Origin
Essex, CT
Evening in Essex on Thursday
Local time
5:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Essex, CT to Bridgeport, CT
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
50 mi
80 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
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.
Essex, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Bridgeport, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Essex, CT to Bridgeport, CT covers 50 miles and takes about 1h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, Essex Road, Westbrook Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 43.6 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.05 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 50 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 (87%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 9m highway drive covering 50 miles, with most of the trip on I 95 and Essex Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 43.6 miles on I 95.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 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 43.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Essex Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Avenue.
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 1h 9m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 5.6 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 49.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Avenue
Enter roundabout onto West Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
5.6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
49.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward Lafayette Boulevard, Harbor Yard
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 27B-C
Toward Lafayette Boulevard, Harbor Yard
10
49.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Downtown Bridgeport, Lafayette Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 27C
Toward Downtown Bridgeport, Lafayette Boulevard
4
49.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
Lafayette Boulevard
Turn straight onto Lafayette Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 43.6 mi | 56m |
| Essex Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Westbrook Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Plains Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| West Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Lafayette Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Fairfield Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Methodist Hill | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 43.6 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Essex, CT and Bridgeport, CT.
1
Start on Pratt Street
101 ft
·
6 sec
·
Pratt Street
2
Enter roundabout onto West Avenue
27 ft
·
0 sec
·
West Avenue
3
Continue on West Avenue
96 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Avenue
4
Turn slight right onto Methodist Hill
383 ft
·
10 sec
·
Methodist Hill
5
Continue on Prospect Street
353 ft
·
9 sec
·
Prospect Street
6
Continue on West Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Avenue
7
Continue on CT 153
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Plains Road
8
Continue on CT 153
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Westbrook Road
9
Continue on CT 153
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Essex Road
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 95 South
11
Merge onto I 95
44 mi
·
56 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
329 ft
·
8 sec
Exit 27B-C
Toward Lafayette Boulevard, Harbor Yard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 27C
Toward Downtown Bridgeport, Lafayette Boulevard
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto Lafayette Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Lafayette Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn straight onto Lafayette Circle
240 ft
·
10 sec
·
Lafayette Circle
16
Turn right onto CT 130
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Fairfield Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
CT 130
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25 mi from Essex, CT · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25 miles from Essex, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bridgeport, CT
The final approach into Bridgeport, 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
$8.05 one way
$16.10 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $8.86 | $17.71 |
| premium | $4.86 | $9.57 | $19.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.04 | $22.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15 | 0 | $5.25 | $2.40 |
| Efficient EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.38 | $2.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20 | 0 | $7.00 | $3.20 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Bridgeport, CT
Evening in Bridgeport on Thursday
Local time
5:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°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 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 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 Essex, CT to Bridgeport, CT covers 50 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 95, Essex Road, Westbrook Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25 miles from Essex, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.05 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 1h 9m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 5.6 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 49.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Essex, CT to Bridgeport, CT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Weir Farm National Historical Park.
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