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Trip from Colchester, CT to North Stamford, CT

Drive Time

2h

Distance

83 mi

134 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 51m ★
6 AM
2h 0m
8 AM
2h 17m
10 AM
2h 6m
12 PM
2h 4m
3 PM
2h 7m
5 PM
2h 16m
8 PM
1h 55m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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town in New London County, Connecticut, United States

Colchester, CT

Wikimedia Commons

city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States

North Stamford, CT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Colchester, CT to North Stamford, CT covers 83 miles and takes about 2h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on CT 15, Middletown Road, Meriden Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 53.8 miles on CT 15. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.29 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

41.5 miles from Colchester, CT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 2h highway drive covering 83 miles, with most of the trip on CT 15 and Middletown Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 53.8 miles on CT 15.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CT 15 is the longest continuous segment at about 53.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 15 and Middletown Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18 miles in near CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 83 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 18 miles (CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
18 mi into trip | ~30m in | CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street

At end of road, turn left onto CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
26.1 mi into trip | ~45m in

Take the exit toward I 91 South, CT 15 South: New Haven

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Exit 1B Toward I 91 South, CT 15 South: New Haven
7
26.5 mi into trip | ~45m in

Take the exit toward CT 15 South

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 17 Toward CT 15 South
7
26.8 mi into trip | ~46m in

Keep slight left at fork toward CT 15 South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward CT 15 South
7
80.7 mi into trip | ~1h 54m in

Take the exit toward CT 137: High Ridge Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Exit 10 Toward CT 137: High Ridge Road

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
CT 15 53.8 mi 1h 8m
Middletown Road 6.1 mi 10m
Meriden Road 4.2 mi 5m
Portland-Cobalt Road 4.2 mi 7m
Colchester Avenue 3.1 mi 4m
Middletown Avenue 2.4 mi 4m
Washington Street 1.9 mi 3m
High Ridge Road 1.6 mi 2m
Longest stretch: CT 15 — 53.8 mi, about 1h 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Colchester, CT and North Stamford, CT.

1

Start on Hayward Avenue

181 ft · 14 sec · Hayward Avenue
2

Turn left onto CT 16

132 ft · 6 sec · Lebanon Avenue
3

Turn left onto CT 16; CT 85

445 ft · 10 sec · Main Street
4

Turn right onto CT 16

0.4 mi · 45 sec · Linwood Avenue
5

Continue on CT 16

6.1 mi · 10 min · Middletown Road
6

Continue on CT 16

3.1 mi · 4 min · Colchester Avenue
7

Continue on CT 16

2.4 mi · 4 min · Middletown Avenue
8

Turn left onto CT 66

0.8 mi · 59 sec · West High Street
9

Continue on CT 66

4.2 mi · 7 min · Portland-Cobalt Road
10

Continue on CT 17; CT 66

0.9 mi · 2 min · Marlborough Street
Use the straight lane.
11

At end of road, turn left onto CT 17; CT 66

1.1 mi · 2 min · Main Street
Use the straight lane.
12

Turn right onto Grand Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Grand Street
13

At end of road, turn left onto Prospect Street

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Prospect Street
14

Continue on Liberty Street

0.1 mi · 27 sec · Liberty Street
15

At end of road, turn left onto CT 3

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Newfield Street
16

Turn right onto CT 66

1.9 mi · 3 min · Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17

Continue on CT 66

4.2 mi · 5 min · Meriden Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Exit 1B Toward I 91 South, CT 15 South: New Haven Use the slight left lane.
19

Merge onto I 91

0.1 mi · 11 sec · I 91
20

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Exit 17 Toward CT 15 South Use the slight right lane.
21

Keep slight left at fork

437 ft · 8 sec
Toward CT 15 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Merge onto CT 15

54 mi · 1 hr 8 min · CT 15
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Exit 10 Toward CT 137: High Ridge Road Use the straight / right lanes.
24

Turn left onto CT 137

1.6 mi · 2 min · High Ridge Road
Use the straight lane.
25

Turn right onto North Stamford Road

0.2 mi · 54 sec · North Stamford Road
26

Continue on North Stamford Road

475 ft · 16 sec · North Stamford Road
27

Turn slight right onto Cascade Road

139 ft · 6 sec · Cascade Road
28

Arrive at destination

Cascade Road

Trip Plan

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 41.5 miles from Colchester, CT, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.8 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 80 miles or 1h 53m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 41.5 miles or 1h 4m 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 41m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Stamford, CT than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Colchester, CT so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Colchester, CT

This is one driving day of about 83 miles and 2h.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Colchester, CT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on CT 15 for about 53.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 41.5 mi from Colchester, CT · 1h 4m into the drive

town in Suffolk County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Smithtown, NY

42 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.

Pacing Suggestions

White Plains, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Smithtown, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 41.5 miles from Colchester, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in North Stamford, CT

The final approach into North Stamford, CT usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around North Stamford, CT.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Weir Farm National Historical Park

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...

8 mi from route ~19 min detour Free near mile 71.5
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.29 one way

$26.57 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.46 $14.56 $29.13
premium $4.83 $15.78 $31.55
diesel $5.64 $18.44 $36.88

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 29 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 24.9 0 $8.71 $3.98
Efficient EV 20.8 0 $7.26 $3.32
EV Truck/SUV 33.2 0 $11.62 $5.31

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (66% 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 data refreshed 4 days ago

Origin

Colchester, CT

Evening in Colchester on Monday

Local time

5:56 PM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

North Stamford, CT

Evening in North Stamford on Monday

Local time

5:56 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live 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

3 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Colchester, CT to North Stamford, CT covers 83 miles and takes about 2h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CT 15, Middletown Road, Meriden Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.5 miles from Colchester, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.29 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 83 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 18 miles (CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Colchester, CT to North Stamford, CT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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