Origin
Vernon, CT
Morning in Vernon on Tuesday
Local time
6:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
18°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Vernon, CT to West Haven, CT
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
51.8 mi
83 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Vernon, CT
Wikimedia Commons
West Haven, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Vernon to West Haven is a straightforward 51.8-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 7 minutes. Because this is a compact trip within Connecticut, you can easily handle it as a comfortable day trip without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $8 on fuel for the transit, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. You will navigate through the Northeast region, primarily utilizing a combination of I-84, I-91, and CT-15. This route is designed for efficiency rather than leisure, serving as a practical link between these two points in the state. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick visit, the predictability of these major corridors allows for simple planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 91 | 36.5 mi | 44m |
| I 84 | 7.9 mi | 9m |
| CT 15 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| I 95 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Elm Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Hartford Turnpike | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Dobson Road | 0.4 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 Vernon, CT and West Haven, CT.
1
Start on Washington Street
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Washington Street
2
Continue on Dobson Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Dobson Road
3
Turn left onto CT 30
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Hartford Turnpike
4
Continue on CT 30; CT 83
298 ft
·
5 sec
·
Hartford Turnpike
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 84 West
6
Merge onto I 84
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
I 84
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
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.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 86
Toward I 91 South: New Haven, New York City
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 91
36 mi
·
44 min
·
I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 95
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 44
Toward CT 10: Downtown, West Haven
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto CT 10
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Ella T. Grasso Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn left onto Kimberly Avenue
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Kimberly Avenue
14
Turn straight onto Elm Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Elm Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto Campbell Avenue
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Campbell Avenue
16
Turn left onto New Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
New Street
17
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
68 ft
·
2 sec
·
Washington Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Washington Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.9 miles from Vernon, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 50 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 84
Merge onto I 84
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
9.7 mi into trip
|
~13m 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
11.6 mi into trip
|
~15m 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
49.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m 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
50 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m 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
$8.34 one way
$16.68 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $9.18 | $18.35 |
| premium | $4.86 | $9.92 | $19.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.44 | $22.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.44 | $2.49 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.53 | $2.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.25 | $3.32 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Morning in West Haven on Tuesday
Local time
6:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Middletown, CT
26 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
25 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 7m 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?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 93% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You should prepare for a consistent interstate experience rather than a winding backroads tour. The most significant portion of your travel occurs on I-91, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 36.5 miles. As you transition between I-84, I-91, and CT-15, the road character remains fast-paced and geared toward heavy traffic volume. Behind the wheel, you will find the experience to be functional and direct, requiring your full attention as you move through these primary arterial highways.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 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?
8/10
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 1.8 miles in near I 84.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 1.8 miles (I 84): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.7 miles (CT 15): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.6 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 Vernon, CT to West Haven, CT, road signs begin pointing toward New York City along the way.
New York City
11.6 mi in
|
~15m
About the Cities
Starting in Vernon, CT
Full guide →Vernon is a town 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 7m. Total distance: 51.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). 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 1.8 miles (I 84): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.7 miles (CT 15): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.6 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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