Stamford to Groton is 88.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 58 minutes via I 95, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Connecticut, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its mostly highway profile and short duration, it's a straightforward trip. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on Interstate 95, making it a quick and efficient transit between these two cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.2 miles from Stamford, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
82.4 mi
1h 44m
Forbes Avenue
1.2 mi
2m
Long Wharf Drive
0.9 mi
2m
Frontage Road
0.7 mi
<1m
Mitchell Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Grove Street
0.3 mi
<1m
North Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Broad Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 82.4 mi, about 1h 44m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 78 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,669 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~618 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 35 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 Groton, 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
38 mi·51 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·1 min
Exit 46Toward Long Wharf Drive, Sargent DriveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn left onto Long Wharf Drive
0.9 mi·2 min·Long Wharf Drive
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on East Street
0.1 mi·16 sec·East Street
9
Turn right onto US 1
0.1 mi·9 sec·Water Street
10
Continue on US 1
1.2 mi·2 min·Forbes Avenue
11
Turn right onto US 1
0.7 mi·48 sec·Frontage Road
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 95 North
13
Merge onto I 95
44 mi·53 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto US 1
0.1 mi·23 sec·US 1
Exit 85Toward US 1 North: Thames Street, Downtown Groton
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·49 sec
16
Keep slight left at fork
226 ft·9 sec
17
Continue on North Street
0.3 mi·35 sec·North Street
18
Continue on Mitchell Street
0.5 mi·55 sec·Mitchell Street
19
Turn right onto Ledyard Avenue
0.1 mi·32 sec·Ledyard Avenue
20
Turn sharp right onto Smith Street
27 ft·1 sec·Smith Street
21
Arrive at destination
Smith Street
Trip Plan
Since this trip is under two hours and easily doable in a single day, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Stamford mid-morning should help you avoid the worst of rush hour traffic. With only 88.4 miles, you likely won't need to plan for extensive stops, but keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is wise; the estimated cost is around $15. For a smoother arrival into Groton, be aware that the last few miles will be on local roads rather than the interstate.
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 44.2 miles from Stamford, CT, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.4 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 19 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.2 miles or 1h 3m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Groton, 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 88.4 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 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 82.4 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 88.4 — 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.
8
39.1 mi into trip|~54m in
Take the exit toward Long Wharf Drive, Sargent Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 46
Toward Long Wharf Drive, Sargent Drive
6
39.3 mi into trip|~55m in|Long Wharf Drive
Turn left onto Long Wharf Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
87 mi into trip|~1h 54m in|US 1
Take the exit onto US 1 toward US 1 North: Thames Street, Downtown Groton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 85
Toward US 1 North: Thames Street, Downtown Grot...
6
88.4 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|Smith Street
Turn sharp right onto Smith Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.24 one way
$30.49 round trip
$4.38/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.02
$17.47
$34.94
premium
$5.44
$18.93
$37.86
diesel
$6.45
$22.45
$44.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.9 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.5
0
$9.28
$4.24
Efficient EV
22.1
0
$7.74
$3.54
EV Truck/SUV
35.4
0
$12.38
$5.66
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Stamford, CT
Afternoon
in Stamford on Saturday
Local time
12:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Light Rain
NW 9 to 16 mph61% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 2:18PM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Destination
Groton, CT
Afternoon
in Groton on Saturday
Local time
12:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 10 to 23 mph89% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 2:18PM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Upton NY
44°F
Monroe, CT
44 mi in
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 58m 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
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 9.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 93% highway, so expect to be on I 95 for most of the 88.4 miles. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 82.4 miles. You'll transition to surface roads like Forbes Avenue and Long Wharf Drive for the final portion into Groton. The high percentage of highway driving means you'll encounter a consistent flow of traffic and frequent exits.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.4 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Forbes Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Broad Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 88.4 miles you will encounter 14 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 39.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.3 miles (Long Wharf Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Stamford, Connecticut is the second largest city in the state by population, 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 58m. Total distance: 88.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.4 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 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 Groton, 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 39.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.3 miles (Long Wharf Drive): 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 Groton, CT before heading back.
