This 74.6-mile drive from Old Lyme to North Stamford, Connecticut, is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 39 minutes. You'll navigate a mix of familiar highways and local roads, with a significant portion on the Merritt Parkway. Expect a fuel cost of around $12 for this journey. Given its relatively short length and the pleasant drive character, this route offers a straightforward transit between two points within the Northeast region, ideal for a focused journey without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.3 miles from Old Lyme, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Merritt Parkway
27 mi
34m
High Ridge Road
1.6 mi
2m
Shore Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Wilbur Cross Parkway
0.4 mi
<1m
Ferry Road
0.3 mi
1m
North Stamford Road
0.3 mi
1m
Lyme Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Neck Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Merritt Parkway
— 27 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Old Lyme, CT and North Stamford, CT.
1
Start on this road
33 ft·4 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Library Lane
206 ft·16 sec·Library Lane
3
Turn left onto Lyme Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·Lyme Street
4
Turn right onto Ferry Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Ferry Road
5
At end of road, turn right onto CT 156
0.4 mi·45 sec·Shore Road
6
Continue on US 1; CT 156
0.1 mi·18 sec·Neck Road
7
Take the ramp
41 mi·52 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
1.9 mi·2 min
Exit 38Toward CT 15: Merritt and Wilbur Cross ParkwaysUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 4Toward Wheelers Farms RoadUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto CT 15
0.4 mi·24 sec·Wilbur Cross Parkway
11
Continue on CT 15
27 mi·34 min·Merritt Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 10Toward CT 137: High Ridge RoadUse the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto CT 137
1.6 mi·2 min·High Ridge Road
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto North Stamford Road
0.2 mi·54 sec·North Stamford Road
15
Continue on North Stamford Road
475 ft·16 sec·North Stamford Road
16
Turn slight right onto Cascade Road
139 ft·6 sec·Cascade Road
17
Arrive at destination
Cascade Road
Trip Plan
With a duration of under two hours, this trip offers plenty of flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, but aim to leave before peak traffic hours to make the most of the 1 hour and 39-minute travel time. While there are no mandated stops, consider a brief pause if needed, perhaps during the 27-mile stretch on the Merritt Parkway. The estimated fuel cost of $12 is quite reasonable, so you shouldn't need frequent refueling stops unless your vehicle is particularly inefficient. Be mindful of the transition from highway to local roads as you approach North Stamford.
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 37.3 miles from Old Lyme, CT, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27 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 16 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.3 miles or 49m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Stamford, CT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Old Lyme, CT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Old Lyme, CT
This is one driving day of about 74.6 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Old Lyme, CT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Merritt Parkway for about 27 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 72.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Library Lane
Turn right onto Library Lane
Navigation decision point
6
1.1 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
42.5 mi into trip|~55m in
Take the exit toward CT 15: Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 38
Toward CT 15: Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways
8
44.4 mi into trip|~58m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Wheelers Farms Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 4
Toward Wheelers Farms Road
7
72.3 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward CT 137: High Ridge Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 10
Toward CT 137: High Ridge Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.01 one way
$24.02 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$13.21
$26.43
premium
$4.86
$14.29
$28.57
diesel
$5.61
$16.47
$32.94
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.4
0
$7.83
$3.58
Efficient EV
18.7
0
$6.53
$2.98
EV Truck/SUV
29.8
0
$10.44
$4.77
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Old Lyme, CT
Late night
in Old Lyme on Sunday
Local time
12:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
North Stamford, CT
Late night
in North Stamford on Sunday
Local time
12:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 39m on the road
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.
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
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 64.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed driving experience, with 37% of the drive on highways. You'll encounter stretches on the Merritt Parkway, including a longest uninterrupted segment of 27 miles, which provides a more parkway-like feel. As you progress, the drive transitions between these more open roadways and local roads like High Ridge Road and Shore Road, requiring adjustments in your driving style. It's not a monotonous interstate cruise, but rather a varied journey that keeps you engaged behind the wheel.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27 mi on Merritt Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Library Lane.
Driving Effort6/10
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 74.6 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (Library Lane): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 42.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
326 ft-5 ft
Total Climb
673 ft
Total Descent
467 ft
Highest Point
326 ft
~53.3 mi in
Elevation Range
330 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 74.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27 miles on Merritt Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 North Stamford, CT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: near the start (Library Lane): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 42.5 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 North Stamford, CT before heading back.
