Origin
New Canaan, CT
Afternoon in New Canaan on Thursday
Local time
12:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from New Canaan, CT to New Haven, CT
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
53m
Distance
36.5 mi
59 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 49m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New Canaan, CT
David Kanigan
New Haven, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from New Canaan, CT to New Haven, CT covers 36.5 miles and takes about 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Merritt Parkway, I 95, New Norwalk Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.6 miles on Merritt Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.88 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 36.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m 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
This is a 53m highway drive covering 36.5 miles, with most of the trip on Merritt Parkway and I 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 21.6 miles on Merritt Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Merritt Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 21.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Merritt Parkway and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Park Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 36.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Park Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 24.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 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
|
Park Street
Turn right onto Park Street
Navigation decision point
6
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
24.5 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward I 95, US 1: Milford, New London
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 37
Toward I 95, US 1: Milford, New London
7
25.9 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: New Haven
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 2A
Toward I 95 North: New Haven
7
33.3 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward Campbell Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 43
Toward Campbell Avenue
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 New Canaan, CT to New Haven, CT, road signs begin pointing toward New London along the way.
New London
24.5 mi in
|
~34m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Merritt Parkway | 21.6 mi | 29m |
| I 95 | 7.1 mi | 9m |
| New Norwalk Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Spring Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Washington Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Church Street South | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Columbus Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Merritt Parkway
— 21.6 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Canaan, CT and New Haven, CT.
1
Start on Elm Street
163 ft
·
9 sec
·
Elm Street
2
Turn right onto Park Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Park Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto CT 124
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Main Street
4
Turn left onto CT 106
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
East Avenue
5
Turn right onto CT 123
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
New Norwalk Road
6
Continue on CT 123
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
New Canaan Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto CT 15
22 mi
·
29 min
·
Merritt Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 37
Toward I 95, US 1: Milford, New London
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 2A
Toward I 95 North: New Haven
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 95
7.1 mi
·
9 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 43
Toward Campbell Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto Campbell Avenue
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Campbell Avenue
14
Turn right onto Spring Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Spring Street
15
Continue on Washington Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Avenue
16
Turn right onto US 1
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Columbus Avenue
17
Turn left onto Church Street South
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Church Street South
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn left onto Chapel Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Chapel Street
19
Turn right onto College Street
343 ft
·
5 sec
·
College Street
20
Arrive at destination
College Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.2 mi from New Canaan, CT · 26m 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 36.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.2 miles from New Canaan, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in New Haven, CT
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into New 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
$5.88 one way
$11.75 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.47 | $12.93 |
| premium | $4.86 | $6.99 | $13.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.06 | $16.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11 | 0 | $3.83 | $1.75 |
| Efficient EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.19 | $1.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.11 | $2.34 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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 Haven, CT
Afternoon in New Haven on Thursday
Local time
12:15 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
1 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
53m 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 New Canaan, CT to New Haven, CT covers 36.5 miles and takes about 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Merritt Parkway, I 95, New Norwalk 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 18.2 miles from New Canaan, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.88 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 15 decision points packed into just 36.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Park Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 24.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from New Canaan, CT to New Haven, CT, road signs begin pointing toward New London along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Weir Farm National Historical Park.
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