Origin
Bridgeport, CT
Night in Bridgeport on Friday
Local time
11:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bridgeport, CT to Stafford, CT
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 45m
Distance
82.1 mi
132 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 37m
★
6 AM
1h 45m
8 AM
2h 1m
10 AM
1h 51m
12 PM
1h 49m
3 PM
1h 52m
5 PM
2h 0m
8 PM
1h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bridgeport, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Stafford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Bridgeport, CT to Stafford, CT covers 82.1 miles and takes about 1h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Wilbur Cross Parkway, I 84, Berlin Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 30.4 miles on Wilbur Cross Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.68 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.
Midpoint
41.1 miles from Bridgeport, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wilbur Cross Parkway | 30.4 mi | 37m |
| I 84 | 20.3 mi | 23m |
| Berlin Turnpike | 15.7 mi | 20m |
| CT 8 | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| River Road | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| Merritt Parkway | 3 mi | 4m |
| East Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| East Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Wilbur Cross Parkway
— 30.4 mi, about 37m
Traffic on I-84
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 25 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,087 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~243 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 22 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bridgeport, CT and Stafford, CT.
1
Start on CT 130
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Fairfield Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward CT 8, CT 25 North: Trumbull, Waterbury
3
Merge onto CT 8; CT 25
2.7 mi
·
2 min
·
CT 8; CT 25
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 8
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
CT 8
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
5
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 6
Toward CT 15 North: Merritt Parkway, New Haven
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto CT 15
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Merritt Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on CT 15
30 mi
·
37 min
·
Wilbur Cross Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 5; CT 15
16 mi
·
20 min
·
Berlin Turnpike
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 84; US 6
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 84; US 6
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6
19 mi
·
21 min
·
I 84; US 6
Toward I 84 East: Boston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 70
Toward CT 32: Stafford Springs
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto CT 32
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
River Road
13
Enter roundabout onto CT 190
26 ft
·
0 sec
·
East Main Street
14
Continue on CT 190
107 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Main Street
15
Continue on CT 190
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Main Street
16
Turn left onto CT 19
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
East Street
17
Arrive at destination
CT 19
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.1 miles from Bridgeport, CT, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.4 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 18 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.1 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stafford, CT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bridgeport, CT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bridgeport, CT
This is one driving day of about 82.1 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Bridgeport, CT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Wilbur Cross Parkway for about 30.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.1 miles from Bridgeport, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 75.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward CT 8, CT 25 North: Trumbull, Waterbury
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CT 8, CT 25 North: Trumbull, Waterbury
6
3.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
CT 8
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 8 toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
8
5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward CT 15 North: Merritt Parkway, New Haven
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 6
Toward CT 15 North: Merritt Parkway, New Haven
7
56.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
|
I 84; US 6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6 toward I 84 East: Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 84 East: Boston
7
75.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
Take the exit toward CT 32: Stafford Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 70
Toward CT 32: Stafford Springs
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.68 one way
$27.35 round trip
$4.23/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.70 | $15.18 | $30.35 |
| premium | $5.07 | $16.37 | $32.75 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $18.10 | $36.20 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.10
Berlin Turnpike
(15.7 mi)
$1.10
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
$14
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.6 | 0 | $8.62 | $3.94 |
| Efficient EV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.18 | $3.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.8 | 0 | $11.49 | $5.25 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Stafford, CT
Night in Stafford on Friday
Local time
11:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 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
1h 45m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Weir Farm National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Visit the home and studio of America's most beloved Impressionist, J. Alden Weir, and walk in the footsteps of generations of world-class artists. Set amidst more than 60 acres of painterly woods, fie...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
near mile 2.8
View on nps.gov
New England National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
From the Sound to the summits: the New England Trail covers 235 miles from Long Island Sound across long ridges to scenic mountain summits in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The trail offers panoramic...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 82.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
82.1 mi in 1h 45m, mostly highway — 30.4 mi of that is on Wilbur Cross Parkway.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.4 mi on Wilbur Cross Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Wilbur Cross Parkway and I 84. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82.1 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 0.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles (CT 8): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
580 ft
19 ft
Total Climb
1,088 ft
Total Descent
528 ft
Highest Point
580 ft
~82.1 mi in
Elevation Range
561 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bridgeport, CT to Stafford, CT, road signs begin pointing toward New Haven along the way.
New Haven
5 mi in
|
~6m
About the Cities
Starting in Bridgeport, CT
Full guide →Founded 1821
Bridgeport is a city in Connecticut. Bridgeport has beaches and parks, but the biggest attraction is the Klein Memorial Auditorium, a performing arts theater.
Top landmarks
- • Tongue Point Light — lighthouse in Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States
- • Barnum Museum — history Museum in Connecticut, U.S
- • Sterling Block-Bishop Arcade — historic building in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA
Arriving in Stafford, CT
Full guide →Founded 1719
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 82.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.4 miles on Wilbur Cross Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.10 in tolls one way, starting with Berlin Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Stafford, CT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles (CT 8): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Weir Farm National Historical Park and New England National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Stafford, CT before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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