Origin
Colchester, CT
Morning in Colchester on Wednesday
Local time
8:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colchester, CT to Fairfield, CT
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 39m
Distance
67.7 mi
109 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 32m
★
6 AM
1h 39m
8 AM
1h 54m
10 AM
1h 44m
12 PM
1h 43m
3 PM
1h 45m
5 PM
1h 53m
8 PM
1h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Colchester, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Fairfield, CT
David Kanigan
Trip Overview
The drive from Colchester, CT to Fairfield, CT covers 67.7 miles and takes about 1h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on CT 15, Middletown Road, CT 8 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.8 miles on CT 15. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.90 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
33.9 miles from Colchester, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Colchester, CT to Fairfield, CT covers 67.7 miles and takes about 1h 39m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CT 15 is the longest continuous segment at about 29.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18 miles in near CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 67.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 18 miles (CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 23 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
18 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
26.1 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward I 91 South, CT 15 South: New Haven
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 1B
Toward I 91 South, CT 15 South: New Haven
7
26.5 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward CT 15 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17
Toward CT 15 South
7
26.8 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CT 15 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CT 15 South
8
56.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward CT 8, CT 108: Bridgeport, 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 34
Toward CT 8, CT 108: Bridgeport, Waterbury
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 Colchester, CT to Fairfield, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Waterbury along the way.
Waterbury
56.7 mi in
|
~1h 23m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 15 | 29.8 mi | 37m |
| Middletown Road | 6.1 mi | 10m |
| CT 8 | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| Meriden Road | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Portland-Cobalt Road | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| I 95 | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Colchester Avenue | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Middletown Avenue | 2.4 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
CT 15
— 29.8 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colchester, CT and Fairfield, CT.
1
Start on Hayward Avenue
181 ft
·
14 sec
·
Hayward Avenue
2
Turn left onto CT 16
132 ft
·
6 sec
·
Lebanon Avenue
3
Turn left onto CT 16; CT 85
445 ft
·
10 sec
·
Main Street
4
Turn right onto CT 16
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Linwood Avenue
5
Continue on CT 16
6.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Middletown Road
6
Continue on CT 16
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Colchester Avenue
7
Continue on CT 16
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Middletown Avenue
8
Turn left onto CT 66
0.8 mi
·
59 sec
·
West High Street
9
Continue on CT 66
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Portland-Cobalt Road
10
Continue on CT 17; CT 66
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Marlborough Street
Use the straight lane.
11
At end of road, turn left onto CT 17; CT 66
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto Grand Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Street
13
At end of road, turn left onto Prospect Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Prospect Street
14
Continue on Liberty Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Liberty Street
15
At end of road, turn left onto CT 3
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Newfield Street
16
Turn right onto CT 66
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on CT 66
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Meriden Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 1B
Toward I 91 South, CT 15 South: New Haven
Use the slight left lane.
19
Merge onto I 91
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
I 91
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 17
Toward CT 15 South
Use the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
437 ft
·
8 sec
Toward CT 15 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto CT 15
30 mi
·
37 min
·
CT 15
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 34
Toward CT 8, CT 108: Bridgeport, Waterbury
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward CT 8 South, CT 108 South: Bridgeport
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward CT 8 South: Bridgeport
Use the slight left lane.
26
Merge onto CT 8
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
CT 8
27
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 95 South: New York City
Use the slight right lane.
28
Merge onto I 95
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 21
Toward Mill Plain Road
Use the slight right lane.
30
Turn left onto Mill Plain Road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Mill Plain Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
31
Turn right onto US 1
186 ft
·
3 sec
·
Post Road
32
Arrive at destination
US 1
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 33.9 miles from Colchester, CT, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 67.7 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.9 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairfield, CT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Colchester, CT so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Colchester, CT
This is one driving day of about 67.7 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Colchester, CT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on CT 15 for about 29.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.9 mi from Colchester, CT · 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 67.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.9 miles from Colchester, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fairfield, CT
The final approach into Fairfield, CT usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Fairfield, CT.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.90 one way
$21.80 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $11.99 | $23.98 |
| premium | $4.86 | $12.96 | $25.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.95 | $29.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.11 | $3.25 |
| Efficient EV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.92 | $2.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.1 | 0 | $9.48 | $4.33 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Fairfield, CT
Morning in Fairfield on Wednesday
Local time
8:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°F
Brookhaven, NY
34 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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 39m 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 Colchester, CT to Fairfield, CT covers 67.7 miles and takes about 1h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CT 15, Middletown Road, CT 8. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.9 miles from Colchester, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.90 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 is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 67.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 18 miles (CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Colchester, CT to Fairfield, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Waterbury along the way.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Fairfield, CT
More trips to Fairfield, CT
Explore more options from Colchester, CT or browse trips ending in Fairfield, CT.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CT road trips.
Explore maps for Colchester, CT or Fairfield, CT on MapSof.net.