Origin
East Haven, CT
Afternoon in East Haven on Friday
Local time
4:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Haven, CT to Fairfield, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
39m
Distance
27.1 mi
44 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Haven, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Fairfield, CT
David Kanigan
Trip Overview
East Haven, CT to Fairfield, CT is 27.1 miles and takes about 39m via I 95 and Frontage Road, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Northeast region, specifically Connecticut, making it a convenient local journey. Expect a drive primarily focused on highway travel, which means you'll cover ground quickly. It's a straightforward connection between two points, ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get from one coastal town to another without much fuss.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 39m. Total distance: 27.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the journey taking place on major roads like I-95. You'll experience a consistent pace for the majority of the trip, including one continuous stretch of 24.8 miles on I-95. While the main roads dominate, there are brief transitions onto Frontage Road and Saltonstall Parkway, offering minor variations in the driving experience. Overall, prepare for a brisk, direct drive where efficiency is the main characteristic.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 9 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 24.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Frontage Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 1 / Saltonstall Parkway.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 39m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 1 / Saltonstall Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 1.6 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 1 / Saltonstall Parkway
Turn left onto US 1 / Saltonstall Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 95 South
5
1.6 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.
7
26.5 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward Mill Plain Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 21
Toward Mill Plain Road
5
26.8 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
Mill Plain Road
Turn left onto Mill Plain Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 24.8 mi | 34m |
| Frontage Road | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Saltonstall Parkway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Mill Plain Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Hemingway Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Post Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 24.8 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Haven, CT and Fairfield, 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
0.6 mi
·
46 sec
·
Frontage Road
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 95 South
5
Merge onto I 95
25 mi
·
34 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 21
Toward Mill Plain Road
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn left onto Mill Plain Road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Mill Plain Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Turn right onto US 1
186 ft
·
3 sec
·
Post Road
9
Arrive at destination
US 1
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.36 one way
$8.73 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $4.80 | $9.60 |
| premium | $4.86 | $5.19 | $10.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.98 | $11.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.85 | $1.30 |
| Efficient EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.37 | $1.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.79 | $1.73 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Afternoon in Fairfield on Friday
Local time
4:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°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
3 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
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 East Haven, CT to Fairfield, CT covers 27.1 miles and takes about 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Frontage Road, Saltonstall Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.6 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 $4.36 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 straightforward 39m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 1 / Saltonstall Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 1.6 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from East Haven, CT to Fairfield, 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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