Ledyard to Fairfield is 77.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 43 minutes via I-95, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This northeastern Connecticut drive sticks primarily to major roadways, making it a straightforward transit between two points in the same state. You'll mostly be on the interstate, so expect a functional, efficient journey rather than a leisurely scenic tour. Given its relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39 miles from Ledyard, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 77.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a highway-focused drive, with 91% of the route utilizing major highways. You'll spend the majority of your time on I-95, experiencing a long, uninterrupted stretch of 70.3 miles. The journey begins with a brief period on local roads like Center Groton Road and Gold Star Highway before merging onto the interstate. Expect consistent highway speeds for most of the trip, with a focus on efficient travel rather than varied terrain or winding paths.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 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 70.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Center Groton Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Colonel Ledyard Highway.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 43m 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 (Colonel Ledyard Highway): Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles (CT 184 / Gold Star Highway): Navigation decision point; at 7 miles (I 95; US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Colonel Ledyard Highway
Turn right onto Colonel Ledyard Highway
Navigation decision point
4
4.1 mi into trip|~7m in|CT 184 / Gold Star Highway
Turn right onto CT 184 / Gold Star Highway
Navigation decision point
5
7 mi into trip|~12m in|I 95; US 1
Merge onto I 95; US 1
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
77.3 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward Mill Plain Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 21
Toward Mill Plain Road
5
77.6 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|Mill Plain Road
Turn left onto Mill Plain Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
70.3 mi
1h 30m
Center Groton Road
2.9 mi
5m
Gold Star Highway
2.3 mi
4m
North Road
1.2 mi
2m
CT 184
0.5 mi
<1m
Mill Plain Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Colonel Ledyard Highway
<0.1 mi
<1m
Post Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 70.3 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ledyard, CT and Fairfield, CT.
1
Start on Ray Holdridge Circle
64 ft·4 sec·Ray Holdridge Circle
2
Turn right onto Colonel Ledyard Highway
297 ft·15 sec·Colonel Ledyard Highway
3
Turn left onto CT 117
2.9 mi·5 min·Center Groton Road
4
Continue on CT 117
1.2 mi·2 min·North Road
5
Turn right onto CT 184
2.3 mi·4 min·Gold Star Highway
6
Turn straight onto CT 184
0.5 mi·33 sec·CT 184
7
Merge onto I 95; US 1
70 mi·1 hr 30 min·I 95; US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 21Toward Mill Plain RoadUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto Mill Plain Road
0.3 mi·39 sec·Mill Plain Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Turn right onto US 1
186 ft·3 sec·Post Road
11
Arrive at destination
US 1
Trip Plan
With a drive time under two hours, this route offers significant flexibility. You can easily depart in the morning, mid-day, or afternoon and still arrive with ample time. The longest stretch on I-95 is over 70 miles, so plan your fuel stops accordingly before you get too deep into that segment, especially since the total fuel cost is estimated at just $13. Consider leaving a bit earlier if you want to avoid potential afternoon traffic building up as you approach Fairfield.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39 miles from Ledyard, CT, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 17 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairfield, CT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ledyard, CT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ledyard, CT
This is one driving day of about 77.9 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Ledyard, CT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 70.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Weir Farm National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Visit the home and studio of America's most beloved Impressionist, J. Alden Weir, and walk in the footsteps of generations of world-class artists. Set amidst more than 60 acres of painterly woods, fie...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 77.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.54 one way
$25.08 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.50
$13.80
$27.60
premium
$4.86
$14.92
$29.84
diesel
$5.61
$17.20
$34.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.4
0
$8.18
$3.74
Efficient EV
19.5
0
$6.82
$3.12
EV Truck/SUV
31.2
0
$10.91
$4.99
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Ledyard, CT
Late night
in Ledyard on Saturday
Local time
3:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fairfield, CT
Late night
in Fairfield on Saturday
Local time
3:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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 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 43m 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 Ledyard, CT to Fairfield, CT covers 77.9 miles and takes about 1h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Center Groton Road, Gold Star Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39 miles from Ledyard, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.54 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 43m 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 (Colonel Ledyard Highway): Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles (CT 184 / Gold Star Highway): Navigation decision point; at 7 miles (I 95; US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Ledyard, CT to Fairfield, 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.
