East Norwalk to New London is 77.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 43 minutes via I 95, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Connecticut, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's primarily a highway drive, making it a straightforward trip if you're looking for efficiency. Given its short duration, it's ideal for a same-day excursion, offering a simple transit between these coastal cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.9 miles from East Norwalk, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
69.8 mi
1h 27m
Broad Street
2 mi
3m
Forbes Avenue
1.2 mi
2m
Saugatuck Avenue
1 mi
1m
Long Wharf Drive
0.9 mi
2m
Winfield Street
0.8 mi
1m
Frontage Road
0.7 mi
<1m
East Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 69.8 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Norwalk, CT and New London, CT.
1
Start on CT 136
0.8 mi·1 min·Winfield Street
2
Continue on CT 136
1.0 mi·1 min·Saugatuck Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 95 North: New Haven
4
Merge onto I 95
28 mi·38 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·1 min
Exit 46Toward Long Wharf Drive, Sargent DriveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn left onto Long Wharf Drive
0.9 mi·2 min·Long Wharf Drive
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on East Street
0.1 mi·16 sec·East Street
8
Turn right onto US 1
0.1 mi·9 sec·Water Street
9
Continue on US 1
1.2 mi·2 min·Forbes Avenue
10
Turn right onto US 1
0.7 mi·48 sec·Frontage Road
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 95 North
12
Merge onto I 95
41 mi·49 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 82Toward CT 85: Broad Street, Waterford
14
Turn right onto CT 85
2.0 mi·3 min·Broad Street
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto Meridian Street
335 ft·17 sec·Meridian Street
16
Turn right onto State Street
289 ft·11 sec·State Street
17
Turn right onto Huntington Street
166 ft·5 sec·Huntington Street
18
Arrive at destination
Huntington Street
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 43-minute drive, leaving in the morning or mid-afternoon will help you avoid the worst of any local commuter traffic. Since it's a short trip, you likely won't need many stops, but keep an eye out for service areas along I 95 if you need a break. The estimated fuel cost is around $13, so budget accordingly. A good tip for this route is to check real-time traffic conditions before you depart, especially if traveling during peak hours, as the high highway share means minor incidents can cause delays.
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 38.9 miles from East Norwalk, CT, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.8 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 17 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.9 miles or 55m 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 27m
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 East Norwalk, CT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from East Norwalk, CT
This is one driving day of about 77.8 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from East Norwalk, CT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 69.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 75.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 North: New Haven
Navigation decision point
Toward I 95 North: New Haven
5
2 mi into trip|~3m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
30.5 mi into trip|~42m 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
30.7 mi into trip|~43m in|Long Wharf Drive
Turn left onto Long Wharf Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
75.4 mi into trip|~1h 38m 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
$12.52 one way
$25.05 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$13.78
$27.56
premium
$4.86
$14.90
$29.80
diesel
$5.61
$17.18
$34.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.3
0
$8.17
$3.73
Efficient EV
19.5
0
$6.81
$3.11
EV Truck/SUV
31.1
0
$10.89
$4.98
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 20, 2026
Origin
East Norwalk, CT
Late night
in East Norwalk on Tuesday
Local time
5:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New London, CT
Late night
in New London on Tuesday
Local time
5:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°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
6 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 43m 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 2.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 90% of the 77.8 miles on I 95. You'll experience a long stretch of 69.8 miles on this interstate before encountering surface roads. Expect a high number of exits and potential traffic merging as you navigate this predominantly highway profile.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.8 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Broad Street. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 77.8 miles you will encounter 12 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 1.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
New London is a city on the southeastern coast of Connecticut. It is most well-known for its rich maritime history and for being the location of the United States Coast Guard Academy and Connecticut College.
Top landmarks
•Downtown Norwich Historic District — historic district in Connecticut, United States
•New London Harbor Light — lighthouse in Connecticut, United States
•Acors Barns House — house in New London, Connecticut
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 77.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.8 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 1.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.5 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.
