Abstract This attempt explores stagnation point flow of second grade material towards an impermeable stretched cylinder. Non-Fourier heat flux and thermal stratification are considered. Thermal conductivity dependents upon temperature. Governing non-linear differential system is solved using homotopic procedure. Interval of convergence for the obtained series solutions is explicitly determined. Physical quantities of interest have been examined for the influential variables entering into the problems. It is examined that curvature parameter leads to an enhancement in velocity and temperature. Further temperature for non-Fourier heat flux model is less than Fourier’s heat conduction law.