North Stamford, CT to Prospect, CT is 50 miles and takes about 1 hour 9 minutes via Merritt Parkway and CT 8, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Connecticut, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a primarily highway-focused trip, making it a straightforward journey for a single day. If you're looking for an efficient way to cover this distance without extensive planning, this route offers a practical solution.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Merritt Parkway
22.8 mi
29m
CT 8
19.9 mi
24m
Union City Road
1.9 mi
3m
Prospect Street
1.8 mi
3m
High Ridge Road
1.7 mi
3m
North Stamford Road
0.3 mi
1m
Union Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Cascade Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Merritt Parkway
— 22.8 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Stamford, CT and Prospect, 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 34Toward CT 8 North: WaterburyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto CT 8
20 mi·24 min·CT 8
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 26Toward Union City, ProspectUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on Union Street
416 ft·12 sec·Union Street
11
Turn right onto CT 68
1.8 mi·3 min·Prospect Street
12
Continue on CT 68
1.9 mi·3 min·Union City Road
13
Arrive at destination
CT 68
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 25 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 45.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North Stamford Road
Continue onto North Stamford Road
Navigation decision point
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.
8
45.9 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward Union City, Prospect
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 26
Toward Union City, Prospect
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.85 one way
$15.69 round trip
$3.99/gal25.4 MPG avg18 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$8.81
$17.62
premium
$4.81
$9.47
$18.94
diesel
$4.80
$9.44
$18.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
15
0
$5.25
$2.40
Efficient EV
12.5
0
$4.38
$2.00
EV Truck/SUV
20
0
$7.00
$3.20
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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 Jun 29, 2026
Origin
North Stamford, CT
Morning
in North Stamford on Sunday
Local time
10:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
E 3 to 8 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Watch
Extreme Heat Watch issued June 29 at 12:59PM EDT until July 4 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Extreme Heat Watch
Extreme Heat Watch issued June 29 at 12:39PM EDT until July 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Albany NY
Destination
Prospect, CT
Morning
in Prospect on Sunday
Local time
10:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
NW 6 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Watch
Extreme Heat Watch issued June 29 at 12:59PM EDT until July 4 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Extreme Heat Watch
Extreme Heat Watch issued June 29 at 12:39PM EDT until July 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Albany 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
3 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 9m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 85% of the journey taking place on faster roads. You'll start on the Merritt Parkway before transitioning to CT 8. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 22.8 miles on the Merritt Parkway, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. After that, the route incorporates Union City Road, suggesting a shift to more local road segments as you approach your destination. Expect a mix of smooth highway travel and potentially more varied conditions on the latter part of the route.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.8 mi on Merritt Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Merritt Parkway and CT 8. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Stamford Road.
Driving Effort5/10
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 50 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.1 miles (North Stamford Road): Navigation decision point; 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
860 ft14 ft
Total Climb
1,033 ft
Total Descent
398 ft
Highest Point
860 ft
~50 mi in
Elevation Range
847 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 Prospect, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Union City along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 50 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.8 miles on Merritt Parkway. 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.
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 0.1 miles (North Stamford Road): Navigation decision point; 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.
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 Prospect, CT before heading back.
