Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52m
Distance
32 mi
51 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shelton, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Ridgefield, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Shelton, CT to Ridgefield, CT is 32 miles and takes about 52 minutes via Merritt Parkway and CT 8, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within Connecticut, connecting the Northeast region. It offers a mixed driving experience, making it a convenient option for a quick trip. You'll appreciate the straightforward navigation for a day trip or a quick connection between towns.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Merritt Parkway | 12.2 mi | 16m |
| CT 8 | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Georgetown Road | 4 mi | 7m |
| Weston Road | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Branchville Road | 3.5 mi | 8m |
| Bridgeport Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Danbury Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Shelton, CT and Ridgefield, CT.
Start on this road
Turn left onto CT 108
Continue on Bridgeport Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto CT 8
Take the exit
Merge onto CT 15
Take the exit
At end of road, turn left onto CT 57
Turn left
Turn straight onto CT 57
At end of road, turn left onto CT 57; CT 107
Continue on CT 57; CT 107
Turn right onto US 7
Continue on US 7
Turn left onto CT 102
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 102
At end of road, turn right onto CT 35
Turn right onto Bailey Avenue
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 16 miles from Shelton, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 19.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward CT 8 South: Bridgeport
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward CT 15 South: Merritt Parkway, New York City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto CT 15 / Merritt Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CT 57: Westport, Weston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
At end of road, turn left onto CT 57 / Weston Road
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$5.66 one way
$11.31 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $6.20 | $12.39 |
| premium | $5.29 | $6.66 | $13.33 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $6.74 | $13.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.36 | $1.54 |
| Efficient EV | 8 | 0 | $2.80 | $1.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.48 | $2.05 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Shelton on Wednesday
Local time
4:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Ridgefield on Wednesday
Local time
4:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Partly Cloudy
54°F
Weston, CT
16 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
About 53% of this 32-mile route is highway. You'll experience a stretch of 12.2 miles on the Merritt Parkway before transitioning. After the highway portion, expect to navigate on surface roads like CT 8 and Georgetown Road. The change from highway speeds to local road cruising is noticeable as you approach your destination.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 32 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.8 miles (CT 15 / Merritt Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
996 ft
Total Descent
300 ft
Highest Point
730 ft
~32 mi in
Elevation Range
696 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Shelton, CT and Ridgefield, CT, road signs point toward New York City and Weston.
New York City
Weston
Founded 1789
Founded 1709
Ridgefield is a town of 25,000 people (2010) in Connecticut.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 52m. Total distance: 32 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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