North Stamford to Southwood Acres is 91.3 miles and takes about 2h 2m via I 91 and Merritt Parkway, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Connecticut, moving north through the Northeast region. With 93% of the drive on highways, expect a fairly direct path for most of the way. It's a straightforward connection between two points in the same state, making it a convenient option for a quick trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.7 miles from North Stamford, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 91
31.1 mi
37m
Wilbur Cross Parkway
27 mi
33m
Merritt Parkway
26.7 mi
35m
High Ridge Road
1.7 mi
3m
North Road
1.5 mi
2m
Steele Road
1.2 mi
3m
North Stamford Road
0.3 mi
1m
Wagon Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 91
— 31.1 mi, about 37m
Traffic on I-91
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,977 veh/hr typical
· worst 7,011
Quietest
2 AM
~469 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 34 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 Southwood Acres, 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
27 mi·33 min·Wilbur Cross Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 65AToward I 91 North, CT 66 East: Hartford, MiddletownUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 91
18 mi·21 min·I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 91
13 mi·16 min·I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 45Toward CT 140: Warehouse Point, EllingtonUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto CT 140
0.1 mi·19 sec·Bridge Street
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on CT 140
1.5 mi·2 min·North Road
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto Mullen Road
0.2 mi·22 sec·Mullen Road
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on Steele Road
1.2 mi·3 min·Steele Road
16
Turn right onto Ann Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·Ann Street
17
Turn left onto Belinda Lane
0.2 mi·37 sec·Belinda Lane
18
Turn left onto Post Office Road
38 ft·3 sec·Post Office Road
19
Turn right onto Wagon Road
0.2 mi·35 sec·Wagon Road
20
Turn left onto Vernon Road
299 ft·11 sec·Vernon Road
21
Turn right onto Overhill Road
0.1 mi·25 sec·Overhill Road
22
Arrive at destination
Overhill Road
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of about 2 hours, this trip is easily completed in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. The $15 fuel cost suggests an economical drive. Since the longest stretch is just over 31 miles on I 91, you won't need to worry about extensive periods without services. Plan to refuel before you leave North Stamford or shortly after you begin, as the majority of the drive is on the highway where services can be spaced out.
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 45.7 miles from North Stamford, CT, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.1 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 45.7 miles or 1h 1m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Southwood Acres, 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 91.3 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 91 for about 31.1 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 87.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
56 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 91 North, CT 66 East: Hartford, Middletown
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 65A
Toward I 91 North, CT 66 East: Hartford, Middle...
6
74 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|I 91
Keep slight right at fork onto I 91
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
87.4 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward CT 140: Warehouse Point, Ellington
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 45
Toward CT 140: Warehouse Point, Ellington
6
87.6 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|CT 140 / Bridge Street
Turn right onto CT 140 / Bridge Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.14 one way
$32.28 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$17.68
$35.36
premium
$5.29
$19.01
$38.02
diesel
$5.35
$19.23
$38.46
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: 31.9 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
27.4
0
$9.59
$4.38
Efficient EV
22.8
0
$7.99
$3.65
EV Truck/SUV
36.5
0
$12.78
$5.84
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 2, 2026
Origin
North Stamford, CT
Afternoon
in North Stamford on Wednesday
Local time
2:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Sunny
NW 5 to 12 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Southwood Acres, CT
Afternoon
in Southwood Acres on Wednesday
Local time
2:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Sunny
N 9 mph1% chanceLive forecast
74°F
Middlefield, CT
46 mi in
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
1 degrees warmer 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...
From the Sound to the summits: the New England Trail covers 235 miles from Long Island Sound across long ridges to scenic mountain summits in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The trail offers panoramic...
23 mi from route
~57 min detour
Free
near mile 91.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway, with 93% of the 91.3 miles on major roads like I 91 and Merritt Parkway. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 31.1 miles on I 91, indicating a significant portion of uninterrupted highway driving. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur as you near Southwood Acres, so be prepared for more local traffic and potentially more frequent intersections in the final section.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.1 mi on I 91.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 91 and Wilbur Cross 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.
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 16 significant decision points across 91.3 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 56 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74 miles (I 91): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
331 ft17 ft
Total Climb
547 ft
Total Descent
647 ft
Highest Point
331 ft
~58.7 mi in
Elevation Range
314 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 Southwood Acres, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Middletown along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 2m. Total distance: 91.3 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 (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.1 miles on I 91. 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.
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 Southwood Acres, 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 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 56 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74 miles (I 91): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Weir Farm National Historical Park and New England National Scenic Trail. 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 Southwood Acres, CT before heading back.
