Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
54.2 mi
87 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
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
Washington, CT
MART PRODUCTION
Stamford to Washington, CT is 54.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 24 minutes via US 7, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Connecticut, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. The drive offers a mix of highway and surface roads, making it a flexible option for a day trip. You'll spend about 41% of your time on the highway, so expect a relatively quick pace for most of the journey. It's a straightforward drive with a low fuel cost, ideal for a short excursion.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 7 | 15.4 mi | 19m |
| Danbury Road | 8.4 mi | 14m |
| Sugar Hollow Road | 7.4 mi | 11m |
| I 95 | 6.6 mi | 8m |
| Ethan Allen Highway | 4.5 mi | 8m |
| Chestnut Land Road | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| Church Hill Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Park Lane Road | 0.8 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 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 Washington, 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 US 7
Turn right onto US 7
Turn left onto US 7
Continue on US 7
Turn slight left onto CT 33
Merge onto US 7; CT 33
Continue on US 7
Continue on US 7
Continue on US 7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 7; US 202
Turn right onto US 202; CT 67
Turn left onto US 202
Continue on US 202
Continue on US 202
Turn right onto CT 109
Continue on CT 109
At end of road, turn right onto CT 109
Continue on CT 47
Turn left onto Wykeham Road
Turn left onto Old North Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27.1 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 32.8 — 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 ramp toward I 95 North: New Haven
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 7: Norwalk, Danbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto US 7; US 202 toward US 7 North, US 202 East: Brookfield, New Milford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$9.58 one way
$19.16 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $10.49 | $20.99 |
| premium | $5.29 | $11.29 | $22.57 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $11.42 | $22.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.69 | $2.60 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.74 | $2.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.59 | $3.47 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Stamford on Wednesday
Local time
5:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Evening in Washington on Wednesday
Local time
5:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Clear
58°F
Redding, CT
27 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
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.
This drive is about 41% highway, meaning you'll experience some faster stretches before transitioning to surface roads. The longest continuous section on a main road is 15.4 miles along US 7. Expect to encounter a varied driving experience, transitioning from more developed areas with highway exits to more rural cruising as you head towards Washington. The profile is described as 'Mixed highway & surface,' indicating a blend of speeds and road types.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 54.2 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 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,075 ft
Total Descent
355 ft
Highest Point
857 ft
~50.3 mi in
Elevation Range
843 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Stamford, CT and Washington, CT, road signs point toward Danbury and New Milford.
Danbury
New Milford
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Cafe
Early in the drive, right off the route
Norwalk, CT
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteCafe
Near the start, right off the route
Norwalk, CT
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Fr 05:00-21:30; Sa,Su 05:30-21:30
Visit websiteCafe
Near the start, right off the route
Stamford, CT
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Cafe
Near the start, short detour
Darien, CT
Fast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Stamford, CT
Cuisine: ice_cream;burger;chicken
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the start, right off the route
CT
Cuisine: indian
Hours: Mo-Sa 11:30-15:30,17:00-22:30, Su 11:30-...
Fast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: donut;coffee_shop
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Stamford, CT
Cuisine: donut;coffee_shop
Hours: 24/7
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Stamford, CT
Cuisine: pizza
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Stamford, CT
Cuisine: american
Visit websitePark
Near the start, right off the route
Viewpoint
Early in the drive, right off the route
Park
Early in the drive, short detour
Camp_site
Near the end, short detour
Camp_site
Near the end, short detour
Park
Later in the drive, short detour
Museum
Near the end, right off the route
CT
Visit websiteMonument
Near the start, right off the route
Artwork
Near the start, right off the route
District
Near the start, right off the route
District
Near the start, right off the route
Memorial
Around the midpoint, short detour
Hotel
Early in the drive, right off the route
Norwalk, CT
Visit websiteHotel
Near the start, right off the route
CT
Visit websiteMotel
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Hotel
Near the start, short detour
Old Greenwich, CT
Visit websiteHotel
Early in the drive, short detour
Camp_site
Near the end, short detour
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
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
Founded 1779
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 54.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (41%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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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