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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 44Toward CT 10: Downtown, West HavenUse 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.
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 11
5 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
$11.49 one way
$22.97 round trip
$3.99/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$12.90
$25.80
premium
$4.81
$13.87
$27.74
diesel
$4.80
$13.82
$27.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
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.
Forecast as of Jul 14, 2026
Origin
Plainfield, CT
Late night
in Plainfield on Sunday
Local time
3:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Clear
SW 9 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 13 at 2:20PM EDT until July 15 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 13 at 2:13PM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Destination
West Haven, CT
Late night
in West Haven on Sunday
Local time
3:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Clear
SW 9 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 13 at 2:20PM EDT until July 15 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 13 at 2:13PM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
83°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
2 degrees warmer 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.
More Details
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 Effort5/10
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.
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.
