Origin
East Haven, CT
Afternoon in East Haven on Friday
Local time
1:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Haven, CT to Danbury, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
39.3 mi
63 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Haven, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Danbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
East Haven to Danbury is 39.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 7 minutes via I 84 and Roosevelt Drive, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Connecticut, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a relatively short drive, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion or a quick transfer. The route offers a mixed driving experience, so you can expect a blend of highway travel and local roads. Plan for this to be a straightforward journey with minimal time commitment.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 7m. Total distance: 39.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route features a mixed drive profile, with about 40% of the journey on highways like I 84. You'll encounter stretches that allow for higher speeds and consistent travel, including a continuous segment of 10.5 miles on I 84. As you transition from the interstate, you'll navigate through local roads such as Roosevelt Drive and Berkshire Road. This variation means the driving experience will shift from open highway to more town-centric segments, offering a dynamic feel to your trip.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 25 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 10.5 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 3.8 miles in near US 1 / State 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 39.3 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 3.8 miles (US 1 / State Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles (Columbus Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles (CT 34 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
3.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 1 / State Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 1 / State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
Columbus Avenue
Turn right onto Columbus Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
13.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
CT 34 / Main Street
Turn left onto CT 34 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
27.8 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
I 84; US 6
Merge onto I 84; US 6
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
38.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 10.5 mi | 12m |
| Roosevelt Drive | 7.9 mi | 15m |
| Berkshire Road | 4.8 mi | 9m |
| Derby Turnpike | 4.7 mi | 8m |
| New Haven Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Forbes Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Columbus Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Forest Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 84
— 10.5 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Haven, CT and Danbury, CT.
1
Start on Hemingway Avenue
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Hemingway Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn left onto US 1
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Saltonstall Parkway
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on US 1
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
·
Frontage Road
4
Continue on US 1
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Forbes Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 1
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Water Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 1
277 ft
·
4 sec
·
State Street
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on US 1
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Union Avenue
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn right onto Columbus Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Columbus Avenue
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 1
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Boston Post Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto Cellini Place
351 ft
·
17 sec
·
Cellini Place
11
Turn right onto CT 122
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Forest Road
12
Turn left onto CT 34
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Derby Avenue
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on CT 34
4.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Derby Turnpike
14
Continue on CT 34
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
New Haven Avenue
15
Continue on CT 34
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Derby Avenue
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn left onto CT 34
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on CT 34
7.9 mi
·
15 min
·
Roosevelt Drive
18
Continue on CT 34
4.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Berkshire Road
19
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
21
Merge onto I 84; US 6
10 mi
·
12 min
·
I 84; US 6
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 5
Toward CT 39, CT 53: Downtown Danbury, Bethel
Use the slight right lane.
23
Turn right onto CT 39
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
24
Turn right onto Library Place
234 ft
·
10 sec
·
Library Place
25
Arrive at destination
Library Place
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.7 mi from East Haven, CT · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.7 miles from East Haven, 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
$6.33 one way
$12.65 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.96 | $13.92 |
| premium | $4.86 | $7.53 | $15.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.68 | $17.35 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.33
Derby Turnpike
(4.7 mi)
$0.33
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$0
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.13 | $1.89 |
| Efficient EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.44 | $1.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.50 | $2.52 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Danbury, CT
Afternoon in Danbury on Friday
Local time
1:58 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 7m 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 East Haven, CT to Danbury, CT covers 39.3 miles and takes about 1h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 84, Roosevelt Drive, Berkshire Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.7 miles from East Haven, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.33 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 39.3 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 3.8 miles (US 1 / State Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles (Columbus Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles (CT 34 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from East Haven, CT to Danbury, CT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Weir Farm National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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