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Trip from Norwalk, CT to Sterling, CT

Drive Time

2h 18m

Distance

108.2 mi

174 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 9m ★
6 AM
2h 18m
8 AM
2h 38m
10 AM
2h 25m
12 PM
2h 23m
3 PM
2h 26m
5 PM
2h 37m
8 PM
2h 13m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Norwalk, CT, CT

Norwalk, CT

MART PRODUCTION

Trip Overview

The drive from Norwalk, CT to Sterling, CT covers 108.2 miles and takes about 2h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 95, I 395, Plainfield Pike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 68.3 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.32 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

54.1 miles from Norwalk, CT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 2h 18m highway drive covering 108.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 95 and I 395. The longest continuous stretch is about 68.3 miles on I 95.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 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 68.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 395. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 108.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 31.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.4 miles (Long Wharf Drive): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

5
0.8 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the ramp toward I 95 North: New Haven

Navigation decision point

Toward I 95 North: New Haven
8
31.2 mi into trip | ~42m in

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 46 Toward Long Wharf Drive, Sargent Drive
6
31.4 mi into trip | ~44m in | Long Wharf Drive

Turn left onto Long Wharf Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
72.8 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in | I 395

Take the exit onto I 395 toward I 395 North: Norwich, Plainfield

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 76 Toward I 395 North: Norwich, Plainfield
6
102.4 mi into trip | ~2h 6m in

Take the exit toward CT 14A: Plainfield, Oneco

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 29 Toward CT 14A: Plainfield, Oneco

Towns Along This Route

Between Norwalk, CT and Sterling, CT, road signs point toward Plainfield and Oneco.

Plainfield

72.8 mi in | ~1h 34m | via I 395

Oneco

102.4 mi in | ~2h 6m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 68.3 mi 1h 25m
I 395 29.6 mi 32m
Plainfield Pike 4.4 mi 7m
Forbes Avenue 1.2 mi 2m
Church Street 1.2 mi 2m
Long Wharf Drive 0.9 mi 2m
East Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
Frontage Road 0.7 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 68.3 mi, about 1h 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Norwalk, CT and Sterling, 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

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Avenue
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Toward I 95 North: New Haven
5

Merge onto I 95

30 mi · 40 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 1 min
Exit 46 Toward Long Wharf Drive, Sargent Drive Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Turn left onto Long Wharf Drive

0.9 mi · 2 min · Long Wharf Drive
Use the straight lane.
8

Continue on East Street

0.1 mi · 16 sec · East Street
9

Turn right onto US 1

0.1 mi · 9 sec · Water Street
10

Continue on US 1

1.2 mi · 2 min · Forbes Avenue
11

Turn right onto US 1

0.7 mi · 48 sec · Frontage Road
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Toward I 95 North
13

Merge onto I 95

38 mi · 44 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit onto I 395

30 mi · 32 min · I 395
Exit 76 Toward I 395 North: Norwich, Plainfield
15

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 36 sec
Exit 29 Toward CT 14A: Plainfield, Oneco
16

Turn right onto CT 14A

4.4 mi · 7 min · Plainfield Pike
17

Turn left onto Church Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · Church Street
18

At end of road, turn right onto CT 14

238 ft · 4 sec · Sterling Road
19

Arrive at destination

CT 14

Trip Plan

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 54.1 miles from Norwalk, CT, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.3 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 80 miles or 1h 42m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 54.1 miles or 1h 12m 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 52m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sterling, CT than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Norwalk, CT so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Norwalk, CT

This is one driving day of about 108.2 miles and 2h 18m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Norwalk, CT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 68.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 54.1 mi from Norwalk, CT · 1h 12m into the drive

Downtown Smithtown, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Smithtown, NY

54 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

Smithtown, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Smithtown, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 54.1 miles from Norwalk, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 68.3 miles.

Arriving in Sterling, CT

The final approach into Sterling, CT usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Sterling, CT.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Weir Farm National Historical Park

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...

10 mi from route ~25 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.32 one way

$34.64 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 38 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.46 $18.99 $37.97
premium $4.83 $20.57 $41.13
diesel $5.64 $24.04 $48.08

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 37.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 32.5 0 $11.36 $5.19
Efficient EV 27.1 0 $9.47 $4.33
EV Truck/SUV 43.3 0 $15.15 $6.92

Gas CO2

38 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (66% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Norwalk, CT

Morning in Norwalk on Monday

Local time

6:45 AM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sterling, CT

Morning in Sterling on Monday

Local time

6:45 AM

EDT

Current temp

59°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

6 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

2h 18m 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 Sterling, CT covers 108.2 miles and takes about 2h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, I 395, Plainfield Pike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 54.1 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 $17.32 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 108.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 31.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.4 miles (Long Wharf Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Norwalk, CT and Sterling, CT, road signs point toward Plainfield and Oneco.

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