Origin
Plainfield, CT
Afternoon in Plainfield on Wednesday
Local time
4:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plainfield, CT to West Haven, CT
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
73.2 mi
118 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plainfield, CT
Miller Reyes
West Haven, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Plainfield, CT to West Haven, CT is 73.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 29 minutes via I-395 and I-95, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Connecticut, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. The route is predominantly highway, making it a straightforward drive for a single day. Expect a quick transit between these two points with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 42.2 mi | 51m |
| I 395 | 28.1 mi | 31m |
| Elm Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Norwich Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Campbell Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Ella T. Grasso Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Kimberly Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Lathrop Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 42.2 mi, about 51m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,944 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~224 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 30 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 Plainfield, CT and West Haven, CT.
1
Start on CT 12
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Norwich Road
2
Turn left onto Lathrop Road
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Lathrop Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
4
Merge onto I 395
28 mi
·
31 min
·
I 395
5
Merge onto I 95
42 mi
·
51 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 44
Toward CT 10: Downtown, West Haven
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn left onto CT 10
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Ella T. Grasso Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Turn left onto Kimberly Avenue
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Kimberly Avenue
9
Turn straight onto Elm Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Elm Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto Campbell Avenue
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Campbell Avenue
11
Turn left onto New Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
New Street
12
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
68 ft
·
2 sec
·
Washington Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
Washington Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.6 miles from Plainfield, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 73.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Lathrop Road
Turn left onto Lathrop Road
Navigation decision point
5
29.1 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
71.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward CT 10: Downtown, West 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 44
Toward CT 10: Downtown, West Haven
7
71.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
CT 10 / Ella T. Grasso Boulevard
Turn left onto CT 10 / Ella T. Grasso Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
73.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
|
Washington Avenue
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.94 one way
$25.88 round trip
$4.49/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $14.17 | $28.35 |
| premium | $5.29 | $15.24 | $30.48 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $15.42 | $30.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22 | 0 | $7.69 | $3.51 |
| Efficient EV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.41 | $2.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.3 | 0 | $10.25 | $4.68 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
West Haven, CT
Afternoon in West Haven on Wednesday
Local time
4:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 5 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
72°F
Norwich, CT
37 mi in
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
7 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 29m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 on the highway for 96% of the trip, with the longest continuous stretch covering 42.2 miles on I-95. You'll transition to Elm Street in West Haven for the final part of the drive. Given the high percentage of highway driving and the dense network of exits on I-95, be prepared for frequent on and off ramps as you approach your destination.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.2 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 395. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Lathrop Road.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 73.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.6 miles (Lathrop Road): Navigation decision point; at 29.1 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.2 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
204 ft
17 ft
Total Climb
246 ft
Total Descent
428 ft
Highest Point
204 ft
~26.1 mi in
Elevation Range
187 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Plainfield, CT
Full guide →Founded 1699
Top landmarks
- • Aldrich Free Public Library — library building in Plainfield, Connecticut
Arriving in West Haven, CT
Full guide →Founded 1921
Top landmarks
- • Savin Rock Amusement Park — defunct amusement park in Connecticut
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 73.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 42.2 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 0.6 miles (Lathrop Road): Navigation decision point; at 29.1 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.2 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 West Haven, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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