Stamford to Chester is 70.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 43 minutes via I 95 and Old Toll Road, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Connecticut, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a relatively short drive that offers a mix of highway cruising and surface road travel. You'll find it's a straightforward route, suitable for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.3 miles from Stamford, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
38.8 mi
52m
Old Toll Road
7.3 mi
10m
Foxon Road
7.3 mi
11m
Winthrop Road
3.4 mi
5m
North Branford Road
2.8 mi
4m
Deep River Road
2.5 mi
3m
I 91
2.2 mi
3m
West Elm Street
1.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 38.8 mi, about 52m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 30 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,279 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~920 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
4.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 8 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stamford, CT and Chester, CT.
1
Start on Atlantic Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·Atlantic Street
2
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.3 mi·57 sec·Broad Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto Grove Street
0.3 mi·48 sec·Grove Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 95 North: New Haven
5
Merge onto I 95
39 mi·52 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 48Toward I 91 North: HartfordUse the slight right lane.
7
Continue on I 91
2.2 mi·3 min·I 91
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 8Toward CT 17, CT 80: North BranfordUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
490 ft·11 sec
Toward CT 80 East: North Branford
10
Turn straight onto CT 80
0.7 mi·1 min·Foxon Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on CT 80
7.3 mi·11 min·Foxon Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on CT 80
5.9 mi·8 min·Old Toll Road
13
Enter roundabout onto CT 80
326 ft·5 sec·Old Toll Road
14
Continue on CT 80
1.3 mi·1 min·Old Toll Road
15
Continue on CT 80
2.8 mi·4 min·North Branford Road
16
Enter roundabout onto CT 80
148 ft·2 sec·Deep River Road
17
Continue on CT 80
2.5 mi·3 min·Deep River Road
18
Continue on CT 80
3.4 mi·5 min·Winthrop Road
19
Turn left onto CT 80
1.9 mi·3 min·West Elm Street
20
Turn left onto CT 154
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
21
Continue on CT 154
0.4 mi·50 sec·Middlesex Turnpike
22
Turn left onto Main Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
23
At end of road, turn right onto CT 148
4 ft·0 sec·Water Street
24
Arrive at destination
CT 148
Trip Plan
Since this is a shorter drive of under two hours, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning allows you to arrive in Chester with plenty of the day ahead. You won't need many stops, but consider a brief break around the halfway point if needed. The fuel cost is estimated at $12, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before you depart. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 95 to the surface roads, as this is where the driving environment changes most significantly.
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 35.3 miles from Stamford, CT, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.8 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 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.3 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chester, CT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Stamford, CT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Stamford, CT
This is one driving day of about 70.5 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Stamford, CT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 38.8 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 42.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Broad Street
Turn right onto Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 North: New Haven
Navigation decision point
Toward I 95 North: New Haven
7
39.9 mi into trip|~55m in
Take the exit toward I 91 North: Hartford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 48
Toward I 91 North: Hartford
8
42.7 mi into trip|~1h in
Take the exit toward CT 17, CT 80: North Branford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8
Toward CT 17, CT 80: North Branford
6
42.9 mi into trip|~1h in
Keep slight right at fork toward CT 80 East: North Branford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward CT 80 East: North Branford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.46 one way
$24.92 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$13.65
$27.30
premium
$5.29
$14.68
$29.36
diesel
$5.35
$14.85
$29.70
Estimated Tolls: $0.51
Old Toll Road
(7.3 mi)$0.51
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.2
0
$7.40
$3.38
Efficient EV
17.6
0
$6.17
$2.82
EV Truck/SUV
28.2
0
$9.87
$4.51
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 Jun 2, 2026
Origin
Stamford, CT
Evening
in Stamford on Wednesday
Local time
5:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Clear
NE 2 to 10 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Chester, CT
Evening
in Chester on Wednesday
Local time
5:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Mostly Clear
N 2 mph0% chanceLive 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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 43m on the road
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.
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...
11 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 9.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
With 59% of this drive on highways, you'll spend a good portion of your time on I 95. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 38.8 miles. After leaving the interstate, expect to transition to surface roads, including Old Toll Road and Foxon Road. The shift from high-speed interstate to surface roads will likely involve a noticeable change in pace and potentially more frequent intersections.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.8 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Broad Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 70.5 miles you will encounter 13 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 (Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 39.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Top landmarks
•Marion Castle — historic mansion in Stamford, Connecticut, USA
•Fish Church — church building in Stamford, Connecticut
•Stamford Harbor Ledge Light — lighthouse in Stamford, Connecticut, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 70.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.8 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.51 in tolls one way, starting with Old Toll Road. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 10 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Chester, 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 (Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 39.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Chester, CT before heading back.
