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Trip from Stafford, CT to Norwich, CT

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 6m

Distance

39.6 mi

64 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 1m ★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States

Stafford, CT

Wikimedia Commons

city in New London County, Connecticut, United States

Norwich, CT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 39.6-mile drive from Stafford to Norwich, Connecticut, is a manageable 1-hour and 6-minute journey. It's perfect for a single-day trip, allowing ample time to explore your destination without feeling rushed. You'll primarily be on River Road and Stafford Road, transitioning onto Route 32. With an estimated fuel cost of around $6, this route is budget-friendly. The drive offers a local feel, making it a relaxed way to travel between these two towns in the Northeast region. Given its short duration, you won't need to worry about overnight stays, giving you flexibility in your schedule.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
River Road 9 mi 14m
Stafford Road 8.8 mi 13m
Route 32 7.1 mi 11m
Windham Road 4.5 mi 7m
CT 32 2.3 mi 3m
East Street 2.2 mi 3m
Valley Street 1.3 mi 3m
Main Street 1.1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: River Road — 9 mi, about 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Stafford, CT and Norwich, CT.

1

Start on CT 19

2.2 mi · 3 min · East Street
2

At end of road, turn right onto CT 190

0.3 mi · 35 sec · East Main Street
3

At end of road, turn left onto CT 190

140 ft · 2 sec · East Main Street
4

Enter roundabout onto CT 32

97 ft · 8 sec · River Road
5

Continue on CT 32

9.0 mi · 14 min · River Road
6

Continue on CT 32

8.8 mi · 13 min · Stafford Road
7

Continue on CT 32

1.0 mi · 1 min · Main Street
8

Turn left onto West Avenue

453 ft · 12 sec · West Avenue
9

Turn right onto Valley Street

1.3 mi · 3 min · Valley Street
10

Turn right onto Jackson Street

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Jackson Street
11

Continue on South Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · South Street
12

Turn left onto CT 32

0.3 mi · 37 sec · Pleasant Street
13

Continue on CT 32

4.5 mi · 7 min · Windham Road
14

Continue on CT 32

7.1 mi · 11 min · Route 32
15

Continue on CT 32

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Franklin Turnpike
16

Continue on CT 32

0.4 mi · 27 sec · West Town Street
17

Take the exit onto CT 32

2.3 mi · 3 min · CT 32
Toward CT 2 East, CT 32 South: Norwich
18

Take the exit onto CT 2; CT 32

0.5 mi · 1 min · CT 2; CT 32
Toward Downtown: CT 2 East, CT 32 South
19

Turn slight left onto Broadway

0.6 mi · 1 min · Broadway
20

Continue on Union Street

0.4 mi · 37 sec · Union Street
21

Turn right onto Broadway

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Broadway
22

Turn right onto Main Street

333 ft · 6 sec · Main Street
23

Turn slight left onto Market Street

503 ft · 18 sec · Market Street
24

Turn left onto CT 2

0.1 mi · 24 sec · Chelsea Harbor Drive
25

Arrive at destination

Courthouse Square

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

census-designated place in Windham, Connecticut, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Willimantic, CT

20 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Uncasville, CT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mansfield City, CT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 19.8 miles from Stafford, 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 39.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
2.5 mi into trip | ~4m in | CT 32 / River Road

Enter roundabout onto CT 32 / River Road

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
22.9 mi into trip | ~38m in | CT 32 / Pleasant Street

Turn left onto CT 32 / Pleasant Street

Navigation decision point

5
35.4 mi into trip | ~58m in | CT 32

Take the exit onto CT 32 toward CT 2 East, CT 32 South: Norwich

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward CT 2 East, CT 32 South: Norwich
5
37.7 mi into trip | ~1h 2m in | CT 2; CT 32

Take the exit onto CT 2; CT 32 toward Downtown: CT 2 East, CT 32 South

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward Downtown: CT 2 East, CT 32 South
5
39.4 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | CT 2 / Chelsea Harbor Drive

Turn left onto CT 2 / Chelsea Harbor Drive

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.37 one way

$12.75 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $7.01 $14.03
premium $4.86 $7.58 $15.17
diesel $5.61 $8.74 $17.49

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.9 0 $4.16 $1.90
Efficient EV 9.9 0 $3.47 $1.58
EV Truck/SUV 15.8 0 $5.54 $2.53

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Stafford, CT

Late night in Stafford on Sunday

Local time

12:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

39°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Norwich, CT

Late night in Norwich on Sunday

Local time

12:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

40°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

1 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 6m 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 trip, with about 26% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 9 miles along River Road. This route is characterized by its frequent turns and transitions between local roads and higher-speed sections. As you move from Stafford onto Stafford Road and then Route 32, the character of the drive shifts, offering a varied driving experience rather than a monotonous highway cruise. It’s a route that keeps you engaged behind the wheel.

Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9 mi on River Road.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near CT 32 / River Road.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 6m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles (CT 32 / River Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 22.9 miles (CT 32 / Pleasant Street): Navigation decision point; at 35.4 miles (CT 32): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 39.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (26%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 9 miles on River 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: at 2.5 miles (CT 32 / River Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 22.9 miles (CT 32 / Pleasant Street): Navigation decision point; at 35.4 miles (CT 32): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — New England National Scenic Trail. 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 Norwich, 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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