Origin
New Haven, CT
Late night in New Haven on Sunday
Local time
3:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from New Haven, CT to Norwich, 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 8m
Distance
55.4 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New Haven, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Norwich, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion across Connecticut, the 55.4-mile trip from New Haven to Norwich is an efficient journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 8 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $9 on fuel, making it an affordable commute within the Northeast region. Because the drive is primarily highway-focused, you will spend most of your time on I-95 and I-395. It is a straightforward, practical connection that links these two Connecticut cities with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 38.1 mi | 44m |
| I 395 | 11 mi | 12m |
| West Main Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Forbes Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Water Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Frontage Road | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Salem Turnpike | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Chapel Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 38.1 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Haven, CT and Norwich, CT.
1
Start on College Street
343 ft
·
13 sec
·
College Street
2
Turn left onto Chapel Street
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Chapel Street
3
Turn right onto State Street
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
State Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto Water Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Water Street
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on US 1
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Forbes Avenue
6
Turn right onto US 1
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
·
Frontage Road
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 95 North
8
Merge onto I 95
38 mi
·
44 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto I 395
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 395
Exit 76
Toward I 395 North: Norwich, Plainfield
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 11
Toward CT 82: Downtown Norwich
11
Turn right onto CT 82
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Salem Turnpike
12
Continue on CT 82
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
13
Turn right onto CT 2
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
·
Chelsea Harbor Drive
14
Arrive at destination
Courthouse Square
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.7 miles from New Haven, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 52.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
State Street
Turn right onto State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Water Street
Turn left onto Water Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
41.7 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
I 395
Take the exit onto I 395 toward I 395 North: Norwich, Plainfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 76
Toward I 395 North: Norwich, Plainfield
5
52.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward CT 82: Downtown Norwich
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 11
Toward CT 82: Downtown Norwich
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.92 one way
$17.84 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $9.81 | $19.63 |
| premium | $4.86 | $10.61 | $21.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.23 | $24.46 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.05
Salem Turnpike
(0.7 mi)
$0.05
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$0
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.82 | $2.66 |
| Efficient EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.85 | $2.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.76 | $3.55 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Norwich, CT
Late night in Norwich on Sunday
Local time
3:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°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
3 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 8m 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 high-speed experience, as 90% of your time will be spent cruising on major highways. The route features a significant 38.1-mile stretch on I-95, which serves as the primary backbone of the drive before you transition toward Norwich. Once you leave the interstate, the final leg of the journey utilizes West Main Street to guide you into the city. While the road is not designed for leisurely scenic touring, its efficiency is its greatest strength. You will find that the transitions between the interstates are designed for steady movement, keeping you focused on the road ahead for the duration of the trip.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.1 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 395. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near State Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 55.4 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.4 miles (State Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (Water Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
197 ft
11 ft
Total Climb
632 ft
Total Descent
646 ft
Highest Point
197 ft
~43.9 mi in
Elevation Range
186 ft
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 New Haven, CT to Norwich, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Plainfield along the way.
Plainfield
41.7 mi in
|
~50m
|
via I 395
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 55.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.1 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.05 in tolls one way, starting with Salem Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 0.4 miles (State Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (Water Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Norwich, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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