Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
40.8 mi
66 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Milford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Essex, CT
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Milford, CT to Essex, CT covers 40.8 miles and takes about 58m 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 29.9 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.57 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 40.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 58m highway drive covering 40.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 95 and Essex Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 29.9 miles on I 95.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Essex Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CT 162 / New Haven Avenue.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 40.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CT 162 / New Haven Avenue): Navigation decision point; near the start (Daniel Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1.6 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto CT 162 / New Haven Avenue
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork onto Daniel Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Long Wharf Drive, Sargent Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto Long Wharf Drive
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 29.9 mi | 36m |
| Essex Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Westbrook Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Forbes Avenue | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Plains Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Long Wharf Drive | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| West Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Cherry Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Milford, CT and Essex, CT.
Start on Factory Lane
Turn right onto CT 162
Keep slight left at fork onto Daniel Street
Turn right onto River Street
Turn right onto Cherry Street
Continue on US 1
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Turn left onto Long Wharf Drive
Continue on East Street
Turn right onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Turn right onto US 1
Take the exit
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Turn left onto CT 153
Continue on CT 153
Continue on CT 153
Continue on West Avenue
Continue on West Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
Continue on Main Street
Turn left
Turn left onto Pratt Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.4 mi from Milford, CT · 29m 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.
A short stop after about 40.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 20.4 miles from Milford, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Essex, 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.
Regular Gas
$6.57 one way
$13.14 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $7.23 | $14.45 |
| premium | $4.86 | $7.81 | $15.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.01 | $18.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.3 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 | 12.2 | 0 | $4.28 | $1.96 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.57 | $1.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Milford on Friday
Local time
11:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Night in Essex on Friday
Local time
11:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Partly Cloudy
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Milford, CT or browse trips ending in Essex, CT.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CT road trips.
