Origin
Winsted, CT
Late night in Winsted on Tuesday
Local time
4:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Winsted, CT to Danbury, 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 4m
Distance
49.3 mi
79 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Winsted, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Danbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Stretching 56.2 miles across Connecticut, this trip from Winsted to Danbury is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 56 minutes. You will primarily navigate via South Main Street, CT 8, and CT 4, keeping you off the major interstates for the duration of the drive. It is a perfect candidate for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination in under an hour without the need for an overnight stay. With an estimated fuel cost of just $9, this is an economical route for a quick weekend getaway or a necessary commute. Because the entire path stays within the Northeast region, you will experience a consistent New England feel from start to finish. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that prioritizes efficiency over highway speeds.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Road | 8.8 mi | 11m |
| CT 8 | 8 mi | 9m |
| Bantam Road | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| Danbury Road | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| Litchfield Road | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Litchfield Turnpike | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Torrington Road | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| New Milford Turnpike | 2.9 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Federal Road
— 8.8 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winsted, CT and Danbury, CT.
1
Start on CT 8
102 ft
·
12 sec
·
Park Place
2
Turn left onto US 44; CT 8; CT 183
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
3
Continue on CT 8
8.0 mi
·
9 min
·
CT 8
Toward CT 8 SOUTH: Torrington, Waterbury
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 50
Toward CT 4, CT 202: Downtown Torrington
5
Continue on Columbus Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Columbus Street
6
Turn slight right onto US 202
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
East Main Street
7
At end of road, turn left onto US 202
331 ft
·
10 sec
·
Main Street
8
Turn right onto US 202
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Litchfield Street
9
Turn slight left onto US 202
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
New Litchfield Street
10
Continue on US 202
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Torrington Road
11
Continue on US 202
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East Street
12
Continue on US 202
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Bantam Road
13
Continue on US 202
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Litchfield Turnpike
14
Continue on US 202
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
New Milford Turnpike
15
Continue on US 202
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Litchfield Road
16
Continue on US 202
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Lane Road
17
Continue on US 202
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
·
Poplar Street
18
Continue on US 202
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Street
19
Turn right onto US 202; CT 67
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
Bridge Street
20
Turn left onto US 7; US 202
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Danbury Road
21
Continue on US 7; US 202
8.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Federal Road
22
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 5
Toward CT 39, CT 53: Downtown Danbury, Bethel
Use the slight right lane.
23
Turn right onto CT 39
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
24
Turn right onto Library Place
234 ft
·
10 sec
·
Library Place
25
Arrive at destination
Library Place
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 24.6 miles from Winsted, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 48.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 44; CT 8; CT 183 / South Main Street
Turn left onto US 44; CT 8; CT 183 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
8.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward CT 4, CT 202: Downtown Torrington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 50
Toward CT 4, CT 202: Downtown Torrington
4
9.4 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
US 202 / Litchfield Street
Turn right onto US 202 / Litchfield Street
Navigation decision point
4
34.3 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
US 7; US 202 / Danbury Road
Turn left onto US 7; US 202 / Danbury Road
Navigation decision point
8
48.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m 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
$7.94 one way
$15.87 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $8.73 | $17.46 |
| premium | $4.86 | $9.44 | $18.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.88 | $21.77 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.44
Litchfield Turnpike
(3.4 mi)
$0.24
New Milford Turnpike
(2.9 mi)
$0.20
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$0
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.18 | $2.37 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.31 | $1.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.90 | $3.16 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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 Tuesday
Local time
4:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Chance Rain Showers
NW 6 mph
29% chance
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 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 4m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will spend your time navigating local roads and state routes, which creates a more engaging experience behind the wheel. Because there are no long, uninterrupted highway stretches, you should be prepared for frequent turns and varied road conditions throughout the 56.2-mile distance. This drive demands your full attention as you transition between local streets and state highways. By avoiding the fast-paced nature of major expressways, the route offers a grounded perspective of the Connecticut landscape as you make your way toward Danbury.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.8 mi on Federal Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 44; CT 8; CT 183 / South Main Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 4m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 44; CT 8; CT 183 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.4 miles (US 202 / Litchfield Street): Navigation decision point.
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 4m. Total distance: 49.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (29%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.8 miles on Federal Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.44 in tolls one way, starting with Litchfield Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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: near the start (US 44; CT 8; CT 183 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.4 miles (US 202 / Litchfield Street): Navigation decision point.
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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