Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
10m
Distance
6.6 mi
11 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hamden, CT
Wikimedia Commons
New Haven, CT
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking for a quick commute between Hamden and New Haven, this 6.6-mile trip is an incredibly efficient option. You can expect to reach your destination in approximately 10 minutes, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. Navigating entirely via local roads like Whitney Avenue, College Street, and Temple Street, you will find no highway driving involved on this route. With a fuel cost of just $1, it is a very budget-friendly way to travel within the Northeast region. Since both towns are located in Connecticut, you won't need to worry about crossing state lines or dealing with long-distance logistics. This short hop is straightforward and requires no overnight stops, providing a simple link between these two neighboring communities.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Whitney Avenue | 5.9 mi | 9m |
| College Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Temple Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Grove Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hamden, CT and New Haven, CT.
Start on CT 10
Continue on Temple Street
Turn right onto Grove Street
Turn sharp left onto College Street
Arrive at destination
3 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 6.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Depart onto CT 10 / Whitney Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Grove Street
Navigation decision point
Turn sharp left onto College Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Regular Gas
$1.06 one way
$2.12 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $1.17 | $2.34 |
| premium | $4.86 | $1.26 | $2.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.46 | $2.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2 | 0 | $0.69 | $0.32 |
| Efficient EV | 1.7 | 0 | $0.58 | $0.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.92 | $0.42 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Hamden on Tuesday
Local time
8:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in New Haven on Tuesday
Local time
8:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This 10-minute journey is defined by its turn-heavy, local nature rather than the monotony of high-speed interstates. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a steady pace through local streets rather than open-road cruising. You will spend the vast majority of your time on Whitney Avenue, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 5.9 miles. As you transition from Hamden into the New Haven area, the road conditions reflect a typical urban and suburban driving environment. Expect to navigate a series of turns as you shift onto College and Temple Streets to reach your final destination.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CT 10 / Whitney Avenue.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Hamden, CT to New Haven, CT is easy. At 10m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CT 10 / Whitney Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles (Grove Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.3 miles (College Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
97 ft
Total Descent
153 ft
Highest Point
101 ft
~0.3 mi in
Elevation Range
90 ft
Hamden is a suburb of the city of New Haven, Connecticut. Quinnipiac University has a significant impact on the town. The town's nickname is "The Land of the Sleeping Giant". It had about 59,500 in 2025.
New Haven is a city in Connecticut that is best known as the home of Yale University.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
This is an easy same-day round trip, clocking in at just 6.6 miles and 10 minutes. You'll be back before you know it, leaving plenty of time for other weekend activities.
Family Friendly
Absolutely! This 6.6-mile drive is short enough to keep kids from getting bored, and with only a 10-minute duration and minimal complexity, it's a breeze to navigate.
Solo Traveler
This 10-minute, 6.6-mile drive is incredibly comfortable for a solo traveler. It's short, sweet, and requires virtually no planning.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Perfect for a first-time driver! The 6.6-mile route is very manageable in just 10 minutes, and its low complexity rating means you won't be stressed by turns or traffic.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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