Origin
East Norwalk, CT
Afternoon in East Norwalk on Saturday
Local time
3:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Norwalk, CT to Durham, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
52.3 mi
84 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Norwalk, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Durham, CT
MART PRODUCTION
Trip Overview
East Norwalk, CT to Durham, CT is 52.3 miles and takes about 1h 14m via Wilbur Cross Parkway and I-91, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Connecticut, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on well-traveled parkways and interstates, making it an easy option if you're looking for a quick connection between these two points. Given its brevity, it's ideal for a same-day excursion, freeing up your schedule for activities at your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wilbur Cross Parkway | 15.6 mi | 19m |
| I 95 | 10.7 mi | 14m |
| I 91 | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| CT 8 | 5 mi | 5m |
| Merritt Parkway | 3 mi | 4m |
| Wallingford Road | 3 mi | 5m |
| Durham Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Saugatuck Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Wilbur Cross Parkway
— 15.6 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Norwalk, CT and Durham, CT.
1
Start on CT 136
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Winfield Street
2
Continue on CT 136
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Saugatuck Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 95 North: New Haven
4
Merge onto I 95
11 mi
·
14 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 27A
Toward CT 25, CT 8: Trumbull, Waterbury
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on CT 8; CT 25
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
CT 8; CT 25
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 8
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
CT 8
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 6
Toward CT 15 North: Merritt Parkway, New Haven
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto CT 15
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Merritt Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on CT 15
16 mi
·
19 min
·
Wilbur Cross Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 53
Toward CT 22: North Haven
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
At end of road, turn right onto CT 22
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Bishop Street
13
Continue on US 5; CT 22
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Clintonville Road
14
Turn left onto US 5
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 91 North: Hartford
16
Merge onto I 91
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
I 91
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 15
Toward CT 68: Yalesville, Durham
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn right onto CT 68
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Barnes Road
19
At end of road, turn left onto CT 68
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Durham Road
20
Continue on CT 68
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Wallingford Road
21
At end of road, turn left onto CT 17
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Main Street
22
Turn right
130 ft
·
9 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.2 miles from East Norwalk, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 12.7 and 46.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
12.7 mi into trip
|
~18m 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
6
16.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
CT 8
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 8 toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
8
18.4 mi into trip
|
~25m 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
7
37.7 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward CT 22: North Haven
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 53
Toward CT 22: North Haven
8
46.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward CT 68: Yalesville, Durham
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 15
Toward CT 68: Yalesville, Durham
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.42 one way
$16.84 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $9.26 | $18.53 |
| premium | $4.86 | $10.02 | $20.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.55 | $23.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.49 | $2.51 |
| Efficient EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.58 | $2.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.32 | $3.35 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Durham, CT
Afternoon in Durham on Saturday
Local time
3:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°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
2 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 14m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive has a highway-focused profile, with 78% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll experience stretches of faster-paced travel, including a continuous segment of 15.6 miles on the Wilbur Cross Parkway. The character of the route is largely defined by these parkway and interstate sections, suggesting a relatively consistent driving experience with limited deviations onto local roads. Expect smooth, efficient travel for the majority of the 52.3 miles.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.6 mi on Wilbur Cross Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 12.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.3 miles you will encounter 16 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 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.6 miles (CT 8): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between East Norwalk, CT and Durham, CT, road signs point toward Waterbury and New Haven.
Waterbury
12.7 mi in
|
~18m
New Haven
16.6 mi in
|
~23m
|
via CT 8
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 52.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.6 miles on Wilbur Cross Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Durham, CT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.6 miles (CT 8): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Durham, CT before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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