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Trip from Stratford, CT to Fairfield, CT

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

13m

Distance

8.8 mi

14 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$1

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 13m ★
6 AM
0h 14m
8 AM
0h 16m
10 AM
0h 15m
12 PM
0h 15m
3 PM
0h 15m
5 PM
0h 16m
8 PM
0h 13m ★

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

town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States

Stratford, CT

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Fairfield, CT, CT

Fairfield, CT

David Kanigan

Trip Overview

Traveling between Stratford and Fairfield, Connecticut, is a quick, straightforward journey covering just 8.8 miles. You can expect to complete this drive in roughly 13 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting about $1 for fuel makes this one of the most economical trips you can take in the Northeast. The route primarily relies on I-95, transitioning into local streets like South Avenue and Mill Plain Road to reach your destination. Because the transit time is so brief, this trip is perfect for those needing a simple, direct connection between these two neighboring coastal towns.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 13m. Total distance: 8.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

13m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 82% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your journey, specifically a 7.3-mile stretch, cruising along I-95. The experience is primarily an interstate grind, designed for efficiency rather than leisurely exploration. Once you exit the highway, the character of the road shifts quickly as you navigate onto South Avenue and Mill Plain Road to finish the final leg. Expect a fast-paced environment that prioritizes speed and direct access over scenic winding paths.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 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 7.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and South Avenue. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Sherwood Place.

Driving Effort 5/10

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

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 8.8 miles you will encounter 8 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 (Sherwood Place): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (South Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Sherwood Place

Turn left onto Sherwood Place

Navigation decision point

4
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Avenue

Turn right onto South Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 95

Merge onto I 95

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
8.2 mi into trip | ~12m in

Take the exit toward Mill Plain Road

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 21 Toward Mill Plain Road
5
8.5 mi into trip | ~13m in | Mill Plain Road

Turn left onto Mill Plain Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 7.3 mi 9m
South Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Mill Plain Road 0.3 mi <1m
Spada Boulevard 0.1 mi <1m
Sherwood Place 0.1 mi <1m
Jane Street <0.1 mi <1m
Post Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 7.3 mi, about 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Stratford, CT and Fairfield, CT.

1

Start on Jane Street

342 ft · 20 sec · Jane Street
2

Turn left onto Sherwood Place

0.1 mi · 36 sec · Sherwood Place
3

Turn right onto South Avenue

0.3 mi · 41 sec · South Avenue
4

Turn left onto Spada Boulevard

0.1 mi · 33 sec · Spada Boulevard
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Toward I 95 South: New York City
6

Merge onto I 95

7.3 mi · 9 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Exit 21 Toward Mill Plain Road Use the slight right lane.
8

Turn left onto Mill Plain Road

0.3 mi · 39 sec · Mill Plain Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
9

Turn right onto US 1

186 ft · 3 sec · Post Road
10

Arrive at destination

US 1

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.42 one way

$2.83 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 3 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $1.56 $3.12
premium $4.86 $1.69 $3.37
diesel $5.61 $1.94 $3.89

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$1

Estimated CO2 emission: 3.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 2.6 0 $0.92 $0.42
Efficient EV 2.2 0 $0.77 $0.35
EV Truck/SUV 3.5 0 $1.23 $0.56

Gas CO2

3 kg

EV CO2

1 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Stratford, CT

Afternoon in Stratford on Thursday

Local time

4:19 PM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fairfield, CT

Afternoon in Fairfield on Thursday

Local time

4:19 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

13m 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 Stratford, CT to Fairfield, CT covers 8.8 miles and takes about 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, South Avenue, Mill Plain Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 4.4 miles from Stratford, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.42 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 8.8 miles you will encounter 8 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 (Sherwood Place): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (South Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Stratford, CT to Fairfield, CT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Weir Farm National Historical Park.

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