This 72.9-mile journey from Old Lyme to Stamford, Connecticut, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 1 hour and 38 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate local roads, including Shore Road and Atlantic Street, with no highway driving involved. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $12, making it an economical option. This route offers a direct, turn-heavy local drive experience within the Northeast region. It’s perfectly suited for a day trip, allowing ample time for exploration at your destination without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.5 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
Shore Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Atlantic Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Ferry Road
0.3 mi
1m
North State Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Lyme Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Neck Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Library Lane
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Shore Road
— 0.4 mi, about <1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Old Lyme, CT and 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
71 mi·1 hr 32 min
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 7Toward CT 137 North: Atlantic StreetUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto North State Street
0.3 mi·47 sec·North State Street
10
Turn right onto Atlantic Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·Atlantic Street
11
Arrive at destination
Atlantic Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under two hours, this drive offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, perhaps after a leisurely breakfast in Old Lyme. Since it's a turn-heavy route, plan to keep your navigation handy and be prepared for frequent adjustments. While there are no designated 'stops' mentioned in the data, you'll find plenty of opportunities to pull over in towns along the way if needed for a quick break or to grab a coffee. The $12 fuel estimate is quite reasonable, so you shouldn't need to worry about extensive refueling stops.
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 36.5 miles from Old Lyme, CT, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 0.4 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 36.5 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near 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 72.9 miles and 1h 38m.
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 Shore Road for about 0.4 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 72.1 — 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
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Lyme Street
Turn left onto Lyme Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|Ferry Road
Turn right onto Ferry Road
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
72.1 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward CT 137 North: Atlantic Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 7
Toward CT 137 North: Atlantic Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.74 one way
$23.47 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$12.91
$25.82
premium
$4.86
$13.96
$27.92
diesel
$5.61
$16.10
$32.19
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: 25.5 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
21.9
0
$7.65
$3.50
Efficient EV
18.2
0
$6.38
$2.92
EV Truck/SUV
29.2
0
$10.21
$4.67
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
4:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Stamford, CT
Late night
in Stamford on Sunday
Local time
4:00 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 38m 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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 62.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile for this route, meaning you'll be making frequent turns rather than cruising on open highways. With a 0% highway share, this is an entirely local road experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a modest 0.4 miles on Shore Road. This suggests a drive that winds through communities, requiring your attention to navigation and local traffic patterns, rather than extended periods of high-speed travel.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 0.4 mi on Shore Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Library Lane.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Old Lyme, CT to Stamford, CT is easy. At 1h 38m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Library Lane): Navigation decision point; near the start (Lyme Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Ferry Road): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 72.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 0.4 miles on Shore Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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; near the start (Lyme Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Ferry Road): Navigation decision point.
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 Stamford, CT before heading back.
