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Trip from Cromwell, CT to Danbury, CT

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

1h 9m

Distance

54 mi

87 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 4m ★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m

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

Downtown Cromwell, CT, CT

Cromwell, CT

MART PRODUCTION

city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States

Danbury, CT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 54-mile drive from Cromwell to Danbury, Connecticut, is designed for a single day, taking about 1 hour and 9 minutes to complete. You'll primarily be on interstate highways, with 88% of the journey utilizing these faster roads. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $9, making it a budget-friendly option. Given its short duration and highway focus, this route is perfect for a quick transit or a leisurely day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You'll remain within the Northeast region for the entire journey, experiencing a straightforward connection between these two Connecticut cities.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 54 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 54-mile trip. With 88% of the route on interstates like I-84, I-691, and I-91, you'll experience mostly fast-paced driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 34.6 miles on I-84, offering a sustained period of highway travel. While the profile suggests a consistent highway experience, be prepared for the typical characteristics of interstate driving, including varying traffic conditions and the need for efficient navigation between these major thoroughfares.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 84 is the longest continuous segment at about 34.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 84 and I 691. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CT 372 / West Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.1 miles (CT 372 / West Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.7 miles (I 691): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | CT 372 / West Street

Turn left onto CT 372 / West Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / slight left / straight lanes.
8
9.4 mi into trip | ~14m in

Take the exit toward I 691 West: Meriden, 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 18 Toward I 691 West: Meriden, Waterbury
5
9.7 mi into trip | ~14m in | I 691

Merge onto I 691

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
17.4 mi into trip | ~23m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 84 West: Waterbury

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 8B Toward I 84 West: Waterbury
8
52.9 mi into trip | ~1h 7m 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

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 Cromwell, CT to Danbury, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Waterbury along the way.

Waterbury

9.4 mi in | ~14m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 84 34.6 mi 42m
I 691 7.7 mi 8m
I 91 5.5 mi 6m
West Street 2.2 mi 4m
Berlin Road 1.3 mi 2m
North Main Street 0.9 mi 1m
Main Street <0.1 mi <1m
Library Place <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 84 — 34.6 mi, about 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cromwell, CT and Danbury, CT.

1

Start on Wall Street

53 ft · 2 sec · Wall Street
2

Turn right onto CT 99

313 ft · 12 sec · Main Street
3

Turn left onto CT 372

2.2 mi · 4 min · West Street
Use the left / slight left / straight lanes.
4

Continue on CT 372

1.3 mi · 2 min · Berlin Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 1 min
6

Merge onto I 91

5.5 mi · 6 min · I 91
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 26 sec
Exit 18 Toward I 691 West: Meriden, Waterbury Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Merge onto I 691

7.7 mi · 8 min · I 691
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 1 min
Exit 8B Toward I 84 West: Waterbury
10

Merge onto I 84

35 mi · 42 min · I 84
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 18 sec
Exit 5 Toward CT 39, CT 53: Downtown Danbury, Bethel Use the slight right lane.
12

Turn right onto CT 39

0.9 mi · 1 min · North Main Street
13

Turn right onto Library Place

234 ft · 10 sec · Library Place
14

Arrive at destination

Library Place

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 27 mi from Cromwell, CT · 35m into the drive

city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waterbury, CT

27 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

Meriden, CT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waterbury, CT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 27 miles from Cromwell, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Danbury, CT

The final approach into Danbury, 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

$8.69 one way

$17.39 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $9.56 $19.13
premium $4.86 $10.34 $20.68
diesel $5.61 $11.92 $23.85

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 16.2 0 $5.67 $2.59
Efficient EV 13.5 0 $4.73 $2.16
EV Truck/SUV 21.6 0 $7.56 $3.46

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Cromwell, CT

Night in Cromwell on Thursday

Local time

11:37 PM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Danbury, CT

Night in Danbury on Thursday

Local time

11:37 PM

EDT

Current temp

41°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

1 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 9m 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 Cromwell, CT to Danbury, CT covers 54 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 84, I 691, I 91. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27 miles from Cromwell, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.69 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 54 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.1 miles (CT 372 / West Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.7 miles (I 691): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Cromwell, CT to Danbury, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Waterbury along the way.

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