Origin
West Haven, CT
Late night in West Haven on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Haven, CT to Colchester, 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 15m
Distance
58.5 mi
94 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Haven, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Colchester, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from West Haven to Colchester covers 58.5 miles of Connecticut local roads. You should plan for about 1 hour and 15 minutes of driving time for this straightforward journey. Because this is a relatively short trip within the Northeast, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. Budget approximately $9 for fuel to complete the transit. By sticking to local routes like Elm Street, Kimberly Avenue, and Ella T, you avoid the highway system entirely. This drive offers a practical, no-nonsense connection between these two Connecticut locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 91 | 33 mi | 39m |
| CT 2 | 17.4 mi | 20m |
| CT 3 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| I 95 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Old Hartford Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Elm Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Washington Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Broadway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 91
— 33 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Haven, CT and Colchester, CT.
1
Start on Washington Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Avenue
2
Turn right onto Elm Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Elm Street
3
Continue on Kimberly Avenue
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Kimberly Avenue
4
Turn right onto Ella T. Grasso Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Ella T. Grasso Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 95 North: New London
6
Merge onto I 95
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 48
Toward I 91 North: Hartford
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 91
33 mi
·
39 min
·
I 91
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 25-26
Toward CT 3 North: Glastonbury, Old Wethersfield
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 25
Toward CT 3 North: Glastonbury
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto CT 3
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
CT 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 13 C
Toward CT 2 East: Norwich
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto CT 2
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
CT 2
14
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 2
17 mi
·
19 min
·
CT 2
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 22
Toward Colchester
16
Turn left onto Mill Hill Road
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Mill Hill Road
17
Turn straight onto Old Hartford Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Hartford Road
18
Continue on Broadway
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
Broadway
19
Turn left onto CT 16
132 ft
·
7 sec
·
Lebanon Avenue
20
Turn right onto Hayward Avenue
181 ft
·
7 sec
·
Hayward Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
Hayward Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.2 miles from West Haven, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 39.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 91 North: Hartford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 48
Toward I 91 North: Hartford
8
36.5 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward CT 3 North: Glastonbury, Old Wethersfield
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 25-26
Toward CT 3 North: Glastonbury, Old Wethersfiel...
9
36.7 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CT 3 North: Glastonbury
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 25
Toward CT 3 North: Glastonbury
8
38.8 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CT 2 East: Norwich
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 13 C
Toward CT 2 East: Norwich
6
39.6 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
CT 2
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 2
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.42 one way
$18.84 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $10.36 | $20.72 |
| premium | $4.86 | $11.20 | $22.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.92 | $25.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.14 | $2.81 |
| Efficient EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.12 | $2.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.19 | $3.74 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Colchester, CT
Late night in Colchester on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°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
2 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 15m 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 that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Since the highway share is 0%, you will navigate entirely through municipal roads rather than cruising on high-speed interstates. The route feels more personal and connected to the landscape than a typical highway sprint. Because there are no major highways, the pace remains steady and requires your full attention to navigate the frequent turns. You won't find any long, uninterrupted stretches here, so keep your focus on the road as you transition through the local network.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33 mi on I 91.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 91 and CT 2. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.5 miles you will encounter 15 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 2.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 West Haven, CT to Colchester, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Old Wethersfield along the way.
Old Wethersfield
36.5 mi in
|
~46m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 58.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33 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 Colchester, 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 2.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Colchester, 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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