Origin
North Stamford, CT
Night in North Stamford on Friday
Local time
9:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Stamford, CT to Fairfield, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
29m
Distance
19.2 mi
31 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 35m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Stamford, CT
David Kanigan
Fairfield, CT
David Kanigan
Trip Overview
This short 19.2-mile drive from North Stamford to Fairfield, CT, is easily manageable in about 29 minutes, making it a perfect single-day trip. You'll primarily use I-95 and the Merritt Parkway, with a portion on High Ridge Road, offering a mixed driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of just $3, this is an economical excursion. The route stays within the Northeast region, making it a straightforward local journey. Since it's so brief, you won't need to worry about overnight stays; it’s ideal for a quick getaway or an easy commute.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 29m. Total distance: 19.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 59% of it being highway driving. You'll encounter stretches on I-95, including one continuous segment of 6.2 miles. The transition between the faster-paced I-95 and the more scenic Merritt Parkway, along with the local feel of High Ridge Road, means the road's personality shifts throughout the trip. This blend offers varied driving conditions, preventing monotony while keeping the journey relatively swift.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 6.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 2.3 miles in near CT 15 / Merritt Parkway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 19.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 29m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (CT 15 / Merritt Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.5 miles (CT 123 / New Canaan Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
CT 15 / Merritt Parkway
Merge onto CT 15 / Merritt Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
7.3 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward CT 123: New Canaan Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15
Toward CT 123: New Canaan Avenue
5
7.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
CT 123 / New Canaan Avenue
Turn left onto CT 123 / New Canaan Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
9.6 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
US 1 / Belden Avenue
Turn left onto US 1 / Belden Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
17.5 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward Center Street, Southport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 19
Toward Center Street, Southport
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from North Stamford, CT to Fairfield, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Southport along the way.
Southport
17.5 mi in
|
~26m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| Merritt Parkway | 5 mi | 5m |
| High Ridge Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| New Canaan Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Post Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Riverside Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Wall Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 6.2 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Stamford, CT and Fairfield, CT.
1
Start on Cascade Road
139 ft
·
6 sec
·
Cascade Road
2
Turn straight onto North Stamford Road
475 ft
·
18 sec
·
North Stamford Road
3
Continue on North Stamford Road
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
North Stamford Road
4
Turn left onto CT 137
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
High Ridge Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
6
Merge onto CT 15
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Merritt Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 15
Toward CT 123: New Canaan Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto CT 123
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
New Canaan Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Continue on Riverside Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Riverside Avenue
10
Turn left onto US 1
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Belden Avenue
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto Wall Street
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Wall Street
12
Turn right onto East Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Avenue
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 95 North: New Haven
14
Merge onto I 95
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 19
Toward Center Street, Southport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on Rennell Drive
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Rennell Drive
17
Turn slight right onto US 1
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Post Road
18
Arrive at destination
US 1
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.09 one way
$6.18 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $3.40 | $6.80 |
| premium | $4.86 | $3.68 | $7.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.24 | $8.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.02 | $0.92 |
| Efficient EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.68 | $0.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.69 | $1.23 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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.
Destination
Fairfield, CT
Night in Fairfield on Friday
Local time
9:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
29m 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 North Stamford, CT to Fairfield, CT covers 19.2 miles and takes about 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Merritt Parkway, High Ridge Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.6 miles from North Stamford, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.09 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 short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 19.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 29m.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (CT 15 / Merritt Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.5 miles (CT 123 / New Canaan Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from North Stamford, CT to Fairfield, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Southport along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Weir Farm National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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