Origin
Clinton, CT
Morning in Clinton on Friday
Local time
9:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clinton, CT to New Haven, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
30m
Distance
22.7 mi
37 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clinton, CT
Wikimedia Commons
New Haven, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This quick 22.7-mile drive from Clinton, CT to New Haven, CT takes about 30 minutes, making it an easy day trip. You'll spend about 80% of your time on highways, primarily I-95, with a longest stretch of 18.1 miles on the interstate. The estimated fuel cost is around $4, which is quite economical. This route stays within the Northeast region, specifically Connecticut, so you won't be crossing state lines. It's a straightforward journey perfect for a short hop between these two coastal Connecticut cities.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 30m. Total distance: 22.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this trip, with 80% of the route utilizing major roads like I-95. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 18.1 miles on I-95, so there are periods of consistent highway travel. While primarily interstate, the route also incorporates Forbes Avenue and Water Street, offering a slight shift in scenery as you approach your destination. The overall feel is that of an efficient transit between points, rather than a winding, scenic adventure.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 18.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Forbes Avenue. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CT 81 / Hull 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 22.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (CT 81 / Hull Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (CT 81 / Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CT 81 / Hull Street
Turn right onto CT 81 / Hull Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CT 81 / Central Avenue
Turn right onto CT 81 / Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 95 South
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
19.3 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Frontage Road, Lighthouse Point
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 51
Toward US 1: Frontage Road, Lighthouse Point
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 Clinton, CT to New Haven, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Lighthouse Point along the way.
Lighthouse Point
19.3 mi in
|
~24m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 18.1 mi | 21m |
| Forbes Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Water Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| High Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Chapel Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Frontage Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Olive Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Killingworth Turnpike | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 18.1 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clinton, CT and New Haven, CT.
1
Start on US 1
112 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Main Street
2
Turn right onto CT 81
483 ft
·
11 sec
·
Hull Street
3
Turn right onto CT 81
228 ft
·
5 sec
·
Central Avenue
4
Continue on CT 81
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
High Street
5
Continue on CT 81
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Killingworth Turnpike
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 95 South
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 95
18 mi
·
21 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 51
Toward US 1: Frontage Road, Lighthouse Point
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto US 1
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
Frontage Road
10
Continue on US 1
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Forbes Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on US 1
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Water Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto Olive Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Olive Street
13
Turn left onto Chapel Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Chapel Street
14
Turn right onto College Street
343 ft
·
5 sec
·
College Street
15
Arrive at destination
College Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.65 one way
$7.31 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $4.02 | $8.04 |
| premium | $4.86 | $4.35 | $8.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.01 | $10.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.38 | $1.09 |
| Efficient EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.99 | $0.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.18 | $1.45 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
New Haven, CT
Morning in New Haven on Friday
Local time
9:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
30m 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 Clinton, CT to New Haven, CT covers 22.7 miles and takes about 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Forbes Avenue, Water Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.4 miles from Clinton, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.65 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 22.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (CT 81 / Hull Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (CT 81 / Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Clinton, CT to New Haven, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Lighthouse Point along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Weir Farm National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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