North Stamford to Simsbury is 80.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 54 minutes via Merritt Parkway and Wilbur Cross Parkway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Connecticut, traveling north through the Northeast region. The drive is a mix of parkway cruising and local road travel, making it a straightforward trip for a single day. You'll find it a practical option for moving 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
40.1 miles from North Stamford, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Merritt Parkway
26.7 mi
35m
Wilbur Cross Parkway
14.1 mi
17m
South Main Street
6.8 mi
8m
Waterville Road
5.6 mi
10m
Whitney Avenue
5.5 mi
7m
Highland Avenue
4.4 mi
5m
Hopmeadow Street
4.2 mi
9m
Main Street
2.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Merritt Parkway
— 26.7 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Stamford, CT and Simsbury, 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
Continue on CT 15
14 mi·17 min·Wilbur Cross Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 51Toward Whitney Avenue, HamdenUse the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn right onto Whitney Avenue
5.5 mi·7 min·Whitney Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on CT 10
3.1 mi·3 min·South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on CT 10
4.4 mi·5 min·Highland Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on CT 10
0.2 mi·13 sec·Cheshire Road
13
Continue on CT 10
0.4 mi·29 sec·Norton Street
14
Continue on CT 10
3.6 mi·4 min·South Main Street
15
Continue on CT 10
2.4 mi·3 min·Queen Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on CT 10
1.7 mi·2 min·East Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on CT 10
1.4 mi·1 min·Farmington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on CT 10
2.7 mi·3 min·Main Street
19
Continue on CT 10
5.6 mi·10 min·Waterville Road
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn left onto US 44; CT 10
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto US 202; CT 10
0.8 mi·1 min·Simsbury Road
22
Continue on US 202; CT 10
4.2 mi·9 min·Hopmeadow Street
Use the straight lane.
23
Arrive at destination
US 202; CT 10
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour 54 minute duration, leaving in the morning should give you ample time to reach Simsbury without feeling rushed. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart when it's most convenient. Consider that the longest stretch without a major change in road type is 26.7 miles on the Merritt Parkway, so plan your break before or after this segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, it’s a budget-friendly drive, but it's always wise to check your gauge before heading out, especially if you plan on any detours.
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 40.1 miles from North Stamford, CT, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.7 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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.1 miles or 54m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Simsbury, 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 80.1 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from North Stamford, CT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Merritt Parkway for about 26.7 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 74.3 — 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.
8
43.1 mi into trip|~58m in
Take the exit toward Whitney Avenue, Hamden
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 51
Toward Whitney Avenue, Hamden
6
43.3 mi into trip|~59m in|Whitney Avenue
Turn right onto Whitney Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
74.3 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|US 44; CT 10 / East Main Street
Turn left onto US 44; CT 10 / East Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.16 one way
$28.32 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$15.51
$31.02
premium
$5.29
$16.68
$33.36
diesel
$5.35
$16.87
$33.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24
0
$8.41
$3.84
Efficient EV
20
0
$7.01
$3.20
EV Truck/SUV
32
0
$11.21
$5.13
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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 Jun 2, 2026
Origin
North Stamford, CT
Afternoon
in North Stamford on Wednesday
Local time
3:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Mostly Clear
N 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Simsbury, CT
Afternoon
in Simsbury on Wednesday
Local time
3:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Clear
W 2 mph0% 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 54m 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
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 11.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a highway share of 51%, meaning you'll spend about half the time on parkways and half on surface streets. The longest stretch on a parkway is 26.7 miles on the Merritt Parkway. Expect the transition from highway to surface roads to occur as you approach your destination, with South Main Street being a key part of the latter half of the drive. You'll notice the exits become more frequent as you move from parkway to local roads.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.7 mi on Merritt Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Stamford Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 54m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 43.1 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
352 ft12 ft
Total Climb
748 ft
Total Descent
794 ft
Highest Point
352 ft
~17.2 mi in
Elevation Range
341 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 Simsbury, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Hamden along the way.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.7 miles on Merritt Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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 43.1 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 Simsbury, CT before heading back.
