Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 8, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
57.9 mi
93 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Meriden, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Stamford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Meriden to Stamford is 57.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 18 minutes via Wilbur Cross Parkway and I-95, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Connecticut, taking you from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a straightforward drive that's mostly highway, making it a quick option for getting between these two points. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on major roadways, so expect consistent travel speeds for most of the trip.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wilbur Cross Parkway | 23.4 mi | 28m |
| I 95 | 20.6 mi | 28m |
| CT 8 | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| Merritt Parkway | 3 mi | 3m |
| South Broad Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Cook Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Colony Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Hall Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~4,341 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~657 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 5 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Meriden, CT and Stamford, CT.
Start on West Main Street
Turn left onto CT 71
Continue on CT 71
Turn left onto Hall Avenue
Turn right onto US 5
Continue on US 5
Take the ramp
Merge onto CT 15
Continue on CT 15
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto CT 8
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Turn straight onto North State Street
Turn right onto Atlantic Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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.
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 28.9 miles from Meriden, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 30.2 and 57 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward CT 8, CT 108: Bridgeport, Waterbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward CT 8 South, CT 108 South: Bridgeport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward CT 8 South: Bridgeport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CT 137 North: Atlantic Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$9.64 one way
$19.29 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.70 | $10.70 | $21.40 |
| premium | $5.07 | $11.55 | $23.10 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $12.76 | $25.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.08 | $2.78 |
| Efficient EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.2 | 0 | $8.11 | $3.71 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Meriden on Tuesday
Local time
8:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Morning in Stamford on Tuesday
Local time
8:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Chance Rain Showers
45°F
Fairfield, CT
29 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive is predominantly highway, with 89% of the route on faster roads. You'll encounter 23.4 miles on the Wilbur Cross Parkway before transitioning to I-95. Expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate this stretch. The majority of your driving will be on these limited-access highways.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Wilbur Cross Parkway and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 30.2 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.9 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: at 30.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
282 ft
Total Descent
412 ft
Highest Point
231 ft
~21.7 mi in
Elevation Range
219 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Meriden, CT to Stamford, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Waterbury along the way.
Waterbury
Founded 1867
Meriden is a city in the Connecticut River Valley. Although not a major tourist destination, it does have an architecturally notable center.
Top landmarks
Founded 1641
Stamford, Connecticut is the second largest city in the state by population, a center of regional activity in Fairfield County, and a hub of the Metro New York area. Its position between NYC and the rest of Connecticut defines Stamford’s character. Stamford takes on a big-city atmosphere in its downtown and the adjacent neighborhoods, then transitions to a more traditional suburban small-town Connecticut atmosphere in its northern sections. Stamford plays an active role in the NYC metro and Fairfield County art and music scene. It also has one of the largest and most diverse selections of restaurants and shopping in Fairfield County. Many large corporations are headquartered in Stamford, so it hosts a large reverse-commute from New York City in addition to commuters from Connecticut and nearby Westchester County, New York.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 57.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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