Origin
Stamford, CT
Afternoon in Stamford on Saturday
Local time
1:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Stamford, CT to New London, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 55m
Distance
86.5 mi
139 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 47m
★
6 AM
1h 55m
8 AM
2h 12m
10 AM
2h 1m
12 PM
2h 0m
3 PM
2h 2m
5 PM
2h 11m
8 PM
1h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stamford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
New London, CT
MART PRODUCTION
Trip Overview
The drive from Stamford, CT to New London, CT covers 86.5 miles and takes about 1h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, Broad Street, Forbes Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 79.4 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.93 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.
Midpoint
43.2 miles from Stamford, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 79.4 mi | 1h 40m |
| Broad Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Forbes Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Long Wharf Drive | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Frontage Road | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Grove Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Atlantic Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 79.4 mi, about 1h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stamford, CT and New London, 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
38 mi
·
51 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
1 min
Exit 46
Toward Long Wharf Drive, Sargent Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn left onto Long Wharf Drive
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Long Wharf Drive
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on East Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
East Street
9
Turn right onto US 1
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Water Street
10
Continue on US 1
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Forbes Avenue
11
Turn right onto US 1
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
·
Frontage Road
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 95 North
13
Merge onto I 95
41 mi
·
49 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 82
Toward CT 85: Broad Street, Waterford
15
Turn right onto CT 85
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Broad Street
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto Meridian Street
335 ft
·
17 sec
·
Meridian Street
17
Turn right onto State Street
289 ft
·
11 sec
·
State Street
18
Turn right onto Huntington Street
166 ft
·
5 sec
·
Huntington Street
19
Arrive at destination
Huntington Street
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 43.2 miles from Stamford, CT, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.4 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 19 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.2 miles or 1h 2m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New London, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Stamford, CT
This is one driving day of about 86.5 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Stamford, CT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 79.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43.2 miles from Stamford, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 84 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
8
39.1 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward Long Wharf Drive, Sargent Drive
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 46
Toward Long Wharf Drive, Sargent Drive
6
39.3 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
Long Wharf Drive
Turn left onto Long Wharf Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
84 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward CT 85: Broad Street, Waterford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 82
Toward CT 85: Broad Street, Waterford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.93 one way
$27.85 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $15.32 | $30.64 |
| premium | $4.86 | $16.56 | $33.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.10 | $38.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26 | 0 | $9.08 | $4.15 |
| Efficient EV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.57 | $3.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.6 | 0 | $12.11 | $5.54 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% 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
New London, CT
Afternoon in New London on Saturday
Local time
1:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°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
2 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
1h 55m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 8.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
86.5 mi in 1h 55m, mostly highway — 79.4 mi of that is on I 95.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.4 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Broad Street. 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
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 86.5 miles you will encounter 14 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 39.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 86.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.4 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at New London, CT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 39.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Weir Farm National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at New London, CT before heading back.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From New London, CT
More trips to New London, CT
Explore more options from Stamford, CT or browse trips ending in New London, CT.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CT road trips.