Origin
Danbury, CT
Late night in Danbury on Sunday
Local time
12:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Danbury, CT to New Britain, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
47.8 mi
77 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Danbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
New Britain, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel between Danbury and New Britain, you are looking at a straightforward 47.8-mile trip that typically takes about one hour and one minute. This journey is perfectly suited as a simple day trip, as it requires no overnight stay and stays entirely within the Northeast region of Connecticut. You can expect to spend approximately $8 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for a quick commute or visit. Because the route is primarily highway-focused, it is designed for efficiency rather than leisure. Whether you are heading out for business or a brief personal getaway, this path offers a predictable and practical transit across the state.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 41.3 mi | 49m |
| CT 72 | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Newtown Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| White Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Columbus Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Franklin Square | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Library Place | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 84
— 41.3 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Danbury, CT and New Britain, CT.
1
Start on Library Place
234 ft
·
12 sec
·
Library Place
2
Turn left onto CT 53
436 ft
·
20 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn right onto White Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
White Street
4
Continue on Newtown Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Newtown Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 84 East: Waterbury
6
Merge onto I 84
41 mi
·
49 min
·
I 84
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto CT 72
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
CT 72
Exit 35
Toward CT 72 East: New Britain
Use the slight left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 1D
Toward Downtown New Britain
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on Columbus Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Columbus Boulevard
10
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Main Street
11
Turn right onto CT 71
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Franklin Square
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left
195 ft
·
21 sec
13
Turn left onto Whiting Street
154 ft
·
4 sec
·
Whiting Street
14
Arrive at destination
Whiting Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.9 miles from Danbury, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 105 decision points cluster between mile 3.2 and 47.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 84
Merge onto I 84
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
44.5 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
CT 72
Keep slight left at fork onto CT 72 toward CT 72 East: New Britain
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 35
Toward CT 72 East: New Britain
7
46.7 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward Downtown New Britain
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1D
Toward Downtown New Britain
5
47.5 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
CT 71 / Franklin Square
Turn right onto CT 71 / Franklin Square
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
47.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.70 one way
$15.39 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $8.47 | $16.93 |
| premium | $4.86 | $9.15 | $18.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.55 | $21.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.02 | $2.29 |
| Efficient EV | 12 | 0 | $4.18 | $1.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.69 | $3.06 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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 Britain, CT
Late night in New Britain on Sunday
Local time
12:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 1m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a high-speed experience, as 91% of this route consists of highway driving. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-84, which accounts for a significant 41.3-mile uninterrupted stretch of your travel. The journey begins with a brief transition onto Newtown Road before settling into the steady, interstate-focused flow that defines the drive. As you approach your destination, you will utilize CT-72 to complete the final segment of the trip. Behind the wheel, you will find this to be a consistent interstate grind rather than a winding backroad adventure, prioritizing direct access over scenic variety.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.3 mi on I 84.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 84 and CT 72. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.2 miles in near I 84.
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 47.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 3.2 miles (I 84): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.5 miles (CT 72): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Danbury, CT
Full guide →Danbury - nicknamed Hat City - is a city in the interior of Fairfield County, Connecticut, making it part of the Litchfield Hills region.
Arriving in New Britain, CT
Full guide →New Britain is a city in Connecticut. The "Hardware City" is the official nickname of the city.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 47.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.3 miles on I 84. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 3.2 miles (I 84): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.5 miles (CT 72): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Britain, CT before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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.
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