This straightforward 43.3-mile drive from New Haven to Riverside, Connecticut, is easily manageable in about an hour, making it an ideal day trip. The route primarily utilizes I-95, with brief segments on Spring Street and Washington Avenue. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $7, this highway-focused journey offers a quick and efficient way to travel within the Northeast region. You won't need an overnight stop for this short distance, giving you flexibility in your schedule. Plan for a direct and uncomplicated trip with minimal detours.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
38.9 mi
53m
Spring Street
0.8 mi
1m
Washington Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Sound Beach Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
College Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Owenoke Way
0.3 mi
1m
East Putnam Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Wesskum Wood Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 38.9 mi, about 53m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 30 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,279 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~920 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
4.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 8 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Haven, CT and Riverside, CT.
1
Start on College Street
0.5 mi·53 sec·College Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn slight right onto Congress Avenue
0.2 mi·24 sec·Congress Avenue
3
Turn left onto Howard Avenue
0.1 mi·15 sec·Howard Avenue
4
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
0.1 mi·15 sec·Washington Avenue
5
Turn right onto US 1
482 ft·15 sec·Columbus Avenue
6
Turn left onto Washington Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Washington Avenue
7
Continue on Spring Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Spring Street
8
At end of road, turn left onto Campbell Avenue
0.1 mi·15 sec·Campbell Avenue
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 95 South: New York City
10
Merge onto I 95
39 mi·53 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Exit 5Toward US 1: Riverside, Old GreenwichUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn uturn onto US 1
0.2 mi·31 sec·East Putnam Avenue
Use the right lane.
13
Turn right onto Sound Beach Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Sound Beach Avenue
14
Continue on Sound Beach Avenue
0.2 mi·30 sec·Sound Beach Avenue
15
Turn right onto Wesskum Wood Road
0.2 mi·49 sec·Wesskum Wood Road
16
Continue on Owenoke Way
0.3 mi·1 min·Owenoke Way
17
Arrive at destination
Owenoke Way
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 21.6 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 42.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.6 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 South: New York City
Navigation decision point
Toward I 95 South: New York City
5
2.9 mi into trip|~5m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
41.8 mi into trip|~58m 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
8
41.9 mi into trip|~59m in|US 1 / East Putnam Avenue
Turn uturn onto US 1 / East Putnam Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
42.6 mi into trip|~1h in|Sound Beach Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Sound Beach Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.80 one way
$13.59 round trip
$3.99/gal25.4 MPG avg15 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$7.63
$15.26
premium
$4.81
$8.20
$16.41
diesel
$4.80
$8.18
$16.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
13
0
$4.55
$2.08
Efficient EV
10.8
0
$3.79
$1.73
EV Truck/SUV
17.3
0
$6.06
$2.77
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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 Jun 30, 2026
Origin
New Haven, CT
Morning
in New Haven on Sunday
Local time
10:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Clear
S 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued June 30 at 5:47AM EDT until July 1 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Extreme Heat Watch
Extreme Heat Watch issued June 30 at 5:47AM EDT until July 4 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Destination
Riverside, CT
Morning
in Riverside on Sunday
Local time
10:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 2 to 13 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued June 30 at 5:47AM EDT until July 1 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Extreme Heat Watch
Extreme Heat Watch issued June 30 at 5:47AM EDT until July 4 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
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
25 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 3m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience, with 90% of the drive taking place on I-95. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 38.9 miles on this interstate, offering a consistent pace. While the majority is high-speed driving, you'll encounter short transitions onto local roads like Spring Street and Washington Avenue as you navigate the beginning and end of your trip. This route is designed for efficiency rather than scenic exploration, so settle in for a direct journey with minimal changes in road type.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.9 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Spring Street. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 43.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 2.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 43.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m 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 38.9 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 2.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.8 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 Riverside, CT before heading back.
