Origin
Norwalk, CT
Morning in Norwalk on Tuesday
Local time
8:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 37m
Distance
71.6 mi
115 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norwalk, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Collinsville, CT
Miller Reyes
This 71.6-mile drive from Norwalk to Collinsville, Connecticut, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 37 minutes. You'll navigate a mix of major roadways, including Wilbur Cross Parkway and I-95, before transitioning to local streets like South Main Street. With a projected fuel cost of around $12, this route offers an economical excursion within the Northeast region. Its relatively short duration makes it ideal for a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule without the need for an overnight stay. The drive presents a varied experience, blending highway speeds with more local road driving.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.8 miles from Norwalk, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wilbur Cross Parkway | 14.1 mi | 17m |
| I 95 | 12.4 mi | 16m |
| South Main Street | 6.8 mi | 8m |
| Whitney Avenue | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| Farmington Avenue | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| CT 8 | 5 mi | 5m |
| Highland Avenue | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Main Street | 3.5 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Norwalk, CT and Collinsville, CT.
Start on East Avenue
Continue on East Avenue
Continue on East Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Continue on CT 8; CT 25
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 8
Take the exit
Merge onto CT 15
Continue on CT 15
Take the exit
Turn right onto Whitney Avenue
Continue on CT 10
Continue on CT 10
Continue on CT 10
Continue on CT 10
Continue on CT 10
Continue on CT 10
Continue on CT 10
Continue on CT 10
Continue on CT 10
Turn left onto CT 4
Turn slight right onto CT 4
Continue on CT 4
Continue on CT 4
Continue on CT 179
Turn right onto CT 179
Turn right onto Main Street
Turn left onto Center Street
Arrive at destination
Given the short 1-hour and 37-minute duration for this 71.6-mile journey, you have plenty of flexibility. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the worst of commuter traffic, especially around the I-95 section. While the $12 fuel cost is modest, it's always wise to start with a full tank. You won't need to plan for lengthy stops, but if you wish to break up the drive, the longest stretch is 14.1 miles on Wilbur Cross Parkway, which is a good point to consider a brief pause. Keep an eye out for the transition from highway to local roads as you get closer to Collinsville; this change often signals the need for increased attention to signage and speed limits.
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.
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 16 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.8 miles or 48m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Collinsville, CT than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Norwalk, CT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Norwalk, CT
This is one driving day of about 71.6 miles and 1h 37m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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.
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 35.8 miles from Norwalk, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.4 and 37.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward CT 25, CT 8: Trumbull, Waterbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 8 toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward CT 15 North: Merritt Parkway, New Haven
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Whitney Avenue, Hamden
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto Whitney Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$11.53 one way
$23.05 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $12.68 | $25.36 |
| premium | $4.86 | $13.71 | $27.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.81 | $31.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.52 | $3.44 |
| Efficient EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.26 | $2.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.6 | 0 | $10.02 | $4.58 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Norwalk on Tuesday
Local time
8:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Collinsville on Tuesday
Local time
8:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
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
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
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.
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 48% of it being highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 14.1 miles on the Wilbur Cross Parkway, offering a period of consistent travel. As you progress, the road character shifts; you'll move from the efficiency of interstates and parkways to the more community-focused environment of local roads as you approach Collinsville. This transition means you'll experience varying speed limits and driving conditions, so staying alert is key. The latter part of the journey will feel more like exploring Connecticut's towns.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.4 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.6 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 13.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.3 miles (CT 8): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Norwalk, CT and Collinsville, CT, road signs point toward Waterbury, New Haven and Hamden.
Waterbury
New Haven
Hamden
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 71.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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