Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
50.9 mi
82 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Stamford, CT
David Kanigan
Middlebury, CT
David Kanigan
North Stamford, CT to Middlebury, CT is 50.9 miles and takes about 1h 11m via Merritt Parkway and CT 8, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays entirely within Connecticut, moving north from the northeastern region. You'll spend most of your time on well-trafficked parkways and highways, making for a straightforward commute. It's a good option for a quick transfer or an easy day trip if you're looking to cover ground efficiently without a lot of fuss.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Merritt Parkway | 22.8 mi | 29m |
| CT 8 | 18.8 mi | 23m |
| Whittemore Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| High Ridge Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Church Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Straits Turnpike | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Water Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North Stamford Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between North Stamford, CT and Middlebury, 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
Merge onto CT 8
Take the exit
Turn left onto South Main Street
Turn left onto Maple Street
Turn right onto Water Street
Turn right onto Church Street
Continue on CT 63
Turn left onto Whittemore Road
Continue on CT 188
Turn slight right onto Middlebury Store Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25.5 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 45 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Merge onto CT 15 / Merritt Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CT 8 North: Waterbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto CT 8
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CT 63: South Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$9.00 one way
$18.00 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $9.86 | $19.71 |
| premium | $5.29 | $10.60 | $21.20 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $10.72 | $21.44 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.06
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$0
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.34 | $2.44 |
| Efficient EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.45 | $2.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.13 | $3.26 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Night in North Stamford on Wednesday
Local time
9:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Night in Middlebury on Wednesday
Local time
9:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Partly Sunny
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 route is mostly highway, with 84% of the drive on limited-access roads. You'll cruise for a significant stretch of 22.8 miles on the Merritt Parkway before transitioning to other main roads. After the parkway, expect a mix of highway and surface roads as you continue north. The high percentage of highway driving means fewer intersections and a more consistent speed for much of the trip.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Merritt Parkway and CT 8. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near CT 15 / Merritt Parkway.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 2.3 miles (CT 15 / Merritt Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 26 miles (CT 8): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
967 ft
Total Descent
498 ft
Highest Point
695 ft
~50.9 mi in
Elevation Range
675 ft
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 1h 11m. Total distance: 50.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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