Origin
Stamford, CT
Evening in Stamford on Sunday
Local time
7:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive 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
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stamford, CT
MART PRODUCTION
New Haven, CT
James Mirakian
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 .
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.
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.
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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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 Campbell Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Campbell Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Stamford, CT and New Haven, 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
Turn left onto Campbell Avenue
Turn right onto Spring Street
Continue on Washington Avenue
Turn right onto US 1
Turn left onto Church Street South
Turn left onto Chapel Street
Turn right onto College Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.2 mi from Stamford, CT · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 40.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 20.2 miles from Stamford, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$6.45 one way
$12.90 round trip
| 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Stamford on Sunday
Local time
7:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in New Haven on Sunday
Local time
7:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
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
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
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.
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