Origin
Meriden, CT
Late night in Meriden on Sunday
Local time
3:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Meriden, CT to Cos Cob, 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 24m
Distance
61.3 mi
99 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Meriden, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Cos Cob, CT
MART PRODUCTION
Trip Overview
This 61.3-mile journey from Meriden, CT, to Cos Cob, CT, is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 24 minutes. With 88% of the route on highways, it's designed for efficient travel, making it an ideal day trip. Your estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $10. The entire drive stays within the Northeast region and Connecticut, offering a consistent travel experience. This route is best suited for those looking to get from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wilbur Cross Parkway | 23.4 mi | 28m |
| I 95 | 23.1 mi | 31m |
| CT 8 | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| Merritt Parkway | 3 mi | 3m |
| East Putnam Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| South Broad Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Cook Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Colony Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Wilbur Cross Parkway
— 23.4 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Meriden, CT and Cos Cob, CT.
1
Start on West Main Street
119 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Main Street
2
Turn left onto CT 71
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Cook Avenue
3
Continue on CT 71
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Old Colony Road
4
Turn left onto Hall Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Hall Avenue
5
Turn right onto US 5
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Broad Street
6
Continue on US 5
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Colony Road
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward CT 15 South: New Haven
8
Merge onto CT 15
23 mi
·
28 min
·
Wilbur Cross Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on CT 15
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Merritt Parkway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 34
Toward CT 8, CT 108: Bridgeport, Waterbury
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward CT 8 South, CT 108 South: Bridgeport
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward CT 8 South: Bridgeport
Use the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto CT 8
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
CT 8
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 95 South: New York City
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto I 95
23 mi
·
31 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 5
Toward US 1: Riverside, Old Greenwich
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn slight left onto US 1
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East Putnam Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto Strickland Road
480 ft
·
22 sec
·
Strickland Road
19
Turn right onto Loughlin Avenue
387 ft
·
22 sec
·
Loughlin Avenue
20
Turn left onto Maplewood Drive
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Maplewood Drive
21
Arrive at destination
Maplewood Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.7 miles from Meriden, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 30.2 and 59.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
30.2 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward CT 8, CT 108: Bridgeport, Waterbury
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 34
Toward CT 8, CT 108: Bridgeport, Waterbury
6
30.4 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CT 8 South, CT 108 South: Bridgeport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CT 8 South, CT 108 South: Bridgeport
7
30.8 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CT 8 South: Bridgeport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward CT 8 South: Bridgeport
7
36.1 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 95 South: New York City
8
59.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Riverside, Old Greenwich
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 5
Toward US 1: Riverside, Old Greenwich
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.87 one way
$19.74 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $10.86 | $21.72 |
| premium | $4.86 | $11.74 | $23.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.53 | $27.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.44 | $2.94 |
| Efficient EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.36 | $2.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.5 | 0 | $8.58 | $3.92 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Cos Cob, CT
Late night in Cos Cob on Sunday
Local time
3:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Fairfield, CT
31 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
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 24m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience on this 61.3-mile trip, as 88% of your drive will be on major roads like the Wilbur Cross Parkway and I-95. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 23.4 miles on the Wilbur Cross Parkway, providing a solid period of consistent driving. While primarily highway, the route may offer glimpses of the surrounding Connecticut landscape between exits. This drive prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic byways.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.4 mi on Wilbur Cross Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Wilbur Cross Parkway and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 30.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.3 miles you will encounter 16 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 30.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Meriden, CT to Cos Cob, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Waterbury along the way.
Waterbury
30.2 mi in
|
~40m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 61.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m 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 23.4 miles on Wilbur Cross Parkway. 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 Cos Cob, 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 30.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Cos Cob, 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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