Origin
Norwalk, CT
Evening in Norwalk on Friday
Local time
8:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Norwalk, CT to Riverside, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
20m
Distance
12.7 mi
20 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 18m
★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 24m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 22m
5 PM
0h 24m
8 PM
0h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norwalk, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Riverside, CT
David Kanigan
Trip Overview
This short 12.7-mile drive from Norwalk, CT, to Riverside, CT, is a quick hop that can be completed in about 20 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $2, this trip is very budget-friendly and easily manageable as a single-day excursion. The route predominantly utilizes I-95, making it a highway-focused experience ideal for those looking for efficiency. Since there are no designated stops and the drive is so brief, it's perfect for a spontaneous trip or an easy leg of a larger journey within the Northeast region. You won't need an overnight stay to cover this distance.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 20m. Total distance: 12.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-centric journey for most of this drive, with 82% of the route on highways. You'll spend a significant uninterrupted stretch of 10.4 miles on I-95, offering a consistent pace. The main roads guiding your way include I-95, East Avenue, and Sound Beach Avenue, indicating a transition from interstate speeds to potentially more local road conditions as you approach your destination. This profile suggests a drive that is primarily about covering ground efficiently, with only a brief segment likely to offer a change of scenery or pace.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 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 10.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and East Avenue. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near I 95.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 12.7 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.4 miles (US 1 / East Putnam Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
11.2 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Riverside, Old Greenwich
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5
Toward US 1: Riverside, Old Greenwich
8
11.4 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
US 1 / East Putnam Avenue
Turn uturn onto US 1 / East Putnam Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
11.6 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
Sound Beach Avenue
Turn right onto Sound Beach Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
12.1 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
Sound Beach Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Sound Beach Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
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 Norwalk, CT to Riverside, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Old Greenwich along the way.
Old Greenwich
11.2 mi in
|
~15m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 10.4 mi | 14m |
| East Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Sound Beach Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Owenoke Way | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| East Putnam Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Wesskum Wood Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 10.4 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norwalk, CT and Riverside, CT.
1
Start on East Avenue
272 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Avenue
2
Continue on East Avenue
267 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Avenue
3
Continue on East Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 95 South: New York City
5
Merge onto I 95
10 mi
·
14 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 5
Toward US 1: Riverside, Old Greenwich
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn uturn onto US 1
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
East Putnam Avenue
Use the right lane.
8
Turn right onto Sound Beach Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Sound Beach Avenue
9
Continue on Sound Beach Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Sound Beach Avenue
10
Turn right onto Wesskum Wood Road
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
Wesskum Wood Road
11
Continue on Owenoke Way
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Owenoke Way
12
Arrive at destination
Owenoke Way
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.04 one way
$4.09 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $2.25 | $4.50 |
| premium | $4.86 | $2.43 | $4.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.80 | $5.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.33 | $0.61 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.11 | $0.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.81 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Riverside, CT
Evening in Riverside on Friday
Local time
8:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°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
2 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
20m 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 Norwalk, CT to Riverside, CT covers 12.7 miles and takes about 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, East Avenue, Sound Beach Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.4 miles from Norwalk, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.04 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 12.7 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.4 miles (US 1 / East Putnam Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Norwalk, CT to Riverside, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Old Greenwich along the way.
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.
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