North Stamford to Old Lyme is 73.2 miles and takes about 1h 39m via I 95 and Merritt Parkway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Connecticut, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. With 88% of the drive on highways, it's a straightforward connection between these two points. Plan for this to be a quick transit, ideal for a same-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. The relatively short distance and duration make it an easy drive to fit into your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.6 miles from North Stamford, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
37.7 mi
45m
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
Frontage Road
0.7 mi
<1m
Shore Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Ferry Road
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 37.7 mi, about 45m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 30 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,706 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~705 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 30 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Stamford, CT and Old Lyme, 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
27 mi·35 min·Merritt Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.4 mi·1 min
Exit 37Toward I 95, US 1: Milford, New LondonUse the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 2AToward I 95 North: New HavenUse the straight / right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 95
9.0 mi·12 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·1 min
Exit 46Toward Long Wharf Drive, Sargent DriveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto Long Wharf Drive
0.9 mi·2 min·Long Wharf Drive
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on East Street
0.1 mi·16 sec·East Street
13
Turn right onto US 1
0.1 mi·9 sec·Water Street
14
Continue on US 1
1.2 mi·2 min·Forbes Avenue
15
Turn right onto US 1
0.7 mi·48 sec·Frontage Road
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 95 North
17
Merge onto I 95
29 mi·33 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit onto US 1
0.2 mi·30 sec·US 1
Exit 70Toward US 1, CT 156: Old Lyme
19
Turn right onto CT 156
0.4 mi·54 sec·Shore Road
20
Turn left onto Ferry Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Ferry Road
21
At end of road, turn left onto Lyme Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·Lyme Street
22
Turn right onto Library Lane
206 ft·14 sec·Library Lane
23
Turn left
33 ft·2 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of under two hours, this route is best tackled in a single day. You can leave any time of day and still arrive with plenty of daylight. Since the drive is so brief, you won't need to plan for extensive stops. The fuel cost is estimated at $13, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing. Keep an eye out for the transition from highway to local roads as you get closer to Old Lyme, as this is where your speed will naturally decrease.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36.6 miles from North Stamford, CT, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.7 miles.
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 16 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.6 miles or 50m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Old Lyme, CT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving North Stamford, CT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from North Stamford, CT
This is one driving day of about 73.2 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from North Stamford, CT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 37.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 29 and 71.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
29 mi into trip|~40m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 37
Toward I 95, US 1: Milford, New London
7
30.4 mi into trip|~42m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: New Haven
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 2A
Toward I 95 North: New Haven
8
39.7 mi into trip|~55m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 46
Toward Long Wharf Drive, Sargent Drive
6
39.9 mi into trip|~56m in|Long Wharf Drive
Turn left onto Long Wharf Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
71.9 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|US 1
Take the exit onto US 1 toward US 1, CT 156: Old Lyme
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 70
Toward US 1, CT 156: Old Lyme
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.49 one way
$22.97 round trip
$3.99/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$12.90
$25.80
premium
$4.81
$13.87
$27.74
diesel
$4.80
$13.82
$27.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22
0
$7.69
$3.51
Efficient EV
18.3
0
$6.41
$2.93
EV Truck/SUV
29.3
0
$10.25
$4.68
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 14, 2026
Origin
North Stamford, CT
Morning
in North Stamford on Monday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
W 9 to 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 14 at 1:08PM EDT until July 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Albany NY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 14 at 1:08PM EDT until July 15 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Albany NY
Destination
Old Lyme, CT
Morning
in Old Lyme on Monday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
SW 14 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 14 at 1:08PM EDT until July 14 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Albany NY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 14 at 1:08PM EDT until July 15 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Albany NY
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 39m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Weir Farm National Historical Park
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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 10.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 88% of the route utilizing high-speed roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 37.7 miles on I 95, indicating a significant period of consistent travel. The Merritt Parkway will also feature prominently, known for its scenic parkway design. Expect the highway portion to conclude as you approach your destination, transitioning to surface roads for the final leg of your trip.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.7 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Merritt Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 29 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.2 miles you will encounter 17 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 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
302 ft9 ft
Total Climb
387 ft
Total Descent
594 ft
Highest Point
302 ft
~20.9 mi in
Elevation Range
293 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 Old Lyme, CT, road signs begin pointing toward New London along the way.
Old Lyme is a coastal town in Mystic-Eastern region of Connecticut. Old Lyme is a quaint little town at the bottom of the Connecticut River on the East banks. It is generally regarded as a summering destination as it has many gorgeous beaches.
Top landmarks
•Florence Griswold Museum — museum in Olde Lyme, Connecticut
•Old Lyme Historic District — historic center of Old Lyme, Connecticut
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 73.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.7 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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 Old Lyme, 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 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.
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 Old Lyme, CT before heading back.
