Skip to main content

Trip from North Branford, CT to Fairfield, CT

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

48m

Distance

32.8 mi

53 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 45m ★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown North Branford, CT, CT

North Branford, CT

David Kanigan

Downtown Fairfield, CT, CT

Fairfield, CT

David Kanigan

Trip Overview

This 32.8-mile drive from North Branford to Fairfield, Connecticut, is a quick 48-minute trip, making it an ideal day excursion. The route primarily utilizes I-95, with segments on Foxon Road and I-91, offering a straightforward journey through the Northeast region. With a projected fuel cost of around $5, this is an economical option for a short getaway. Given its brevity and focus on highway travel, it's perfectly suited for a single day, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination. The overall feel is that of an efficient, highway-focused transit.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 32.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

48m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-centric experience for about 75% of this 32.8-mile route. You'll spend a good portion of your time on I-95, which forms the longest uninterrupted stretch at 22.8 miles. While the profile is largely highway-focused, there will be transitions onto roads like Foxon Road and I-91, offering slight variations in the driving experience. This isn't a winding country road; it's designed for covering distance efficiently, so prepare for steady speeds and the typical environment of major interstates.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 22.8 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

142 ft 13 ft

Total Climb

206 ft

Total Descent

279 ft

Highest Point

142 ft

~14.1 mi in

Elevation Range

129 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Foxon 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 80 / Foxon Road.

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 10 decision points packed into just 32.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (CT 80 / Foxon Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles (US 5 / State Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles (Warren Place): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | CT 80 / Foxon Road

At end of road, turn left onto CT 80 / Foxon Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
7.4 mi into trip | ~12m in | US 5 / State Street

Turn left onto US 5 / State Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
7.4 mi into trip | ~12m in | Warren Place

Turn right onto Warren Place

Navigation decision point

5
7.7 mi into trip | ~13m in | I 91

Merge onto I 91

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
32.2 mi into trip | ~47m 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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 22.8 mi 31m
Foxon Road 5.5 mi 8m
I 91 1.8 mi 2m
Middletown Avenue 0.9 mi 1m
Foxon Boulevard 0.8 mi 1m
Mill Plain Road 0.3 mi <1m
Ferry Street <0.1 mi <1m
State Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 22.8 mi, about 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between North Branford, CT and Fairfield, CT.

1

Start on this road

102 ft · 13 sec · this road
2

At end of road, turn left onto CT 80

5.5 mi · 8 min · Foxon Road
Use the straight lane.
3

Continue on CT 80

0.8 mi · 1 min · Foxon Boulevard
4

Continue on CT 80

490 ft · 8 sec · Middletown Avenue
5

Continue on CT 17; CT 80

0.9 mi · 1 min · Middletown Avenue
6

Turn right onto Ferry Street

403 ft · 14 sec · Ferry Street
7

Turn left onto US 5

362 ft · 8 sec · State Street
Use the left lane.
8

Turn right onto Warren Place

60 ft · 2 sec · Warren Place
9

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Toward I 91 South
10

Merge onto I 91

1.8 mi · 2 min · I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Merge onto I 95

23 mi · 31 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Exit 21 Toward Mill Plain Road Use the slight right lane.
13

Turn left onto Mill Plain Road

0.3 mi · 39 sec · Mill Plain Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
14

Turn right onto US 1

186 ft · 3 sec · Post Road
15

Arrive at destination

US 1

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 16.4 mi from North Branford, CT · 25m into the drive

city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Milford, CT

16 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

Norwalk, CT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Milford, CT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 16.4 miles from North Branford, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Fairfield, CT

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Fairfield, 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

$5.28 one way

$10.56 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $5.81 $11.62
premium $4.86 $6.28 $12.56
diesel $5.61 $7.24 $14.48

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$5

Estimated CO2 emission: 11.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 9.8 0 $3.44 $1.57
Efficient EV 8.2 0 $2.87 $1.31
EV Truck/SUV 13.1 0 $4.59 $2.10

Gas CO2

11 kg

EV CO2

4 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.

Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026

Origin

North Branford, CT

Night in North Branford on Friday

Local time

10:23 PM

EDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fairfield, CT

Night in Fairfield on Friday

Local time

10:23 PM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Partly Sunny

SW 13 to 16 mph 12% chance 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

31 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

48m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from North Branford, CT to Fairfield, CT covers 32.8 miles and takes about 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 95, Foxon Road, I 91. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 16.4 miles from North Branford, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.28 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 10 decision points packed into just 32.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (CT 80 / Foxon Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles (US 5 / State Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles (Warren Place): Navigation decision point.

The route from North Branford, CT to Fairfield, CT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 13 ft to 142 ft elevation with about 206 ft of total climbing.

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, 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

Explore More

Explore more options from North Branford, CT or browse trips ending in Fairfield, CT.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CT road trips.