Origin
Fairfield, CT
Evening in Fairfield on Thursday
Local time
6:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfield, CT to Prospect, CT
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
47m
Distance
35.1 mi
57 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfield, CT
David Kanigan
Prospect, CT
MART PRODUCTION
Trip Overview
The drive from Fairfield, CT to Prospect, CT covers 35.1 miles and takes about 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on CT 8, I 95, Union City Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 25.7 miles on CT 8. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.65 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 35.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 47m highway drive covering 35.1 miles, with most of the trip on CT 8 and I 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 25.7 miles on CT 8.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CT 8 is the longest continuous segment at about 25.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 8 and I 95. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Mill Plain Road.
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 47m 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 (Mill Plain Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.7 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
|
Mill Plain Road
Turn left onto Mill Plain Road
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 North
Navigation decision point
Toward I 95 North
8
4.7 mi into trip
|
~6m 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
8
8.6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
CT 8
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 8 toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
8
31.1 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward Union City, Prospect
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 26
Toward Union City, Prospect
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fairfield, CT and Prospect, CT, road signs point toward Waterbury, New Haven and Union City.
Waterbury
4.7 mi in
|
~6m
New Haven
8.6 mi in
|
~11m
|
via CT 8
Union City
31.1 mi in
|
~40m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 8 | 25.7 mi | 31m |
| I 95 | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| Union City Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Prospect Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Mill Plain Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Union Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Post Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
CT 8
— 25.7 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, CT and Prospect, CT.
1
Start on US 1
186 ft
·
12 sec
·
Post Road
2
Turn left onto Mill Plain Road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Mill Plain Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 95 North
4
Merge onto I 95
4.3 mi
·
5 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
22 mi
·
28 min
·
CT 8
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 26
Toward Union City, Prospect
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on Union Street
416 ft
·
12 sec
·
Union Street
10
Turn right onto CT 68
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Prospect Street
11
Continue on CT 68
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Union City Road
12
Arrive at destination
CT 68
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.6 mi from Fairfield, CT · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.6 miles from Fairfield, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Prospect, CT
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Prospect, CT if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.65 one way
$11.30 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.22 | $12.43 |
| premium | $4.86 | $6.72 | $13.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.75 | $15.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.69 | $1.68 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.07 | $1.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14 | 0 | $4.91 | $2.25 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Prospect, CT
Evening in Prospect on Thursday
Local time
6:54 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
4 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
47m 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 Fairfield, CT to Prospect, CT covers 35.1 miles and takes about 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CT 8, I 95, Union City 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 17.6 miles from Fairfield, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.65 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 47m 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 (Mill Plain Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Fairfield, CT and Prospect, CT, road signs point toward Waterbury, New Haven and Union City.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Weir Farm National Historical Park.
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