Stamford, CT to North Haven, CT is 47.3 miles and takes about 1h 4m via I 95 and Wilbur Cross Parkway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Connecticut, making it a straightforward hop between two points in the Northeast region. The drive is predominantly on major highways, so expect efficient travel. It's a short enough distance that you can easily complete it within a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
20.3 mi
27m
Wilbur Cross Parkway
15.6 mi
19m
CT 8
5 mi
5m
Merritt Parkway
3 mi
4m
Clintonville Road
0.7 mi
1m
Grove Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Broad Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Bishop Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 20.3 mi, about 27m
Traffic on I-95
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
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 5 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 North Haven, 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
20 mi·27 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 27AToward CT 25, CT 8: Trumbull, WaterburyUse the right lane.
7
Continue on CT 8; CT 25
3.2 mi·3 min·CT 8; CT 25
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 8
1.8 mi·2 min·CT 8
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 6Toward CT 15 North: Merritt Parkway, New HavenUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto CT 15
3.0 mi·4 min·Merritt Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on CT 15
16 mi·19 min·Wilbur Cross Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 53Toward CT 22: North HavenUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
At end of road, turn right onto CT 22
0.2 mi·19 sec·Bishop Street
14
Continue on US 5; CT 22
0.7 mi·1 min·Clintonville Road
15
Turn left onto US 5
27 ft·0 sec·Washington Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
US 5
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 23.7 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 46.3 — 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
21.4 mi into trip|~30m in
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
Use the right lane.
Exit 27A
Toward CT 25, CT 8: Trumbull, Waterbury
6
25.2 mi into trip|~34m in|CT 8
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
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
8
27 mi into trip|~37m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 6
Toward CT 15 North: Merritt Parkway, New Haven
7
46.3 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward CT 22: North Haven
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 53
Toward CT 22: North Haven
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.42 one way
$14.85 round trip
$3.99/gal25.4 MPG avg17 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$8.34
$16.67
premium
$4.81
$8.96
$17.92
diesel
$4.80
$8.93
$17.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
14.2
0
$4.97
$2.27
Efficient EV
11.8
0
$4.14
$1.89
EV Truck/SUV
18.9
0
$6.62
$3.03
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jun 30, 2026
Origin
Stamford, CT
Morning
in Stamford on Sunday
Local time
10:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
SW 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued June 30 at 2:41AM EDT until July 1 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Extreme Heat Watch
Extreme Heat Watch issued June 30 at 2:41AM EDT until July 4 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Destination
North Haven, CT
Morning
in North Haven on Sunday
Local time
10:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued June 30 at 2:41AM EDT until July 1 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Extreme Heat Watch
Extreme Heat Watch issued June 30 at 2:41AM EDT until July 4 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
85°F
Huntington, NY
24 mi in
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 4m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 93% of the 47.3 miles spent on major roads like I 95 and Wilbur Cross Parkway. You'll encounter a stretch of 20.3 miles on I 95 before transitioning. Expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate between these highways, especially as you approach your destination in North Haven.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.3 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Wilbur Cross Parkway. 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 Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.3 miles you will encounter 11 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
241 ft2 ft
Total Climb
429 ft
Total Descent
404 ft
Highest Point
241 ft
~37.2 mi in
Elevation Range
240 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Stamford, CT and North Haven, CT, road signs point toward Waterbury and New Haven.
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 4m. Total distance: 47.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.3 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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 North Haven, 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 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.
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 North Haven, CT before heading back.
