Origin
North Stamford, CT
Late night in North Stamford on Friday
Local time
4:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 6m
Distance
95.6 mi
154 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
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
Old Mystic, CT
MART PRODUCTION
North Stamford, CT to Old Mystic, CT is 95.6 miles and takes about 2h 6m via I 95 and Merritt Parkway, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Connecticut, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Given its relatively short duration and high highway percentage, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion. Expect a straightforward drive with minimal complexity, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.8 miles from North Stamford, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 59.8 mi | 1h 13m |
| Merritt Parkway | 26.7 mi | 35m |
| High Ridge Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Forbes Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Whitehall Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| Long Wharf Drive | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Frontage Road | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| North Stamford Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,230 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~485 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.7×
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 North Stamford, CT and Old Mystic, 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
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto CT 27
Continue on CT 27
Continue on CT 27
Turn left onto CT 27
Arrive at destination
For this 2h 6m drive, leaving anytime in the morning should allow you to reach Old Mystic, CT with plenty of daylight remaining. Since the total distance is just over 95 miles and the fuel cost is estimated at $16, you won't need to worry about extensive refueling stops. The flexibility of a shorter trip means you can depart when it's most convenient. Pay attention to the exit numbers as you transition from I 95 to local routes in the Old Mystic area to ensure a smooth arrival.
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 21 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.8 miles or 1h 7m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Old Mystic, 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 95.6 miles and 2h 6m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 47.8 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 39.9 — 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 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
Regular Gas
$15.92 one way
$31.85 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.70 | $17.67 | $35.34 |
| premium | $5.07 | $19.07 | $38.13 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $21.07 | $42.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.7 | 0 | $10.04 | $4.59 |
| Efficient EV | 23.9 | 0 | $8.37 | $3.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.2 | 0 | $13.38 | $6.12 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Late night in North Stamford on Friday
Local time
4:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Old Mystic on Friday
Local time
4:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
You'll spend most of your time on highways, with 91% of the 95.6 miles on high-speed roads like I 95 and the Merritt Parkway. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 59.8 miles on I 95. You'll transition from the Merritt Parkway onto I 95, which features a higher density of exits as you approach your destination. The final portion of the drive involves leaving the main highway system onto surface roads.
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 2.3 miles in near CT 15 / Merritt Parkway.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 95.6 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 2.3 miles (CT 15 / Merritt Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
215 ft
Total Descent
429 ft
Highest Point
226 ft
Elevation Range
217 ft
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 Mystic, CT, road signs begin pointing toward New London along the way.
New London
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 6m. Total distance: 95.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). 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 FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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