Transilvania Restaurant and Bar
Around the midpoint, right off the route
East Haven, Connecticut
Hours: 11 AM–10 PM
+12032483968
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 32m
Distance
121.1 mi
195 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Stamford, CT
David Kanigan
East Brooklyn, CT
Wikimedia Commons
North Stamford, CT to East Brooklyn, CT is 121.1 miles and takes about 2h 32m via I 95, I 395, and Merritt Parkway, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route keeps you within Connecticut for its entirety, moving you from the Northeast region of the state towards another part of the Northeast. It's a primarily highway-focused trip designed for efficiency, making it a solid choice for a single-day journey without extensive detours. Consider this drive when you need a straightforward transit between these two points in Connecticut.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
60.6 miles from North Stamford, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 47.1 mi | 57m |
| I 395 | 37.7 mi | 41m |
| Merritt Parkway | 26.7 mi | 35m |
| High Ridge Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Forbes Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Long Wharf Drive | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Providence Pike | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| Frontage Road | 0.7 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,465 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~607 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 30 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between North Stamford, CT and East Brooklyn, CT.
Start on Cascade Road
Turn straight onto North Stamford Road
Continue on North Stamford Road
Turn left onto CT 137
Take the ramp
Merge onto CT 15
Take the exit
Take the exit
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Turn left onto Long Wharf Drive
Continue on East Street
Turn right onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Turn right onto US 1
Take the exit
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit onto I 395
Keep slight left at fork onto I 395
Take the exit
Merge onto US 6
Continue on US 6
Turn left onto Day Street
Turn left onto South Main Street
Turn right onto Ventura Drive
Arrive at destination
Given the 2h 32m duration and 121.1-mile length, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Departing in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to complete the drive. With a fuel cost estimated at $20, filling up before you leave North Stamford is advisable, especially since the longest stretch on I 95 is over 47 miles. You'll encounter one major highway transition, so pay attention to signage when moving from I 95 to I 395. There aren't many opportunities for extended stops on this direct route, so plan any necessary breaks accordingly.
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 27 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.6 miles or 1h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Brooklyn, CT than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving North Stamford, CT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from North Stamford, CT
This is one driving day of about 121.1 miles and 2h 32m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
61 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 60.6 miles from North Stamford, 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.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Best meal stop · early in the drive
East Haven, Connecticut
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Hours: 11 AM–10 PM
+12032483968
Paperback Cafe
Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Caffè Toscana
Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Best coffee break · early in the drive
Trumbull, Connecticut
Early in the drive, right off the route
Hours: 7:30 am–3 pm
+12035028355
Around the midpoint, right off the route
East Haven, Connecticut
Hours: 11 AM–10 PM
+12032483968
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, right off the route
Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Hours: 7 am–3 pm
+18603889718
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, right off the route
Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Hours: 7 am–4 pm
+18603881270
Around the midpoint, short detour
Guilford, Connecticut
Hours: 11:30 am–8:30 pm
+12034530736
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Madison, Connecticut
Hours: 4–9 pm
+12032457773
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
New Haven, Connecticut
Hours: 8 am–7 pm
+14752346705
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Madison, Connecticut
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+12033188008
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Westbrook, Connecticut
Hours: 5–9 pm
+18603998700
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, right off the route
Trumbull, Connecticut
Hours: 7:30 am–3 pm
+12035028355
Visit websiteLater in the drive, ~12 min detour
Preston, Connecticut
Hours: 11 am–2 pm
+18608895659
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Lisbon, Connecticut
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Plainfield, CT
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18885577099
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Jewett City, Connecticut
Hours: 12 pm–12 am
+18603764226
Around the midpoint, short detour
Niantic, Connecticut
+18607395471
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Old Lyme, Connecticut
+18604243000
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Niantic, Connecticut
Hours: 9:30 am–4:30 pm
+18606911111
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Norwalk, Connecticut
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+12038990606
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Hours: 9 am–4 pm
+12033946565
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
New Haven, Connecticut
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+12038650400
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
New Haven, Connecticut
Hours: 9 am–4 pm
+12034322300
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 29 and 81.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 95, US 1: Milford, New London
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 95 North: New Haven
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Long Wharf Drive, Sargent Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto Long Wharf Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto I 395 toward I 395 North: Norwich, Plainfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$21.41 one way
$42.81 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $23.45 | $46.90 |
| premium | $5.29 | $25.22 | $50.43 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $25.51 | $51.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.3 | 0 | $12.72 | $5.81 |
| Efficient EV | 30.3 | 0 | $10.60 | $4.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.4 | 0 | $16.95 | $7.75 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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
Afternoon in North Stamford on Wednesday
Local time
3:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in East Brooklyn on Wednesday
Local time
3:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Cloudy
42°F
Essex, CT
61 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 92% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 95, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 47.1 miles. Following that, I 395 and the Merritt Parkway will guide you the rest of the way. Expect a consistent pace for much of the trip, as the majority of the route is designed for faster travel. The character remains largely consistent, emphasizing efficient movement between your origin and destination.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 395. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 29 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 121.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 29 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
545 ft
Total Descent
505 ft
Highest Point
357 ft
~17.3 mi in
Elevation Range
337 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between North Stamford, CT and East Brooklyn, CT, road signs point toward New London and Plainfield.
New London
Plainfield
Founded 1641
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 121.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). 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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