Origin
East Haven, CT
Late night in East Haven on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Haven, CT to Danbury, 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 7m
Distance
39.3 mi
63 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Haven, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Danbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
East Haven to Danbury is 39.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 7 minutes via I 84 and Roosevelt Drive, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Connecticut, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a relatively short drive, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion or a quick transfer. The route offers a mixed driving experience, so you can expect a blend of highway travel and local roads. Plan for this to be a straightforward journey with minimal time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 10.5 mi | 12m |
| Roosevelt Drive | 7.9 mi | 15m |
| Berkshire Road | 4.8 mi | 9m |
| Derby Turnpike | 4.7 mi | 8m |
| New Haven Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Forbes Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Columbus Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Forest Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 84
— 10.5 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Haven, CT and Danbury, CT.
1
Start on Hemingway Avenue
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Hemingway Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn left onto US 1
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Saltonstall Parkway
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on US 1
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
·
Frontage Road
4
Continue on US 1
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Forbes Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 1
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Water Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 1
277 ft
·
4 sec
·
State Street
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on US 1
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Union Avenue
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn right onto Columbus Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Columbus Avenue
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 1
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Boston Post Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto Cellini Place
351 ft
·
17 sec
·
Cellini Place
11
Turn right onto CT 122
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Forest Road
12
Turn left onto CT 34
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Derby Avenue
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on CT 34
4.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Derby Turnpike
14
Continue on CT 34
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
New Haven Avenue
15
Continue on CT 34
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Derby Avenue
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn left onto CT 34
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on CT 34
7.9 mi
·
15 min
·
Roosevelt Drive
18
Continue on CT 34
4.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Berkshire Road
19
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
21
Merge onto I 84; US 6
10 mi
·
12 min
·
I 84; US 6
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 5
Toward CT 39, CT 53: Downtown Danbury, Bethel
Use the slight right lane.
23
Turn right onto CT 39
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
24
Turn right onto Library Place
234 ft
·
10 sec
·
Library Place
25
Arrive at destination
Library Place
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.7 miles from East Haven, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 38.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 1 / State Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 1 / State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
Columbus Avenue
Turn right onto Columbus Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
13.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
CT 34 / Main Street
Turn left onto CT 34 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
27.8 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
I 84; US 6
Merge onto I 84; US 6
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
38.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward CT 39, CT 53: Downtown Danbury, Bethel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward CT 39, CT 53: Downtown Danbury, Bethel
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.33 one way
$12.65 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.96 | $13.92 |
| premium | $4.86 | $7.53 | $15.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.68 | $17.35 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.33
Derby Turnpike
(4.7 mi)
$0.33
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$0
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.13 | $1.89 |
| Efficient EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.44 | $1.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.50 | $2.52 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Danbury, CT
Late night in Danbury on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Oxford, CT
20 mi in
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
19 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
1h 7m 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?
This route features a mixed drive profile, with about 40% of the journey on highways like I 84. You'll encounter stretches that allow for higher speeds and consistent travel, including a continuous segment of 10.5 miles on I 84. As you transition from the interstate, you'll navigate through local roads such as Roosevelt Drive and Berkshire Road. This variation means the driving experience will shift from open highway to more town-centric segments, offering a dynamic feel to your trip.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.5 mi on I 84.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in near US 1 / State 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 39.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 3.8 miles (US 1 / State Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles (Columbus Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles (CT 34 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in East Haven, CT
Full guide →East Haven is a town in Connecticut three minutes' drive from New Haven and 35 miles from Hartford. It is part of the Greater New Haven area, founded in 1683. The town's population was 28,000 as of 2020. While East Haven has been well-known for a large Italian-American population, the town has received many newer immigrants, particularly from Ecuador, since the late 20th century. The shape of the town is vertically long, and split into three different areas: Foxon, the Center, and Momauguin. Foxon is the northernmost section and is surrounded Branford and North Branford as well as New Haven. The Center is not geographically the center of town, but contains the town hall, library, and the green, surrounded by a suburban area. Momauguin, to the south, borders New Haven along the coastline and contains the Tweed New Haven Regional Airport.
Arriving 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.
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 7m. Total distance: 39.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.5 miles on I 84. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.33 in tolls one way, starting with Derby Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Danbury, 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 3.8 miles (US 1 / State Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles (Columbus Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles (CT 34 / Main Street): 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 Danbury, 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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