Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 49m
Distance
81.7 mi
131 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Niantic, CT
MART PRODUCTION
Stamford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Niantic, CT to Stamford, CT is 81.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 49 minutes via I 95, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Connecticut, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive that's perfect for a single day. You'll find it's an efficient way to cover this distance without much fuss. Plan for a quick transit with minimal complication.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.8 miles from Niantic, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 77.2 mi | 1h 39m |
| Society Road | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| Flanders Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Atlantic Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North State Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Society Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 78 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,669 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~618 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 35 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Niantic, CT and Stamford, CT.
Start on this road
Turn right
Turn left onto CT 161
Continue on CT 161
Turn left onto Society Road
Continue on Society Road
Continue on West Society Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Turn straight onto North State Street
Turn right onto Atlantic Street
Arrive at destination
Given the short duration of under two hours, you can easily complete this drive in one day. Leaving mid-morning, perhaps around 9:30 AM, should help you avoid the worst of any commuter traffic. Since the drive is relatively brief, you won't need to plan for extensive stops. However, keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $13, so ensure you start with enough to reach your destination comfortably. The longest stretch on I 95 is over 77 miles, so consider a quick stop before or after that segment if needed.
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.
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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.8 miles or 55m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stamford, CT than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Niantic, CT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Niantic, CT
This is one driving day of about 81.7 miles and 1h 49m.
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.
A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 40.8 miles from Niantic, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.2 miles.
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 0 and 81.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto CT 161 / Pennsylvania Avenue
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. 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
Turn right onto Atlantic Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$13.61 one way
$27.22 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.70 | $15.10 | $30.20 |
| premium | $5.07 | $16.29 | $32.59 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $18.01 | $36.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.6 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 | 24.5 | 0 | $8.58 | $3.92 |
| Efficient EV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.15 | $3.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.7 | 0 | $11.44 | $5.23 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Niantic on Wednesday
Local time
12:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Stamford on Wednesday
Local time
12:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
76°F
Monroe, CT
41 mi in
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
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This drive is predominantly on I 95, accounting for 95% of the total mileage. You'll experience a long stretch of 77.2 miles on I 95 before encountering surface streets. Expect frequent exits as you navigate the highway sections. Pennsylvania Avenue and Society Road mark the transition to local roads near the end of your trip.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Society Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Niantic, CT to Stamford, CT is easy. At 1h 49m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (CT 161 / Pennsylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
199 ft
Total Descent
209 ft
Highest Point
84 ft
~5.7 mi in
Elevation Range
77 ft
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 49m. Total distance: 81.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
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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