Origin
Hartford, CT
Afternoon in Hartford on Friday
Local time
1:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hartford, CT to West Haven, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
39.9 mi
64 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hartford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
West Haven, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 39.9-mile drive from Hartford to West Haven, CT, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 55 minutes. You'll primarily navigate on I-91 and the Berlin Turnpike, with a significant portion of the journey on highways. With a projected fuel cost of $6, this trip is very budget-friendly. Given its short duration and focused profile, it's an easy transit rather than an extended exploration. This drive stays within the Northeast region, specifically within Connecticut, making it a simple local commute or an easy add-on to a larger regional itinerary.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 39.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m 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.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for about 78% of this 39.9-mile trip. You'll spend a good amount of time on I-91, including a continuous stretch of 19 miles. The transition onto the Berlin Turnpike and then North Broad Street will shift the character slightly from pure interstate to a more arterial road feel. While not a winding scenic route, it offers a direct and efficient path, allowing you to cover the distance quickly. The overall impression is one of functional transit, prioritizing speed and directness.
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 91 is the longest continuous segment at about 19 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 91 and Berlin Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Capitol Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 39.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Capitol Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 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
|
Capitol Avenue
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Broad Street
Turn left onto Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
17.5 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward I 91 South: New Haven, New York City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 64A
Toward I 91 South: New Haven, New York City
8
37.9 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward CT 10: Downtown, West 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 44
Toward CT 10: Downtown, West Haven
7
38.1 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
CT 10 / Ella T. Grasso Boulevard
Turn left onto CT 10 / Ella T. Grasso Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Hartford, CT to West Haven, CT, road signs begin pointing toward New York City along the way.
New York City
17.5 mi in
|
~25m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 91 | 19 mi | 23m |
| Berlin Turnpike | 11 mi | 14m |
| North Broad Street | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| Broad Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| I 95 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Maple Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Elm Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Campbell Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 91
— 19 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hartford, CT and West Haven, CT.
1
Start on Armory Road
111 ft
·
15 sec
·
Armory Road
2
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue
382 ft
·
16 sec
·
Capitol Avenue
3
Turn left onto Broad Street
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Broad Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto Maple Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Maple Avenue
5
Continue on Berlin Turnpike
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Berlin Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 5; CT 15
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
North Broad Street
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 64A
Toward I 91 South: New Haven, New York City
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 91
19 mi
·
23 min
·
I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 95
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 44
Toward CT 10: Downtown, West Haven
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto CT 10
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Ella T. Grasso Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn left onto Kimberly Avenue
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Kimberly Avenue
13
Turn straight onto Elm Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Elm Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto Campbell Avenue
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Campbell Avenue
15
Turn left onto New Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
New Street
16
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
68 ft
·
2 sec
·
Washington Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Washington Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20 mi from Hartford, CT · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20 miles from Hartford, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in West Haven, CT
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into West Haven, 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
$6.42 one way
$12.85 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $7.07 | $14.13 |
| premium | $4.86 | $7.64 | $15.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.81 | $17.62 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.77
Berlin Turnpike
(11 mi)
$0.77
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12 | 0 | $4.19 | $1.92 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.49 | $1.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16 | 0 | $5.59 | $2.55 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
West Haven, CT
Afternoon in West Haven on Friday
Local time
1:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°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
23 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
55m 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 Hartford, CT to West Haven, CT covers 39.9 miles and takes about 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 91, Berlin Turnpike, North Broad Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20 miles from Hartford, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.42 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 short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 39.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Capitol Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Hartford, CT to West Haven, CT, road signs begin pointing toward New York City along the way.
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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