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Trip from North Stamford, CT to Oakville, CT

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 13m

Distance

53.8 mi

87 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 8m ★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 10m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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Download GPX
city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States

North Stamford, CT

David Kanigan

Downtown Oakville, CT, CT

Oakville, CT

David Kanigan

Trip Overview

This straightforward 53.8-mile drive from North Stamford, CT to Oakville, CT takes about 1 hour and 13 minutes and is a perfect day trip. The route is heavily focused on highways, with 93% of the journey on faster roads, making it an efficient way to travel within Connecticut. With an estimated fuel cost of just $9, this trip is easy on the wallet. You'll primarily be on CT 8, the Merritt Parkway, and CT 73. Given its short duration and highway-centric profile, this journey is ideal for a quick getaway without the need for an overnight stay, offering a practical and direct connection between these two points in the Northeast region.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
CT 8 24.9 mi 31m
Merritt Parkway 22.8 mi 29m
CT 73 2.3 mi 3m
High Ridge Road 1.7 mi 3m
Buckingham Street 0.5 mi <1m
North Stamford Road 0.3 mi 1m
Ballfarm Road 0.1 mi <1m
Cascade Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: CT 8 — 24.9 mi, about 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between North Stamford, CT and Oakville, CT.

1

Start on Cascade Road

139 ft · 6 sec · Cascade Road
2

Turn straight onto North Stamford Road

475 ft · 18 sec · North Stamford Road
3

Continue on North Stamford Road

0.2 mi · 50 sec · North Stamford Road
4

Turn left onto CT 137

1.7 mi · 3 min · High Ridge Road
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec
6

Merge onto CT 15

23 mi · 29 min · Merritt Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Exit 34 Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Merge onto CT 8

23 mi · 28 min · CT 8
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on CT 8

0.4 mi · 1 min · CT 8
Exit 31 Toward I 84 East: Hartford Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on CT 8

1.1 mi · 1 min · CT 8
Exit 33 Toward I 84 West: Danbury Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11

Take the exit onto CT 73

2.3 mi · 3 min · CT 73
Exit 31 Toward CT 73: Oakville, Watertown Use the slight left lane.
12

Turn right onto Buckingham Street

0.5 mi · 56 sec · Buckingham Street
13

Turn left onto Ballfarm Road

0.1 mi · 27 sec · Ballfarm Road
14

Arrive at destination

Ballfarm Road

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ansonia, CT

27 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

Stamford, CT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bridgeport, CT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 26.9 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 50.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
2.3 mi into trip | ~5m in | CT 15 / Merritt Parkway

Merge onto CT 15 / Merritt Parkway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
25.1 mi into trip | ~35m in

Take the exit toward CT 8 North: Waterbury

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 34 Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury
5
26 mi into trip | ~36m in | CT 8

Merge onto CT 8

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
49.4 mi into trip | ~1h 5m in | CT 8

Continue onto CT 8 toward I 84 East: Hartford

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 31 Toward I 84 East: Hartford
8
50.9 mi into trip | ~1h 8m in | CT 73

Take the exit onto CT 73 toward CT 73: Oakville, Watertown

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Exit 31 Toward CT 73: Oakville, Watertown

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.44 one way

$16.89 round trip

$3.99/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.48 $9.48 $18.96
premium $4.81 $10.19 $20.38
diesel $4.80 $10.16 $20.32

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 16.1 0 $5.65 $2.58
Efficient EV 13.5 0 $4.71 $2.15
EV Truck/SUV 21.5 0 $7.53 $3.44

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (68% 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.

Forecast as of Jul 1, 2026

Origin

North Stamford, CT

Morning in North Stamford on Sunday

Local time

10:48 AM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 7 mph 30% chance Live forecast

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued July 1 at 3:14AM EDT until July 4 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued July 1 at 2:49AM EDT until July 3 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Upton NY

Destination

Oakville, CT

Morning in Oakville on Sunday

Local time

10:48 AM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 7 mph 30% chance Live forecast

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued July 1 at 3:14AM EDT until July 4 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued July 1 at 2:49AM EDT until July 3 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Upton NY

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 13m on the road

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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 53.8-mile trip, with 93% of your travel time spent on faster roads like CT 8 and the Merritt Parkway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 24.9 miles on CT 8, offering a sustained period of smooth driving. This route is designed for efficiency, moving you swiftly from North Stamford to Oakville. While primarily highway, occasional transitions to other state roads like CT 73 ensure you reach your destination without significant detours. The character of the drive is one of consistent progress, making it a reliable option for getting where you need to go.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.9 mi on CT 8.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 8 and Merritt Parkway. You will hit about 11 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.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 53.8 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 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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

544 ft 89 ft

Total Climb

735 ft

Total Descent

416 ft

Highest Point

544 ft

~53.8 mi in

Elevation Range

456 ft

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 North Stamford, CT to Oakville, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Watertown along the way.

Watertown

50.9 mi in | ~1h 8m | via CT 73

About the Cities

Starting in North Stamford, CT

Full guide →

Founded 1641

Top landmarks

  • • Marion Castle — historic mansion in Stamford, Connecticut, USA
  • • Fish Church — church building in Stamford, Connecticut
  • • Stamford Harbor Ledge Light — lighthouse in Stamford, Connecticut, United States

Arriving in Oakville, CT

Full guide →

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 13m. Total distance: 53.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 24.9 miles on CT 8. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

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 Oakville, 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 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.

Yes — Weir Farm National Historical Park. 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 Oakville, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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