Trip from Stamford, CT to New Haven, CT

Drive Time

58m

Distance

40.3 mi

65 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 53m ★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m

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

Downtown Stamford, CT, CT

Stamford, CT

MART PRODUCTION

Downtown New Haven, CT, CT

New Haven, CT

James Mirakian

Trip Overview

Stretching just 40.3 miles along the Connecticut coastline, this quick trip between Stamford and New Haven is an easy excursion that fits perfectly into a single day. You will spend roughly 58 minutes behind the wheel, primarily navigating via I-95 before transitioning onto Spring Street and Washington Avenue. With a modest fuel budget of about $6, this commute is highly economical for travelers moving between these two Northeast hubs. Since the entire journey is located within the state of Connecticut, you will find consistent road conditions throughout. It is an ideal distance for a morning departure that leaves you with plenty of time to enjoy your destination. Whether you are heading out for professional reasons or a quick getaway, the brevity of this route makes it a stress-free experience.

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

20.2 miles from Stamford, CT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 28m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a classic highway-focused drive, as 90% of your travel time will be spent on major thoroughfares. The core of your journey involves a 36.1-mile stretch on I-95, which serves as the primary artery for this quick coastal transit. While the majority of the route feels like a standard interstate grind, the final approach requires a shift in pace as you exit onto local roads. Navigating these segments demands attention as you move from high-speed highway travel into the urban street environment of New Haven. The contrast between the open highway and the final approach to the city center defines the character of this short, efficient 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 36.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Spring Street. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Broad Street.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 40.3 miles you will encounter 11 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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These 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.
5
0.7 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward I 95 North: New Haven

Navigation decision point

Toward I 95 North: New Haven
5
1 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 95

Merge onto I 95

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
37.2 mi into trip | ~51m in

Take the exit toward Campbell Avenue

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 43 Toward Campbell Avenue
7
37.4 mi into trip | ~52m in | Campbell Avenue

Turn left onto Campbell Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 36.1 mi 48m
Spring Street 0.8 mi 1m
Washington Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
Church Street South 0.6 mi 1m
Columbus Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
Grove Street 0.3 mi <1m
Broad Street 0.3 mi <1m
Campbell Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 36.1 mi, about 48m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Stamford, CT and New Haven, 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

36 mi · 48 min · I 95
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 37 sec
Exit 43 Toward Campbell Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Turn left onto Campbell Avenue

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Campbell Avenue
Use the none lane.
8

Turn right onto Spring Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · Spring Street
9

Continue on Washington Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Washington Avenue
10

Turn right onto US 1

0.4 mi · 45 sec · Columbus Avenue
11

Turn left onto Church Street South

0.6 mi · 1 min · Church Street South
Use the straight lane.
12

Turn left onto Chapel Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Chapel Street
13

Turn right onto College Street

343 ft · 5 sec · College Street
14

Arrive at destination

College Street

Trip Plan

Because this trip takes less than an hour, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns to ensure the smoothest transit possible. Since there are no mandatory stops required for a 40.3-mile journey, you can easily complete the drive in one uninterrupted push. Keep your $6 fuel budget in mind, but remember that the convenience of this route allows you to skip lengthy rest stops entirely. If you want to avoid the heaviest congestion on I-95, consider timing your transit during mid-morning or early afternoon hours. Making the most of your arrival time is easy when you don't have to worry about long stretches of road fatigue or complex refueling logistics.

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 20.2 miles from Stamford, CT, or about 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.1 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 40.3 miles or 58m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 20.2 miles or 28m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 47m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Haven, 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.

+

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 Stamford, CT

This is one driving day of about 40.3 miles and 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Stamford, 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 I 95 for about 36.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 20.2 mi from Stamford, CT · 28m into the drive

Downtown Smithtown, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Smithtown, NY

20 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

Smithtown, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Smithtown, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 20.2 miles from Stamford, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in New Haven, CT

The final approach into New Haven, 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 New Haven, CT.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.45 one way

$12.90 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.46 $7.07 $14.14
premium $4.83 $7.66 $15.32
diesel $5.64 $8.95 $17.91

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12.1 0 $4.23 $1.93
Efficient EV 10.1 0 $3.53 $1.61
EV Truck/SUV 16.1 0 $5.64 $2.58

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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 2 days ago

Origin

Stamford, CT

Evening in Stamford on Sunday

Local time

7:21 PM

EDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

New Haven, CT

Evening in New Haven on Sunday

Local time

7:21 PM

EDT

Current temp

53°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

1 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

58m 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 New Haven, CT covers 40.3 miles and takes about 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Spring Street, Washington Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.2 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 $6.45 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 40.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Stamford, CT to New Haven, CT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

New Haven, CT to Stamford, CT

Plan the drive back the other way.

40.1 mi 57m

Explore more options from Stamford, CT or browse trips ending in New Haven, CT.

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