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Trip from Wethersfield, CT to Danbury, 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 12m

Distance

58.8 mi

95 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 7m ★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 10m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States

Wethersfield, CT

Wikimedia Commons

city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States

Danbury, CT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 58.8-mile drive from Wethersfield to Danbury, Connecticut, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 12 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-84, with connections via I-91 and I-691, this route is almost entirely highway, making it an efficient option for a single-day excursion. With an estimated fuel cost of $9, it's an economical choice for a weekend getaway or a quick transit. As both locations are within the Northeast region and the state of Connecticut, you'll experience a consistent regional feel throughout your journey. This drive is ideal for those looking for a no-fuss travel day.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 84 34.6 mi 42m
I 91 13.7 mi 16m
I 691 7.7 mi 8m
North Main Street 0.9 mi 1m
Hart Street 0.3 mi 1m
Main Street <0.1 mi <1m
Library Place <0.1 mi <1m
Great Meadow Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 84 — 34.6 mi, about 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wethersfield, CT and Danbury, CT.

1

Start on Main Street

460 ft · 14 sec · Main Street
2

Turn right onto Hart Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Hart Street
3

Turn left onto Great Meadow Road

66 ft · 3 sec · Great Meadow Road
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Toward I 91 South: New Haven
5

Merge onto I 91

14 mi · 16 min · I 91
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 26 sec
Exit 18 Toward I 691 West: Meriden, Waterbury Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Merge onto I 691

7.7 mi · 8 min · I 691
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 1 min
Exit 8B Toward I 84 West: Waterbury
9

Merge onto I 84

35 mi · 42 min · I 84
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 18 sec
Exit 5 Toward CT 39, CT 53: Downtown Danbury, Bethel Use the slight right lane.
11

Turn right onto CT 39

0.9 mi · 1 min · North Main Street
12

Turn right onto Library Place

234 ft · 10 sec · Library Place
13

Arrive at destination

Library Place

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waterbury, CT

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

Meriden, CT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waterbury, CT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 29.4 miles from Wethersfield, 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 0.1 and 57.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Hart Street

Turn right onto Hart Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the ramp toward I 91 South: New Haven

Navigation decision point

Toward I 91 South: New Haven
8
14.3 mi into trip | ~17m in

Take the exit toward I 691 West: Meriden, Waterbury

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 18 Toward I 691 West: Meriden, Waterbury
6
22.2 mi into trip | ~27m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 84 West: Waterbury

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 8B Toward I 84 West: Waterbury
8
57.8 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in

Take the exit toward CT 39, CT 53: Downtown Danbury, Bethel

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 5 Toward CT 39, CT 53: Downtown Danbury, Bethel

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.47 one way

$18.93 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $10.42 $20.83
premium $4.86 $11.26 $22.52
diesel $5.61 $12.98 $25.96

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 17.6 0 $6.17 $2.82
Efficient EV 14.7 0 $5.15 $2.35
EV Truck/SUV 23.5 0 $8.23 $3.76

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 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.

Forecast as of Jun 22, 2022

Origin

Wethersfield, CT

Late night in Wethersfield on Sunday

Local time

3:54 AM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Danbury, CT

Late night in Danbury on Sunday

Local time

3:54 AM

EDT

Current temp

61°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

1 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 12m 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 highway-focused experience on this 58.8-mile journey, with 95% of the drive taking place on major interstates. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I-84, including a continuous stretch of 34.6 miles, offering a consistent pace. The route's profile is predominantly highway, meaning you'll encounter high speeds and limited opportunities for spontaneous stops. While it's a direct path, the uninterrupted highway nature suggests a focus on efficient travel rather than scenic detours.

95% 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: 34.6 mi on I 84.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 84 and I 91. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Hart Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 58.8 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 0.1 miles (Hart Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 14.3 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.

On the drive from Wethersfield, CT to Danbury, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Waterbury along the way.

Waterbury

14.3 mi in | ~17m

About the Cities

Arriving in Danbury, CT

Full guide →

Danbury - nicknamed Hat City - is a city in the interior of Fairfield County, Connecticut, making it part of the Litchfield Hills region.

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 12m. Total distance: 58.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 34.6 miles on I 84. 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 Danbury, 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 0.1 miles (Hart Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 14.3 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 Danbury, 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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