Near Sanford

Facility NameTypeLocation
Lee County High School Athletic ComplexHigh School Sports FacilitySanford, North Carolina
San-Lee Park Recreation FacilitiesCommunity Sports FacilitySanford, North Carolina
Campbell University Athletic FacilitiesCollege Sports FacilityBuies Creek, North Carolina
PNC ArenaProfessional Sports and Entertainment ArenaRaleigh, North Carolina
Truist PointProfessional Baseball StadiumHigh Point, North Carolina

References

North Carolina Maps and Info

North Carolina MapNorth Carolina County MapNorth Carolina Cities Map
North Carolina ZipcodesWhere is North CarolinaWhere is Charlotte
North Carolina Area CodesNorth Carolina Blank MapNorth Carolina River Map
North Carolina Physical MapNorth Carolina Road MapWhere is Durham
Where is FayettevilleWhere is GreensboroWhere is Raleigh.