The drive from Norwalk, CT to Enfield, CT covers 85.2 miles and takes about 1h 49m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 91, Wilbur Cross Parkway, I 95 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 32.9 miles on I 91.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.19 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.6 miles from Norwalk, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 91
32.9 mi
40m
Wilbur Cross Parkway
27 mi
33m
I 95
12.4 mi
16m
CT 8
5 mi
5m
Merritt Parkway
3 mi
4m
King Street
0.9 mi
1m
Enfield Street
0.9 mi
1m
East Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 91
— 32.9 mi, about 40m
Traffic on I-91
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 41 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,987 veh/hr typical
· worst 7,200
Quietest
2 AM
~457 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 67 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 Norwalk, CT and Enfield, CT.
1
Start on East Avenue
272 ft·12 sec·East Avenue
2
Continue on East Avenue
267 ft·6 sec·East Avenue
3
Continue on East Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·East Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 95 North: New Haven
5
Merge onto I 95
12 mi·16 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 27AToward CT 25, CT 8: Trumbull, WaterburyUse the right lane.
7
Continue on CT 8; CT 25
3.2 mi·3 min·CT 8; CT 25
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 8
1.8 mi·2 min·CT 8
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 6Toward CT 15 North: Merritt Parkway, New HavenUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto CT 15
3.0 mi·4 min·Merritt Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on CT 15
27 mi·33 min·Wilbur Cross Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 65AToward I 91 North, CT 66 East: Hartford, MiddletownUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 91
18 mi·21 min·I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 91
15 mi·18 min·I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·1 min
Exit 46Toward US 5: King StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn sharp right onto US 5
0.9 mi·1 min·King Street
17
Continue on US 5
0.9 mi·1 min·Enfield Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Arrive at destination
US 5
Trip Plan
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 42.6 miles from Norwalk, CT, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.9 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 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.6 miles or 56m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Enfield, CT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 85.2 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Norwalk, CT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 91 for about 32.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.4 and 83.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
13.4 mi into trip|~18m in
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
Use the right lane.
Exit 27A
Toward CT 25, CT 8: Trumbull, Waterbury
6
17.3 mi into trip|~23m in|CT 8
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
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
8
19 mi into trip|~25m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 6
Toward CT 15 North: Merritt Parkway, New Haven
8
49.8 mi into trip|~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 91 North, CT 66 East: Hartford, Middletown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 65A
Toward I 91 North, CT 66 East: Hartford, Middle...
7
83.1 mi into trip|~1h 45m in
Take the exit toward US 5: King Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 46
Toward US 5: King Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.19 one way
$28.38 round trip
$4.23/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.70
$15.75
$31.50
premium
$5.07
$16.99
$33.99
diesel
$5.60
$18.78
$37.56
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: 29.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.6
0
$8.95
$4.09
Efficient EV
21.3
0
$7.46
$3.41
EV Truck/SUV
34.1
0
$11.93
$5.45
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 Sep 1, 2026
Origin
Norwalk, CT
Late night
in Norwalk on Wednesday
Local time
2:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Enfield, CT
Late night
in Enfield on Wednesday
Local time
2:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°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
34 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 49m 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
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...
From the Sound to the summits: the New England Trail covers 235 miles from Long Island Sound across long ridges to scenic mountain summits in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The trail offers panoramic...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 85.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
85.2 mi in 1h 49m, mostly highway — 32.9 mi of that is on I 91.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.9 mi on I 91.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 91 and Wilbur Cross Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.4 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.2 miles you will encounter 12 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
317 ft16 ft
Total Climb
854 ft
Total Descent
743 ft
Highest Point
317 ft
~30.4 mi in
Elevation Range
301 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Norwalk, CT and Enfield, CT, road signs point toward Waterbury, New Haven and Middletown.
Norwalk is a city of 91,000 people (2020) in Fairfield County, in the state of Connecticut in the United States of America. It includes the villages of: East Norwalk, West Norwalk, Cranbury, Silvermine, Winnipauk, Wilson Point, Harbor View, Rowayton and South Norwalk, known locally as "SoNo." Norwalk, probably due mostly to its proximity to New York City, is home to many large companies.
Top landmarks
•Silvermine — human settlement in Norwalk, Connecticut, United States of America
•Peck Ledge Light — lighthouse in Connecticut, United States
•Lockwood-Mathews Mansion — mansion and historic house museum in Norwalk, Connecticut, USA
Enfield is a city of 42,000 people (2020) in the Connecticut River Valley. The Enfield Historical District is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Top landmarks
•Hazardville Historic District — historic district in Hazardville, Connecticut, United States
•Enfield Shakers Historic District — historic district in Connecticut, United States
•Enfield Town Meetinghouse — meetinghouse in Enfield, Connecticut
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 85.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.9 miles on I 91. 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 Enfield, 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 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.
Yes — Weir Farm National Historical Park and New England National Scenic Trail. 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 Enfield, CT before heading back.
