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Trip from Cos Cob, CT to New Britain, CT

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 36m

Distance

72.3 mi

116 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 29m ★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 32m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Cos Cob, CT, CT

Cos Cob, CT

MART PRODUCTION

city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States

New Britain, CT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Cos Cob, CT to New Britain, CT covers 72.3 miles and takes about 1h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Wilbur Cross Parkway, I 95, CT 8 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 30.4 miles on Wilbur Cross Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.64 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

36.1 miles from Cos Cob, CT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 1h 36m highway drive covering 72.3 miles, with most of the trip on Wilbur Cross Parkway and I 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 30.4 miles on Wilbur Cross Parkway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Wilbur Cross Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 30.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Wilbur Cross Parkway and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 72.3 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 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
1.6 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the ramp toward I 95: New York City, New Haven

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 95: New York City, New Haven
8
25.1 mi into trip | ~35m in

Take the exit toward CT 25, CT 8: Trumbull, Waterbury

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Exit 27A Toward CT 25, CT 8: Trumbull, Waterbury
8
30.7 mi into trip | ~42m in

Take the exit toward CT 15 North: Merritt Parkway, New Haven

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 6 Toward CT 15 North: Merritt Parkway, New Haven
8
68.9 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in

Take the ramp toward CT 9 North: New Britain

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward CT 9 North: New Britain
7
71 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in

Take the exit toward CT 71: Kensington

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 1 Toward CT 71: Kensington

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Cos Cob, CT and New Britain, CT, road signs point toward Waterbury and New Haven.

Waterbury

25.1 mi in | ~35m

New Haven

29 mi in | ~40m | via CT 8

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Wilbur Cross Parkway 30.4 mi 37m
I 95 23.1 mi 31m
CT 8 5 mi 5m
Berlin Turnpike 3.7 mi 4m
Merritt Parkway 3 mi 4m
CT 9 1.5 mi 1m
East Putnam Avenue 1.3 mi 2m
South Main Street 1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Wilbur Cross Parkway — 30.4 mi, about 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cos Cob, CT and New Britain, CT.

1

Start on Maplewood Drive

0.2 mi · 38 sec · Maplewood Drive
2

Turn right onto Loughlin Avenue

387 ft · 21 sec · Loughlin Avenue
3

Turn left onto Strickland Road

480 ft · 24 sec · Strickland Road
4

Turn right onto US 1

1.3 mi · 2 min · East Putnam Avenue
5

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Toward I 95: New York City, New Haven Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Merge onto I 95

23 mi · 31 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 27A Toward CT 25, CT 8: Trumbull, Waterbury Use the right lane.
8

Continue on CT 8; CT 25

3.2 mi · 3 min · CT 8; CT 25
Use the straight / right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto CT 8

1.8 mi · 2 min · CT 8
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
10

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 6 Toward CT 15 North: Merritt Parkway, New Haven Use the slight right lane.
11

Merge onto CT 15

3.0 mi · 4 min · Merritt Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on CT 15

30 mi · 37 min · Wilbur Cross Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on US 5; CT 15

3.7 mi · 4 min · Berlin Turnpike
Use the straight / right lanes.
14

Take the exit

514 ft · 14 sec
15

Turn slight right

291 ft · 7 sec
16

Turn slight right onto CT 372

0.2 mi · 40 sec · Frontage Road
17

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Toward CT 9 North: New Britain Use the left lane.
18

Merge onto CT 9

1.5 mi · 1 min · CT 9
19

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 31 sec
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
20

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 1 Toward CT 71: Kensington Use the slight right lane.
21

Turn right onto CT 71

241 ft · 4 sec · New Britain Road
22

Continue on CT 71

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Main Street
23

Turn right

195 ft · 21 sec
24

Turn left onto Whiting Street

154 ft · 4 sec · Whiting Street
25

Arrive at destination

Whiting Street

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 36.1 miles from Cos Cob, CT, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.4 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 72.3 miles or 1h 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 36.1 miles or 50m 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 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Britain, CT than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Cos Cob, 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 Cos Cob, CT

This is one driving day of about 72.3 miles and 1h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cos Cob, 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 Wilbur Cross Parkway for about 30.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 36.1 mi from Cos Cob, CT · 50m into the drive

town in Suffolk County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Smithtown, NY

36 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

Brookhaven, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 72.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Smithtown, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36.1 miles from Cos Cob, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in New Britain, CT

The final approach into New Britain, 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 New Britain, 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

$11.64 one way

$23.28 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $12.81 $25.61
premium $4.86 $13.85 $27.69
diesel $5.61 $15.96 $31.93

Estimated Tolls: $0.26

Berlin Turnpike (3.7 mi) $0.26

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Tolls

$0

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.7 0 $7.59 $3.47
Efficient EV 18.1 0 $6.33 $2.89
EV Truck/SUV 28.9 0 $10.12 $4.63

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (68% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Cos Cob, CT

Morning in Cos Cob on Wednesday

Local time

11:03 AM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

New Britain, CT

Morning in New Britain on Wednesday

Local time

11:03 AM

EDT

Current temp

81°F

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 1 to 12 mph 25% chance Live forecast

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

25 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 36m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Cos Cob, CT to New Britain, CT covers 72.3 miles and takes about 1h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Wilbur Cross Parkway, I 95, CT 8. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.1 miles from Cos Cob, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.64 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 17 significant decision points across 72.3 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 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Cos Cob, CT and New Britain, CT, road signs point toward Waterbury and New Haven.

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