Origin
Ridgefield, CT
Late night in Ridgefield on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ridgefield, CT to Stamford, CT
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
40m
Distance
20.5 mi
33 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ridgefield, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Stamford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Ridgefield, CT to Stamford, CT is 20.5 miles and takes about 40 minutes via Smith Ridge Road and I-95, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within the Northeast region and Connecticut, offering a straightforward connection between two local areas. It's primarily a local road experience with a brief highway segment. Given its brevity, this trip is ideal for a single day, allowing ample time for your destination activities without feeling rushed.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Smith Ridge Road | 7.2 mi | 13m |
| South Avenue | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| I 95 | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| West Lane | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Middlesex Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Mansfield Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Noroton Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Smith Ridge Road
— 7.2 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ridgefield, CT and Stamford, CT.
1
Start on Bailey Avenue
405 ft
·
19 sec
·
Bailey Avenue
2
Turn right
242 ft
·
19 sec
3
Turn right
46 ft
·
8 sec
4
Turn left
189 ft
·
15 sec
5
At end of road, turn right onto Governor Street
466 ft
·
27 sec
·
Governor Street
6
Turn left onto CT 35
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
7
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 35
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Lane
8
Continue on West Lane
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Lane
9
Continue on Spring Hill Lane
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Spring Hill Lane
10
Turn left onto NY 123
7.2 mi
·
13 min
·
Smith Ridge Road
11
Continue on Smith Ridge Road
152 ft
·
7 sec
·
Smith Ridge Road
12
Turn left onto Forest Street
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Forest Street
13
Turn right onto Locust Avenue
502 ft
·
15 sec
·
Locust Avenue
14
Turn left onto CT 124
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Main Street
15
Turn right onto CT 106; CT 124
337 ft
·
12 sec
·
Cherry Street
16
Turn left onto CT 106; CT 124
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
South Avenue
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on CT 124
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Mansfield Avenue
18
Turn right onto Middlesex Road
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Middlesex Road
19
Continue on Middlesex Road
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Middlesex Road
20
Turn left onto Noroton Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Noroton Avenue
21
Turn right onto Ledge Road
361 ft
·
11 sec
·
Ledge Road
22
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
this road
Toward I 95 South: New York City
23
Merge onto I 95
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 7
Toward CT 137 North: Atlantic Street
Use the slight right lane.
25
Turn straight onto North State Street
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
North State Street
26
Turn right onto Atlantic Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Atlantic Street
27
Arrive at destination
Atlantic Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 19.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Governor Street
At end of road, turn right onto Governor Street
Navigation decision point
5
11.1 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
CT 106; CT 124 / Cherry Street
Turn right onto CT 106; CT 124 / Cherry Street
Navigation decision point
5
11.2 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
CT 106; CT 124 / South Avenue
Turn left onto CT 106; CT 124 / South Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
19.7 mi into trip
|
~38m 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
$3.30 one way
$6.60 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $3.63 | $7.26 |
| premium | $4.86 | $3.93 | $7.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.53 | $9.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.15 | $0.98 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.79 | $0.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.87 | $1.31 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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.
Destination
Stamford, CT
Late night in Stamford on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
40m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for most of this 20.5-mile journey. Only about 11% of the route involves highway travel, meaning you'll spend the majority of your 40 minutes navigating surface streets and local roads. The longest stretch you'll encounter without a significant turn or change in road type is 7.2 miles on Smith Ridge Road. This profile suggests a more engaging driving experience, requiring your attention to navigation and local traffic patterns rather than simply cruising on an interstate.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.2 mi on Smith Ridge Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 20.5 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Governor Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.1 miles (CT 106; CT 124 / Cherry Street): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Starting in Ridgefield, CT
Full guide →Ridgefield is a town of 25,000 people (2010) in Connecticut.
Arriving in Stamford, CT
Full guide →Stamford, Connecticut is the fourth largest city in the state, a center of regional activity in Fairfield County, and a hub of the Metro New York area. Its position between NYC and the rest of Connecticut defines Stamford’s character. Stamford takes on a big-city atmosphere in its downtown and the adjacent neighborhoods, then transitions to a more traditional suburban small-town Connecticut atmosphere in its northern sections. Stamford plays an active role in the NYC metro and Fairfield County art and music scene. It also has one of the largest and most diverse selections of restaurants and shopping in Fairfield County. Many large corporations are headquartered in Stamford, so it hosts a large reverse-commute from New York City in addition to commuters from Connecticut and nearby Westchester County, New York.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 40m. Total distance: 20.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.2 miles on Smith Ridge Road. 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 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 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Governor Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.1 miles (CT 106; CT 124 / Cherry Street): 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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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