Spanning 70.7 miles across Connecticut, this trek from Norwalk to Moodus is a manageable journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 43 minutes. Because of the relatively short distance, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $11 on fuel for the one-way trip, making it an affordable excursion within the Northeast region. By utilizing East Avenue, I-95 North, and CT-25, you transition from the coastal area into the interior of the state. It is a practical route for those looking to reach their destination without a complicated itinerary, as there are no mandatory stops required along the way.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.4 miles from Norwalk, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Wilbur Cross Parkway
26.4 mi
32m
I 95
12.4 mi
16m
CT 8
5 mi
5m
CT 66
5 mi
7m
Portland-Cobalt Road
4.2 mi
7m
Moodus Road
3.5 mi
6m
Merritt Parkway
3 mi
4m
Middle Haddam Road
2.5 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Wilbur Cross Parkway
— 26.4 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norwalk, CT and Moodus, 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
26 mi·32 min·Wilbur Cross Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·30 sec
Exit 64BToward East Main StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
247 ft·7 sec
Toward Industrial Area, Wesleyan
14
Turn slight right onto East Main Street
1.1 mi·1 min·East Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·19 sec
16
Merge onto CT 66
5.0 mi·7 min·CT 66
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto CT 3
0.1 mi·18 sec·Newfield Street
18
Turn right onto Liberty Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Liberty Street
19
Continue on Prospect Street
0.1 mi·16 sec·Prospect Street
20
Turn right onto Grand Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Grand Street
21
At end of road, turn left onto CT 66
1.0 mi·2 min·Main Street
22
Take the exit onto CT 17; CT 66
358 ft·8 sec·CT 17; CT 66
23
Merge onto CT 17; CT 66
0.8 mi·1 min·Marlborough Street
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on CT 17; CT 66
4.2 mi·7 min·Portland-Cobalt Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Turn right onto CT 151
2.5 mi·4 min·Middle Haddam Road
26
Continue on CT 151
3.5 mi·6 min·Moodus Road
27
Continue on CT 151
0.8 mi·1 min·Leesville Road
28
Turn slight left onto CT 151
1.1 mi·2 min·Moodus Leesville Road
29
Turn slight left onto CT 149; CT 151
0.3 mi·28 sec·East Haddam Moodus Road
30
Arrive at destination
CT 149
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of these local roads, planning your departure during off-peak hours will help you maintain a smoother flow. You have the advantage of total flexibility on this short trip, allowing you to tailor your departure time to fit your personal schedule. While the $11 fuel estimate is accurate for the 70.7-mile distance, keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Norwalk, as the winding nature of the roads can be more demanding on your vehicle than a straight highway run. Since there are no scheduled stops, ensure you are comfortable behind the wheel for the full duration of the drive before heading out.
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 35.4 miles from Norwalk, CT, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.4 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 16 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.4 miles or 47m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Moodus, 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 70.7 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Norwalk, CT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Wilbur Cross Parkway for about 26.4 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.4 and 49.5 — 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
7
49.2 mi into trip|~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward East Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 64B
Toward East Main Street
7
49.5 mi into trip|~1h 4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Industrial Area, Wesleyan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Industrial Area, Wesleyan
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.38 one way
$22.76 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$12.52
$25.05
premium
$4.86
$13.54
$27.08
diesel
$5.61
$15.61
$31.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.2
0
$7.42
$3.39
Efficient EV
17.7
0
$6.19
$2.83
EV Truck/SUV
28.3
0
$9.90
$4.52
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Norwalk, CT
Late night
in Norwalk on Tuesday
Local time
4:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Moodus, CT
Late night
in Moodus on Tuesday
Local time
4:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
1 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 43m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 70.7-mile excursion. Since the route features no highway-exclusive stretches, you will spend your time navigating through local roads that require your full attention behind the wheel. The road's personality is defined by constant changes in direction, which makes for a more engaged driving experience compared to a high-speed highway commute. As you move away from your starting point, the lack of long, uninterrupted stretches means you should be prepared for a steady, technical pace throughout the entire 1 hour and 43 minutes of travel time.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.4 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 13.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.7 miles you will encounter 18 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
387 ft17 ft
Total Climb
968 ft
Total Descent
810 ft
Highest Point
387 ft
~50.5 mi in
Elevation Range
370 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 Moodus, CT, road signs point toward Waterbury, New Haven, Industrial Area and Wesleyan.
Waterbury
13.4 mi in|~18m
New Haven
17.3 mi in|~23m|via CT 8
Industrial Area
49.5 mi in|~1h 4m
Wesleyan
49.5 mi in|~1h 4m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 70.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.4 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 Moodus, 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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Moodus, CT before heading back.
