Origin
Stamford, CT
Late night in Stamford on Friday
Local time
12:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Stamford, CT to Hamden, CT
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
46.3 mi
75 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stamford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Hamden, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 46.3-mile journey from Stamford, CT, to Hamden, CT, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 3 minutes to complete. The route is heavily highway-focused, with 92% of the drive utilizing major interstates and parkways, including I-95 and the Wilbur Cross Parkway. Expect a modest fuel cost of around $7 for this relatively short distance. Since both the origin and destination are within the Northeast region, you won't be crossing any major geographical or cultural divides. This drive is ideal for those looking for an efficient and direct connection between these two Connecticut cities.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 46.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Prepare for a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 46.3-mile route. With 92% of the drive on main roads like I-95 and the Wilbur Cross Parkway, expect consistent speeds and minimal interruptions. The longest uninterrupted stretch will be 20.3 miles on I-95, offering a good period of steady travel. While the Wilbur Cross Parkway may offer a slightly different feel, the overall character leans towards efficient transit rather than scenic meandering. CT 8 also plays a role, contributing to the highway-centric nature of this drive.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 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 20.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.3 miles you will encounter 10 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
8
44.8 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward Whitney Avenue, Hamden
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 51
Toward Whitney Avenue, Hamden
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 Hamden, CT, road signs point toward Waterbury and New Haven.
Waterbury
21.4 mi in
|
~30m
New Haven
25.2 mi in
|
~34m
|
via CT 8
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 20.3 mi | 27m |
| Wilbur Cross Parkway | 14.1 mi | 17m |
| CT 8 | 5 mi | 5m |
| Merritt Parkway | 3 mi | 4m |
| Whitney Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Grove Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Broad Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Atlantic Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 20.3 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stamford, CT and Hamden, 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 27A
Toward CT 25, CT 8: Trumbull, Waterbury
Use 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 6
Toward CT 15 North: Merritt Parkway, New Haven
Use 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
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Wilbur Cross Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 51
Toward Whitney Avenue, Hamden
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto Whitney Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Whitney Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
CT 10
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.1 mi from Stamford, CT · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.1 miles from Stamford, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Hamden, CT
The final approach into Hamden, CT usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.45 one way
$14.91 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $8.20 | $16.40 |
| premium | $4.86 | $8.87 | $17.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.22 | $20.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.86 | $2.22 |
| Efficient EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.05 | $1.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.48 | $2.96 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Hamden, CT
Late night in Hamden on Friday
Local time
12:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Fairfield, CT
23 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
9 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
1h 3m 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 Stamford, CT to Hamden, CT covers 46.3 miles and takes about 1h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Wilbur Cross Parkway, CT 8. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.1 miles from Stamford, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.45 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.3 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
Between Stamford, CT and Hamden, CT, road signs point toward Waterbury and New Haven.
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