Stamford to Vernon is 86.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 53 minutes via Wilbur Cross Parkway and I-95, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays entirely within Connecticut, moving north from the Northeast region. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making it a straightforward trip for a single day. Consider this drive if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground between these two points in the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.1 miles from Stamford, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Wilbur Cross Parkway
30.4 mi
37m
I 95
20.3 mi
27m
Berlin Turnpike
15.7 mi
20m
I 84
8 mi
9m
CT 8
5 mi
5m
Merritt Parkway
3 mi
4m
Dobson Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Washington Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Wilbur Cross Parkway
— 30.4 mi, about 37m
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 Vernon, 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
30 mi·37 min·Wilbur Cross Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 5; CT 15
16 mi·20 min·Berlin Turnpike
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 84; US 6
1.4 mi·1 min·I 84; US 6
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6
6.6 mi·7 min·I 84; US 6
Toward I 84 East: BostonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 64-65Toward CT 30, CT 83: Vernon Center, RockvilleUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·21 sec
Exit 65Toward CT 30 North: Vernon CenterUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto CT 30
0.2 mi·22 sec·Hartford Turnpike
18
Turn right onto Dobson Road
0.4 mi·55 sec·Dobson Road
19
Continue on Washington Street
0.4 mi·52 sec·Washington Street
20
Arrive at destination
Washington Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive at under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Stamford in the morning should allow you to arrive in Vernon with plenty of daylight remaining. With a low fuel cost of around $14, you likely won't need to worry about finding a gas station along the way, but it's always wise to check your gauge. Given the high highway percentage, plan for a straightforward drive with minimal detours.
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 43.1 miles from Stamford, CT, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.4 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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.1 miles or 58m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Vernon, 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 86.3 miles and 1h 53m.
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 Wilbur Cross Parkway for about 30.4 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 21.4 and 85.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
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
78.2 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|I 84; US 6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6 toward I 84 East: Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 84 East: Boston
8
84.8 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward CT 30, CT 83: Vernon Center, Rockville
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 64-65
Toward CT 30, CT 83: Vernon Center, Rockville
8
85.1 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CT 30 North: Vernon Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 65
Toward CT 30 North: Vernon Center
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.26 one way
$30.51 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$16.71
$33.42
premium
$5.29
$17.97
$35.94
diesel
$5.35
$18.18
$36.35
Estimated Tolls: $1.10
Berlin Turnpike
(15.7 mi)$1.10
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
$15
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.9
0
$9.06
$4.14
Efficient EV
21.6
0
$7.55
$3.45
EV Truck/SUV
34.5
0
$12.08
$5.52
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% 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 1, 2026
Origin
Stamford, CT
Afternoon
in Stamford on Wednesday
Local time
2:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Isolated Rain Showers
SE 3 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Vernon, CT
Afternoon
in Vernon on Wednesday
Local time
2:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Mostly Cloudy
NW 3 mph8% 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
6 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 53m 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 8.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is overwhelmingly on highways, with a 96% highway share. You'll experience a long stretch of 30.4 miles on the Wilbur Cross Parkway before transitioning to I-95 and then the Berlin Turnpike. Expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate through populated areas.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.4 mi on Wilbur Cross Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 21.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.3 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 21.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.2 miles (I 84; US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
345 ft12 ft
Total Climb
881 ft
Total Descent
550 ft
Highest Point
345 ft
~86.3 mi in
Elevation Range
333 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 Vernon, 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 53m. Total distance: 86.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.4 miles on Wilbur Cross Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.10 in tolls one way, starting with Berlin Turnpike. 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 11 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 Vernon, 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 21.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.2 miles (I 84; US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Vernon, CT before heading back.
