Skip to main content

Trip from Ledyard, CT to Norwalk, 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 55m

Distance

86.3 mi

139 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 47m ★
6 AM
1h 55m
8 AM
2h 12m
10 AM
2h 1m
12 PM
2h 0m
3 PM
2h 2m
5 PM
2h 11m
8 PM
1h 50m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Ledyard, CT, CT

Ledyard, CT

MART PRODUCTION

city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States

Norwalk, CT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 86.3-mile drive from Ledyard, CT to Norwalk, CT will take you about 1 hour and 55 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-95, this route is a straightforward, highway-focused journey through Connecticut. Given its relatively short duration and focused road type, it's perfectly suited for a single day trip. Budget around $14 for fuel, and you won't need to worry about overnight stays. This is a practical, no-fuss drive for getting from point A to point B efficiently within the Northeast region.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

43.1 miles from Ledyard, CT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 78.5 mi 1h 41m
Center Groton Road 2.9 mi 5m
Gold Star Highway 2.3 mi 4m
North Road 1.2 mi 2m
East Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
CT 184 0.5 mi <1m
Colonel Ledyard Highway <0.1 mi <1m
Ray Holdridge Circle <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 78.5 mi, about 1h 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ledyard, CT and Norwalk, CT.

1

Start on Ray Holdridge Circle

64 ft · 4 sec · Ray Holdridge Circle
2

Turn right onto Colonel Ledyard Highway

297 ft · 15 sec · Colonel Ledyard Highway
3

Turn left onto CT 117

2.9 mi · 5 min · Center Groton Road
4

Continue on CT 117

1.2 mi · 2 min · North Road
5

Turn right onto CT 184

2.3 mi · 4 min · Gold Star Highway
6

Turn straight onto CT 184

0.5 mi · 33 sec · CT 184
7

Merge onto I 95; US 1

79 mi · 1 hr 41 min · I 95; US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 26 sec
Exit 16 Toward East Norwalk Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Turn right onto East Avenue

0.3 mi · 39 sec · East Avenue
10

Keep slight right at fork onto East Avenue

0.3 mi · 29 sec · East Avenue
11

Continue on East Avenue

86 ft · 1 sec · East Avenue
12

Arrive at destination

East Avenue

Trip Plan

For this 1 hour and 55-minute drive, leaving Ledyard during off-peak hours will help you avoid potential traffic delays, especially as you approach Norwalk. Since it's a single-day trip covering 86.3 miles, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience. With only one significant highway stretch, you can easily manage fuel stops if needed, though the estimated $14 fuel cost suggests you won't need frequent refueling. A specific tip: keep an eye on the mile markers for I-95 as you get closer to your destination, as exits can appear quickly.

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 43.1 miles from Ledyard, CT, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.5 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 19 miles or 27m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 43.1 miles or 59m 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 38m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Norwalk, CT than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Ledyard, CT so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Ledyard, CT

This is one driving day of about 86.3 miles and 1h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Ledyard, CT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 78.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Connecticut, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

West Haven, CT

43 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

Essex, CT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

West Haven, CT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 43.1 miles from Ledyard, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.5 miles.

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 6

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 86 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Colonel Ledyard Highway

Turn right onto Colonel Ledyard Highway

Navigation decision point

4
4.1 mi into trip | ~7m in | CT 184 / Gold Star Highway

Turn right onto CT 184 / Gold Star Highway

Navigation decision point

5
7 mi into trip | ~12m in | I 95; US 1

Merge onto I 95; US 1

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
85.5 mi into trip | ~1h 53m in

Take the exit toward East Norwalk

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 16 Toward East Norwalk
4
86 mi into trip | ~1h 54m in | East Avenue

Keep slight right at fork onto East Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.89 one way

$27.79 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $15.29 $30.57
premium $4.86 $16.53 $33.05
diesel $5.61 $19.05 $38.11

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.9 0 $9.06 $4.14
Efficient EV 21.6 0 $7.55 $3.45
EV Truck/SUV 34.5 0 $12.08 $5.52

Gas CO2

30 kg

EV CO2

10 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 15, 2026

Origin

Ledyard, CT

Night in Ledyard on Saturday

Local time

9:25 PM

EDT

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Norwalk, CT

Night in Norwalk on Saturday

Local time

9:25 PM

EDT

Current temp

44°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

3 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 55m 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

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...

10 mi from route ~25 min detour Free near mile 86.3
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highly highway-focused experience on this route, with 92% of the drive taking place on major interstates like I-95. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 78.5 miles on I-95, indicating long periods of consistent speed. While Center Groton Road and Gold Star Highway offer brief transitions, the dominant character is that of efficient interstate travel. The road profile suggests a consistent, high-speed environment for most of your journey.

92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.5 mi on I 95.

How Hard Is This Drive?

2/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Center Groton Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Colonel Ledyard Highway.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Ledyard, CT to Norwalk, CT is easy. At 1h 55m with 92% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Colonel Ledyard Highway): Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles (CT 184 / Gold Star Highway): Navigation decision point; at 7 miles (I 95; US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 86.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 78.5 miles on I 95. 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: near the start (Colonel Ledyard Highway): Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles (CT 184 / Gold Star Highway): Navigation decision point; at 7 miles (I 95; US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Norwalk, 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Ledyard, CT or browse trips ending in Norwalk, CT.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CT road trips.