Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
66.1 mi
106 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stamford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Kensington, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Stamford to Kensington is 66.1 miles and takes about 1h 28m via Wilbur Cross Parkway and I 95, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Connecticut, beginning in the Northeast region and ending in the same area. The route is almost entirely highway, making it a straightforward option for getting between these two points. It's a short enough drive that you can easily complete it in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wilbur Cross Parkway | 30.4 mi | 37m |
| I 95 | 20.3 mi | 27m |
| CT 8 | 5 mi | 5m |
| Merritt Parkway | 3 mi | 4m |
| Berlin Turnpike | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Farmington Avenue | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Grove Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Worthington Ridge | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~4,341 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~657 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 5 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Stamford, CT and Kensington, CT.
Start on Atlantic Street
Turn right onto Broad Street
Turn right onto Grove Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Continue on CT 8; CT 25
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 8
Take the exit
Merge onto CT 15
Continue on CT 15
Continue on US 5; CT 15
Turn left onto Middletown Road
At end of road, turn right onto Worthington Ridge
Turn left onto Farmington Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto CT 372
Turn sharp left onto CT 71
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 33 miles from Stamford, 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 0.1 and 65 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CT 25, CT 8: Trumbull, Waterbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 8 toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward CT 15 North: Merritt Parkway, New Haven
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 372 / Farmington Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$11.68 one way
$23.37 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $12.80 | $25.60 |
| premium | $5.29 | $13.76 | $27.53 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $13.92 | $27.85 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.20
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$0
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.94 | $3.17 |
| Efficient EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.78 | $2.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.4 | 0 | $9.25 | $4.23 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Evening in Stamford on Wednesday
Local time
6:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Sunny
Destination
Evening in Kensington on Wednesday
Local time
6:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Sunny
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.
You'll spend most of your time on the highway, with 93% of the drive on major roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 30.4 miles along the Wilbur Cross Parkway. Expect a high number of exits and on-ramps as you navigate this mostly highway profile. The transition to surface roads will occur towards the end of your trip.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Wilbur Cross Parkway and I 95. 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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.1 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 21.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.2 miles (CT 8): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
595 ft
Total Descent
531 ft
Highest Point
305 ft
~56.6 mi in
Elevation Range
291 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Stamford, CT and Kensington, CT, road signs point toward Waterbury and New Haven.
Waterbury
New Haven
Founded 1641
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 66.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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