Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
44.8 mi
72 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thomaston, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Fairfield, CT
David Kanigan
This 44.8-mile journey from Thomaston, CT to Fairfield, CT is a quick, highway-focused drive that can easily be completed in under an hour, making it an ideal day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $7, it's an economical option for a short excursion within Connecticut. The primary roads you'll be on are US 6 and I 95, with the latter making up a significant 97% of the drive. This route is perfect for when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently, offering a straightforward path through the Northeast region.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 6 | 39.3 mi | 48m |
| I 95 | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Mill Plain Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Park Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Elm Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Post Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Thomaston, CT and Fairfield, CT.
Start on Park Street
At end of road, turn left onto Elm Street
Turn right onto CT 222
Take the ramp onto US 6
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Turn left onto Mill Plain Road
Turn right onto US 1
Arrive at destination
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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 22.4 miles from Thomaston, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 44.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto Elm Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Take the ramp onto US 6 toward US 6 West, CT 8 South: Waterbury
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Mill Plain Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$7.21 one way
$14.42 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $7.94 | $15.87 |
| premium | $4.86 | $8.58 | $17.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.89 | $19.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.70 | $2.15 |
| Efficient EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.92 | $1.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.27 | $2.87 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Thomaston on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Fairfield on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Areas Of Fog then Chance Rain Showers
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this 44.8-mile route, with 97% of it being high-speed driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 39.3 miles on US 6, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your travel. While the majority of the drive is on major roadways like I 95, the initial and final segments might involve local roads like Mill Plain Road, providing a slight shift in scenery and speed. This profile suggests a drive focused on covering distance rather than leisurely exploration.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 6 and I 95. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Elm Street.
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 44.8 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 0.1 miles (Elm Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (US 6): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 44.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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