Origin
Bridgeport, CT
Evening in Bridgeport on Thursday
Local time
5:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bridgeport, CT to Essex, CT
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
49.3 mi
79 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 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bridgeport, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Essex, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Bridgeport, CT to Essex, CT covers 49.3 miles and takes about 1h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, Essex Road, Westbrook Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.7 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.94 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 49.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 10m highway drive covering 49.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 95 and Essex Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 38.7 miles on I 95.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 38.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Essex Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 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 49.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
17.2 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward Long Wharf Drive, Sargent Drive
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 46
Toward Long Wharf Drive, Sargent Drive
6
17.5 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
Long Wharf Drive
Turn left onto Long Wharf Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
18.5 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
US 1 / Water Street
Turn right onto US 1 / Water Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 38.7 mi | 48m |
| Essex Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Westbrook Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Forbes Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Plains Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Long Wharf Drive | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Stratford Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| West Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 38.7 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bridgeport, CT and Essex, CT.
1
Start on CT 130
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Fairfield Avenue
2
Continue on CT 130
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Stratford Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto Seaview Avenue
461 ft
·
14 sec
·
Seaview Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 95
16 mi
·
21 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
1 min
Exit 46
Toward Long Wharf Drive, Sargent Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn left onto Long Wharf Drive
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Long Wharf Drive
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on East Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
East Street
9
Turn right onto US 1
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Water Street
10
Continue on US 1
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Forbes Avenue
11
Turn right onto US 1
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
·
Frontage Road
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 95 North
13
Merge onto I 95
23 mi
·
26 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 65
Toward CT 153: Westbrook
15
Turn left onto CT 153
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Essex Road
16
Continue on CT 153
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Westbrook Road
17
Continue on CT 153
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Plains Road
18
Continue on West Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Avenue
19
Continue on West Avenue
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
West Avenue
20
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
18 ft
·
0 sec
·
Main Street
21
Continue on Main Street
179 ft
·
13 sec
·
Main Street
22
Turn left
120 ft
·
15 sec
23
Turn left onto Pratt Street
113 ft
·
5 sec
·
Pratt Street
24
Arrive at destination
Pratt Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.6 mi from Bridgeport, CT · 36m into the drive
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 Bridgeport, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Essex, CT
The final approach into Essex, CT usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$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
Essex, CT
Evening in Essex on Thursday
Local time
5:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°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 10m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bridgeport, CT to Essex, CT covers 49.3 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Essex Road, Westbrook Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.6 miles from Bridgeport, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.94 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.3 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Bridgeport, CT to Essex, CT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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