Origin
Norwalk, CT
Late night in Norwalk on Sunday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Norwalk, CT to New Preston, 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 6m
Distance
44.3 mi
71 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norwalk, CT
Wikimedia Commons
New Preston, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Norwalk, CT to New Preston, CT is 44.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 6 minutes via US 7, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, single-day trip primarily within Connecticut, connecting two points in the Northeast region. The drive offers a mixed experience, meaning you'll encounter both highway sections and more local road driving. Consider this route if you're looking for a relatively short and efficient journey without extensive planning, suitable for a relaxed day trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 7 | 12.1 mi | 15m |
| Danbury Road | 8.4 mi | 14m |
| Sugar Hollow Road | 7.4 mi | 11m |
| Ethan Allen Highway | 4.5 mi | 8m |
| Litchfield Road | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| West Rocks Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| New Milford Turnpike | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Park Lane Road | 1.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 7
— 12.1 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norwalk, CT and New Preston, CT.
1
Start on East Avenue
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
East Avenue
2
Continue on US 1
516 ft
·
15 sec
·
North Avenue
3
Turn right onto France Street
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
France Street
4
Continue on West Rocks Road
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Rocks Road
5
Turn right onto US 7
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Main Avenue
6
Continue on US 7
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Danbury Road
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn slight left onto CT 33
444 ft
·
10 sec
·
Westport Road
8
Merge onto US 7; CT 33
6.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Danbury Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 7
4.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Ethan Allen Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 7
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Danbury Road
11
Continue on US 7
7.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Sugar Hollow Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 7; US 202
12 mi
·
15 min
·
US 7; US 202
Toward US 7 North, US 202 East: Brookfield, New Milford
13
Turn right onto US 202; CT 67
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Bridge Street
14
Turn left onto US 202
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
East Street
15
Continue on US 202
0.7 mi
·
44 sec
·
Poplar Street
16
Continue on US 202
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Lane Road
17
Continue on US 202
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Litchfield Road
18
Continue on US 202
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
New Milford Turnpike
19
Turn right onto Baldwin Hill Road
367 ft
·
10 sec
·
Baldwin Hill Road
20
Turn straight onto Christian Street
148 ft
·
13 sec
·
Christian Street
21
Continue on Christian Street
60 ft
·
2 sec
·
Christian Street
22
Arrive at destination
Christian Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.1 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 23.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 1 / North Avenue
Continue onto US 1 / North Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
France Street
Turn right onto France Street
Navigation decision point
4
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 7 / Main Avenue
Turn right onto US 7 / Main Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
4.8 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
US 7; CT 33 / Danbury Road
Merge onto US 7; CT 33 / Danbury Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
23.8 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
US 7; US 202
Keep slight left at fork onto US 7; US 202 toward US 7 North, US 202 East: Brookfield, New Milford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 7 North, US 202 East: Brookfield, New...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.13 one way
$14.26 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $7.85 | $15.69 |
| premium | $4.86 | $8.48 | $16.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.78 | $19.56 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.12
New Milford Turnpike
(1.7 mi)
$0.12
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$0
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.65 | $2.13 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.88 | $1.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.20 | $2.84 |
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.
Destination
New Preston, CT
Late night in New Preston on Sunday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°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 6m 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?
This drive is characterized as a 'mixed drive,' with 31% of the route on highways. You'll experience stretches of faster travel, including a notable 12.1-mile segment on US 7 that keeps you moving. As you progress, expect the character of the roads to shift, transitioning from potentially more open highway driving to navigating along roads like Danbury Road and Sugar Hollow Road, which may offer a more intimate connection with the landscape. The overall feel is a blend, not a constant grind nor a purely scenic byway.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.1 mi on US 7.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 1 / North Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 44.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.3 miles (US 1 / North Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (France Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (US 7 / Main Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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 Norwalk, CT to New Preston, CT, road signs begin pointing toward New Milford along the way.
New Milford
23.8 mi in
|
~40m
|
via US 7; US 202
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 44.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.1 miles on US 7. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.12 in tolls one way, starting with New Milford 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.
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 New Preston, 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 0.3 miles (US 1 / North Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (France Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (US 7 / Main Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at New Preston, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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