Origin
Norwalk, CT
Late night in Norwalk on Sunday
Local time
3:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Norwalk, CT to Shelton, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
26.1 mi
42 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norwalk, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Shelton, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick trip from Norwalk to Shelton, Connecticut, you are looking at a manageable 24.3-mile journey. This drive typically takes about 32 minutes, making it an easy day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via East Avenue, I-95 North, and CT-25 to bridge the gap between these two Northeast locations. With a fuel budget of just $4, it is an incredibly cost-effective route for commuters or weekend travelers. Because the trip is short and straightforward, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your schedule around your own needs rather than worrying about long-distance fatigue.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 12.4 mi | 16m |
| CT 8 | 10.8 mi | 13m |
| East Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Bridgeport Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Center Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Constitution Boulevard South | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 12.4 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norwalk, CT and Shelton, 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 27A
Toward CT 25, CT 8: Trumbull, Waterbury
Use 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
7.6 mi
·
9 min
·
CT 8
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 11
Toward Constitution Boulevard, Bridgeport Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on this road
424 ft
·
23 sec
·
this road
Exit 13
Toward Constitution Boulevard, Bridgeport Avenue
11
Turn left onto Constitution Boulevard South
498 ft
·
13 sec
·
Constitution Boulevard South
12
Turn right onto Bridgeport Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bridgeport Avenue
13
Continue on Center Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Center Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn right
62 ft
·
4 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 24.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 North: New Haven
Navigation decision point
Toward I 95 North: New Haven
5
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
24.9 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward Constitution Boulevard, Bridgeport Avenue
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 11
Toward Constitution Boulevard, Bridgeport Avenu...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.20 one way
$8.40 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $4.62 | $9.25 |
| premium | $4.86 | $5.00 | $10.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.76 | $11.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.74 | $1.25 |
| Efficient EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.28 | $1.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.65 | $1.67 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Shelton, CT
Late night in Shelton on Sunday
Local time
3:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°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
2 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
36m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While the route incorporates segments of I-95 North and CT-25, it maintains a local feel that requires your full attention at the wheel. There is no significant highway-only stretch here, as the journey relies on a blend of arterial roads that keep you moving through the region. You will find that the character of the road changes frequently as you transition between these specific thoroughfares. Be prepared for a hands-on driving experience that prioritizes navigation through local turns over high-speed highway miles.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.4 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and CT 8. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
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 26.1 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Between Norwalk, CT and Shelton, CT, road signs point toward Waterbury and New Haven.
Waterbury
13.4 mi in
|
~18m
New Haven
17.3 mi in
|
~23m
|
via CT 8
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 26.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.4 miles on I 95. 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 Shelton, 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 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.4 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 Shelton, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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