Origin
Stafford, CT
Late night in Stafford on Sunday
Local time
3:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Stafford, CT to West Haven, 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 29m
Distance
69.7 mi
112 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stafford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
West Haven, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Stafford to West Haven covers 70.1 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 13 minutes. This trip stays entirely within the Northeast region of Connecticut, making it a straightforward excursion that is easily manageable in a single day. You should budget approximately $11 for fuel to complete the journey. Given the duration and distance, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay or mid-trip hotel stops. It serves as a practical connection between these two points, offering a predictable travel experience for commuters or those visiting family.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 91 | 36.5 mi | 44m |
| I 84 | 20.7 mi | 23m |
| River Road | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| East Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| CT 15 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| I 95 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Elm Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Campbell Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 91
— 36.5 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stafford, CT and West Haven, CT.
1
Start on CT 19
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
East Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto CT 190
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
East Main Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto CT 190
140 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Main Street
4
Enter roundabout onto CT 32
97 ft
·
8 sec
·
River Road
5
Continue on CT 32
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
River Road
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 84 West: Hartford
7
Merge onto I 84
13 mi
·
14 min
·
I 84
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84
8.0 mi
·
9 min
·
I 84
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto CT 15
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
CT 15
Toward CT 15 South: New York City
Use the slight left lane.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 86
Toward I 91 South: New Haven, New York City
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 91
36 mi
·
44 min
·
I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 95
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 44
Toward CT 10: Downtown, West Haven
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn left onto CT 10
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Ella T. Grasso Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Turn left onto Kimberly Avenue
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Kimberly Avenue
16
Turn straight onto Elm Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Elm Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto Campbell Avenue
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Campbell Avenue
18
Turn left onto New Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
New Street
19
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
68 ft
·
2 sec
·
Washington Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Washington Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.9 miles from Stafford, 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 185 decision points cluster between mile 19.5 and 67.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
19.5 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
I 84
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
27.6 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
CT 15
Keep slight left at fork onto CT 15 toward CT 15 South: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward CT 15 South: New York City
8
29.5 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward I 91 South: New Haven, New York City
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 86
Toward I 91 South: New Haven, New York City
8
67.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m 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
67.9 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.22 one way
$22.44 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $12.35 | $24.69 |
| premium | $4.86 | $13.35 | $26.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.39 | $30.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.32 | $3.35 |
| Efficient EV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.10 | $2.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.9 | 0 | $9.76 | $4.46 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
West Haven, CT
Late night in West Haven on Sunday
Local time
3:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°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
4 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
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 I-84 West, the journey features a significant amount of navigating through local roads like East Main Street and River Road. Because the highway share is 0 percent, your pace will be dictated by local traffic patterns and the winding nature of the regional roads. You will find yourself frequently adjusting your speed as the road transitions between these smaller thoroughfares. This is a hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention compared to a standard highway haul.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.5 mi on I 91.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 91 and I 84. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.5 miles in near I 84.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.7 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 19.5 miles (I 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.6 miles (CT 15): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.5 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.
On the drive from Stafford, CT to West Haven, CT, road signs begin pointing toward New York City along the way.
New York City
29.5 mi in
|
~37m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 69.7 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 (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.5 miles on I 91. 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 West Haven, 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 19.5 miles (I 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.6 miles (CT 15): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.5 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 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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