Origin
Hamden, CT
Morning in Hamden on Saturday
Local time
8:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hamden, CT to New London, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
54.2 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hamden, CT
Wikimedia Commons
New London, CT
MART PRODUCTION
Trip Overview
The drive from Hamden, CT to New London, CT covers 54.2 miles and takes about 1h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, I 91, CT 40 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 41.4 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.73 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 54.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 10m highway drive covering 54.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 95 and I 91. The longest continuous stretch is about 41.4 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 22 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 41.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 91. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in near CT 40.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.2 miles you will encounter 15 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 2.6 miles (CT 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.4 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
2.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
CT 40
Take the exit onto CT 40 toward I 91 South: New Haven
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1C
Toward I 91 South: New Haven
8
6.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward CT 17, CT 80: North Branford
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 8
Toward CT 17, CT 80: North Branford
5
10.4 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
51.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward CT 85: Broad Street, Waterford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 82
Toward CT 85: Broad Street, Waterford
5
52.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
CT 85 / Broad Street
Turn right onto CT 85 / Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 41.4 mi | 49m |
| I 91 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| CT 40 | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Broad Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| Ferry Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Middletown Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Frontage Road | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Farren Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 41.4 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hamden, CT and New London, CT.
1
Start on CT 10
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Whitney Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward CT 40 South: North Haven
3
Continue on CT 40
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
CT 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit onto CT 40
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
CT 40
Exit 1C
Toward I 91 South: New Haven
Use the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto I 91
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 91
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 8
Toward CT 17, CT 80: North Branford
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn right onto CT 17
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Middletown Avenue
8
Continue on Ferry Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Ferry Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on Ferry Street
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
Ferry Street
10
Turn right onto Farren Avenue
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Farren Avenue
11
Turn left onto Fairmont Avenue
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Fairmont Avenue
12
Continue on Townsend Avenue
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Townsend Avenue
13
Turn left onto US 1
371 ft
·
6 sec
·
Forbes Avenue
14
Turn right onto US 1
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
·
Frontage Road
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 95 North
16
Merge onto I 95
41 mi
·
49 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 82
Toward CT 85: Broad Street, Waterford
18
Turn right onto CT 85
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Broad Street
Use the right lane.
19
Turn right onto Meridian Street
335 ft
·
17 sec
·
Meridian Street
20
Turn right onto State Street
289 ft
·
11 sec
·
State Street
21
Turn right onto Huntington Street
166 ft
·
5 sec
·
Huntington Street
22
Arrive at destination
Huntington Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.1 mi from Hamden, CT · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 27.1 miles from Hamden, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in New London, CT
The final approach into New London, 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
$8.73 one way
$17.45 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $9.60 | $19.20 |
| premium | $4.86 | $10.38 | $20.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.97 | $23.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.69 | $2.60 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.74 | $2.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.59 | $3.47 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
New London, CT
Morning in New London on Saturday
Local time
8:53 AM
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
11 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 10m 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 Hamden, CT to New London, CT covers 54.2 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, I 91, CT 40. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.1 miles from Hamden, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.73 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 54.2 miles you will encounter 15 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 2.6 miles (CT 40): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.4 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Hamden, CT to New London, 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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