North Stamford, CT to Poquonock Bridge, CT is 91.9 miles and takes about 2h 2m via I 95 and Merritt Parkway, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Connecticut, traversing the Northeast region on a mostly highway profile. It's a straightforward, relatively short trip that can easily be completed in a single day. Consider this if you're looking for an efficient drive between these two points without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.9 miles from North Stamford, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
56 mi
1h 8m
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
North Road
0.6 mi
1m
Newtown Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 56 mi, about 1h 8m
Traffic on I-95
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
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 Poquonock Bridge, 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
47 mi·56 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·46 sec
Exit 88Toward CT 117: Noank, Groton Long Point
19
Turn right onto CT 117
0.6 mi·1 min·North Road
20
Turn straight onto CT 117
0.4 mi·55 sec·Newtown Road
21
At end of road, turn left onto US 1
0.2 mi·30 sec·Fort Hill Road
22
Turn right onto Central Avenue
0.1 mi·31 sec·Central Avenue
23
Enter roundabout
32 ft·1 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 2m duration, you can comfortably start this trip anytime in the morning and arrive before evening. Since it's a single-day drive of under 100 miles, you have flexibility with stops. There are no specific recommended stops provided, so you can decide on the fly if you need a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is about $15, and it's always wise to top off before embarking on a segment like the 56-mile stretch on I 95.
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 45.9 miles from North Stamford, CT, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56 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 20 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.9 miles or 1h 5m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Poquonock Bridge, 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.
+
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 91.9 miles and 2h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 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 56 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 90.3 — 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
90.3 mi into trip|~1h 58m in
Take the exit toward CT 117: Noank, Groton Long Point
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 88
Toward CT 117: Noank, Groton Long Point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.25 one way
$32.49 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$17.79
$35.59
premium
$5.29
$19.14
$38.27
diesel
$5.35
$19.36
$38.71
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: 32.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.6
0
$9.65
$4.41
Efficient EV
23
0
$8.04
$3.68
EV Truck/SUV
36.8
0
$12.87
$5.88
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
North Stamford, CT
Afternoon
in North Stamford on Wednesday
Local time
2:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Cloudy
S 2 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Poquonock Bridge, CT
Afternoon
in Poquonock Bridge on Wednesday
Local time
2:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Scattered Rain Showers
NW 2 mph28% chanceLive forecast
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
2 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
2h 2m 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...
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 on highways, with 90% of the 91.9 miles covered on major roads like I 95 and the Merritt Parkway. You'll experience a long stretch of 56 miles on I 95 before transitioning to other roads. Expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate this primarily highway-based route.
90% 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: 56 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 91.9 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
226 ft9 ft
Total Climb
298 ft
Total Descent
509 ft
Highest Point
226 ft
Elevation Range
216 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 Poquonock Bridge, CT, road signs begin pointing toward New London along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 2m. Total distance: 91.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 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 Poquonock Bridge, CT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. There are 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 Poquonock Bridge, CT before heading back.
