Origin
Windsor, CT
Late night in Windsor on Sunday
Local time
12:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Windsor, 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 23m
Distance
65 mi
105 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Windsor, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Danbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 65-mile drive from Windsor to Danbury, Connecticut, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 23 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The journey is heavily highway-focused, with 94% of the route on major interstates, and requires an estimated fuel cost of around $10. Given its short duration and minimal stops recommended, you won't need to break this trip up. It's a direct connection within the Northeast region, offering a practical way to travel between these two Connecticut cities without much fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 56.8 mi | 1h 9m |
| I 91 | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| North Main Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Park Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Broad Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Windsor Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Library Place | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 84
— 56.8 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Windsor, CT and Danbury, CT.
1
Start on Broad Street
56 ft
·
10 sec
·
Broad Street
2
Continue on CT 159
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Broad Street
3
Continue on CT 159
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Windsor Avenue
4
Turn right onto CT 178
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 91 South: Hartford
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Merge onto I 91
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 32A-32B
Toward I 84 West: Trumbull Street, Waterbury
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 32A
Toward I 84 West: Waterbury
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 84; US 6
13 mi
·
16 min
·
I 84; US 6
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84
44 mi
·
53 min
·
I 84
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 5
Toward CT 39, CT 53: Downtown Danbury, Bethel
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto CT 39
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
13
Turn right onto Library Place
234 ft
·
10 sec
·
Library Place
14
Arrive at destination
Library Place
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.5 miles from Windsor, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 63.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 91 South: Hartford
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 91 South: Hartford
8
6.5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 84 West: Trumbull Street, Waterbury
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 32A-32B
Toward I 84 West: Trumbull Street, Waterbury
8
6.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 84 West: Waterbury
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 32A
Toward I 84 West: Waterbury
6
19.8 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
I 84
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
63.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m 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
$10.46 one way
$20.93 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $11.51 | $23.03 |
| premium | $4.86 | $12.45 | $24.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.35 | $28.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.82 | $3.12 |
| Efficient EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.69 | $2.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26 | 0 | $9.10 | $4.16 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Danbury, CT
Late night in Danbury on Sunday
Local time
12:34 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
19 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 23m 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 drive that is predominantly highway-focused, with 94% of your travel time spent on major interstates like I-84 and I-91. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 56.8 miles on I-84, so be prepared for sustained highway driving. This route emphasizes efficiency over scenic detours, offering a consistent pace as you make your way south. The character is that of a functional interstate journey, designed for getting from point A to point B quickly.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.8 mi on I 84.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 84 and I 91. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in.
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 65 miles you will encounter 10 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 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.7 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 Windsor, CT to Danbury, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Waterbury along the way.
Waterbury
6.5 mi in
|
~10m
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 23m. Total distance: 65 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.8 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 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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