Origin
Fairfield, CT
Late night in Fairfield on Tuesday
Local time
4:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfield, CT to Madison, CT
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
41.1 mi
66 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfield, CT
David Kanigan
Madison, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Fairfield to Madison is 41.1 miles and takes about 57 minutes via I-95, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, specifically Connecticut, making it a convenient local journey. The drive is primarily on the interstate, so expect a straightforward, efficient transit between these two coastal towns. It's a short enough distance that you can easily complete it in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time and giving you ample opportunity to enjoy your destination without feeling rushed.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 36.2 mi | 46m |
| Forbes Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Long Wharf Drive | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Frontage Road | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Durham Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Mill Plain Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Water Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 36.2 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, CT and Madison, CT.
1
Start on US 1
186 ft
·
12 sec
·
Post Road
2
Turn left onto Mill Plain Road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Mill Plain Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 95 North
4
Merge onto I 95
22 mi
·
30 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
1 min
Exit 46
Toward Long Wharf Drive, Sargent Drive
Use 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
14 mi
·
16 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 61
Toward CT 79: Madison, North Madison
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
177 ft
·
6 sec
15
Turn slight right onto CT 79
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Durham Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto US 1
168 ft
·
11 sec
·
Boston Post Road
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left
171 ft
·
18 sec
18
Turn left
175 ft
·
12 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.6 miles from Fairfield, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 40.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Mill Plain Road
Turn left onto Mill Plain Road
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 North
Navigation decision point
Toward I 95 North
8
22.5 mi into trip
|
~31m 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
22.7 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
Long Wharf Drive
Turn left onto Long Wharf Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
40.2 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward CT 79: Madison, North Madison
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 61
Toward CT 79: Madison, North Madison
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.62 one way
$13.23 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $7.28 | $14.56 |
| premium | $4.86 | $7.87 | $15.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.07 | $18.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.4 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 | 12.3 | 0 | $4.32 | $1.97 |
| Efficient EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.60 | $1.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.75 | $2.63 |
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
Madison, CT
Late night in Madison on Tuesday
Local time
4:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
57m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 88% of the journey taking place on major expressways. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 36.2 miles on I-95, which means consistent speed and minimal traffic lights for a good portion of the trip. While the majority of your time will be spent on the interstate, the route also incorporates local roads like Forbes Avenue and Long Wharf Drive as you navigate into and out of your starting and ending points. This mix offers a practical, no-frills transit experience.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.2 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Forbes Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Mill Plain Road.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 41.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Mill Plain Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 22.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Fairfield, CT
Full guide →Fairfield is a city in Connecticut.
Arriving in Madison, CT
Full guide →Madison is a town in New Haven County of Connecticut. It is in the central part of the Connecticut shoreline. The population of Madison was around 18,000 as of 2014. Much of Madison is known for its pricey, historical homes and its miles of beach.
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 57m. Total distance: 41.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.2 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Madison, 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: near the start (Mill Plain Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 22.5 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 Madison, 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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