Origin
Prospect, CT
Afternoon in Prospect on Thursday
Local time
12:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Prospect, CT to Fairfield, CT
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
47m
Distance
35 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Prospect, CT
MART PRODUCTION
Fairfield, CT
David Kanigan
Trip Overview
The drive from Prospect, CT to Fairfield, CT covers 35 miles and takes about 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on CT 8, I 95, Union City Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 25.8 miles on CT 8. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.63 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 35 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 47m highway drive covering 35 miles, with most of the trip on CT 8 and I 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 25.8 miles on CT 8.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CT 8 is the longest continuous segment at about 25.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 8 and I 95. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in near CT 8.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 35 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 4.1 miles (CT 8): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.2 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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
4.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
CT 8
Merge onto CT 8
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
29.8 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 95 South: New York City
5
30.2 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
34.3 mi into trip
|
~45m 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
5
34.6 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
Mill Plain Road
Turn left onto Mill Plain Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 8 | 25.8 mi | 31m |
| I 95 | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Union City Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Prospect Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Mill Plain Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Union Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Post Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
CT 8
— 25.8 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Prospect, CT and Fairfield, CT.
1
Start on CT 68
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Union City Road
2
Continue on CT 68
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Prospect Street
3
Turn left onto Union Street
416 ft
·
10 sec
·
Union Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward CT 8 South
5
Merge onto CT 8
26 mi
·
31 min
·
CT 8
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 95 South: New York City
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 95
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 21
Toward Mill Plain Road
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto Mill Plain Road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Mill Plain Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Turn right onto US 1
186 ft
·
3 sec
·
Post Road
11
Arrive at destination
US 1
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.5 mi from Prospect, CT · 24m 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.5 miles from Prospect, 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
$5.63 one way
$11.27 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.20 | $12.40 |
| premium | $4.86 | $6.70 | $13.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.73 | $15.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.68 | $1.68 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.06 | $1.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14 | 0 | $4.90 | $2.24 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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
Fairfield, CT
Afternoon in Fairfield on Thursday
Local time
12:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Partly Cloudy
W 6 mph
9% chance
Live forecast
42°F
Derby, CT
18 mi in
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
14 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
47m 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 Prospect, CT to Fairfield, CT covers 35 miles and takes about 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CT 8, I 95, Union City 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 17.5 miles from Prospect, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.63 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 35 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 4.1 miles (CT 8): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.2 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Prospect, CT to Fairfield, CT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Weir Farm National Historical Park.
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