Old Saybrook to North Stamford is 72.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 36 minutes via I 95 and Merritt Parkway, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Connecticut, traveling from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a drive that is primarily on major highways, making it a straightforward journey. It's a good option if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without extensive detours. Consider this trip for a quick hop between these two Connecticut locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.2 miles from Old Saybrook, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
39 mi
49m
Merritt Parkway
27 mi
34m
High Ridge Road
1.6 mi
2m
Boston Post Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Wilbur Cross Parkway
0.4 mi
<1m
North Stamford Road
0.3 mi
1m
Middlesex Turnpike
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 39 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Old Saybrook, CT and North Stamford, CT.
1
Start on CT 154
0.4 mi·43 sec·Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 1; CT 154
0.4 mi·41 sec·Boston Post Road
3
Continue on CT 154
0.3 mi·28 sec·Middlesex Turnpike
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 95 South
5
Merge onto I 95
39 mi·49 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
1.9 mi·2 min
Exit 38Toward CT 15: Merritt and Wilbur Cross ParkwaysUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 4Toward Wheelers Farms RoadUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto CT 15
0.4 mi·24 sec·Wilbur Cross Parkway
9
Continue on CT 15
27 mi·34 min·Merritt Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 10Toward CT 137: High Ridge RoadUse the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto CT 137
1.6 mi·2 min·High Ridge Road
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto North Stamford Road
0.2 mi·54 sec·North Stamford Road
13
Continue on North Stamford Road
475 ft·16 sec·North Stamford Road
14
Turn slight right onto Cascade Road
139 ft·6 sec·Cascade Road
15
Arrive at destination
Cascade Road
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 36 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to depart after morning rush hour to avoid the heaviest traffic on I 95. While the drive is short, the longest stretch without a major road change is 39 miles on I 95, so plan for a quick fuel stop before you begin if your tank is low, as services might be less frequent on the Merritt Parkway itself. This route is efficient, so you have flexibility with your departure time.
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 36.2 miles from Old Saybrook, CT, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39 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 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.2 miles or 46m 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 19m
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 Saybrook, CT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Old Saybrook, CT
This is one driving day of about 72.4 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Old Saybrook, CT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 39 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 70.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
40.4 mi into trip|~52m 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
42.3 mi into trip|~54m 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
70.2 mi into trip|~1h 30m 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
5
70.5 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|CT 137 / High Ridge Road
Turn left onto CT 137 / High Ridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.66 one way
$23.31 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$12.82
$25.65
premium
$4.86
$13.86
$27.73
diesel
$5.61
$15.99
$31.97
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: 25.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.7
0
$7.60
$3.48
Efficient EV
18.1
0
$6.34
$2.90
EV Truck/SUV
29
0
$10.14
$4.63
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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 Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Old Saybrook, CT
Late night
in Old Saybrook on Sunday
Local time
12:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
North Stamford, CT
Late night
in North Stamford on Sunday
Local time
12:42 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 36m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 92% of the journey taking place on major roadways like I 95 and the Merritt Parkway. You'll experience a significant stretch of 39 miles on I 95 before transitioning to the Merritt Parkway. The character shifts from a busy interstate environment to a more parkway-style road. This profile suggests a generally fast-paced trip with limited opportunities for spontaneous stops along the main thoroughfares.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Merritt Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near I 95.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.4 miles you will encounter 9 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 1.4 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 72.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39 miles on I 95. 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: at 1.4 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at North Stamford, CT before heading back.
