Origin
Wallingford, CT
Evening in Wallingford on Sunday
Local time
6:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wallingford, CT to Fairfield, CT
Drive Time
47m
Distance
35.6 mi
57 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
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.
Wallingford, CT
David Kanigan
Fairfield, CT
MART PRODUCTION
Trip Overview
Traveling from Wallingford to Fairfield is a quick, efficient 35.6-mile trip that typically takes about 47 minutes. Since the entire journey stays within the Northeast region of Connecticut, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You will rely primarily on the Wilbur Cross Parkway, CT 8, and I-95 to complete the transit. With fuel costs estimated at just $6, this is a budget-friendly option for commuters or casual travelers. Because the duration is under an hour, you do not need to worry about overnight accommodations or breaking the trip into segments. It is a straightforward, no-nonsense drive that gets you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
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
17.8 miles from Wallingford, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 23m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 90% of this route consists of high-speed transit. You will spend your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 20.5 miles on the Wilbur Cross Parkway before transitioning through other major arteries. The personality of this drive is strictly functional, prioritizing speed and connectivity over winding backroads. As you move from Wallingford toward Fairfield, the road infrastructure shifts to handle the heavier traffic flow typical of these Connecticut corridors. Behind the wheel, you will find a consistent, fast-paced rhythm that demands your full attention as you navigate the transition between parkway and interstate systems.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Wilbur Cross Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 20.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Wilbur Cross Parkway and CT 8. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 24.5 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 35.6 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 24.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
24.5 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward CT 8, CT 108: Bridgeport, Waterbury
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 34
Toward CT 8, CT 108: Bridgeport, Waterbury
8
24.8 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CT 8 South, CT 108 South: Bridgeport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none lane.
Toward CT 8 South, CT 108 South: Bridgeport
7
25.2 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CT 8 South: Bridgeport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward CT 8 South: Bridgeport
7
30.5 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
7
35 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
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Wallingford, CT to Fairfield, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Waterbury along the way.
Waterbury
24.5 mi in
|
~31m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wilbur Cross Parkway | 20.5 mi | 25m |
| CT 8 | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| I 95 | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Merritt Parkway | 3 mi | 3m |
| Quinnipiac Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Mill Plain Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Colony Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Post Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Wilbur Cross Parkway
— 20.5 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wallingford, CT and Fairfield, CT.
1
Start on this road
216 ft
·
21 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto US 5
213 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Colony Road
3
Turn right onto Quinnipiac Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Quinnipiac Street
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward CT 15 South: New Haven
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto CT 15
20 mi
·
25 min
·
Wilbur Cross Parkway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on CT 15
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Merritt Parkway
Use the none lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 34
Toward CT 8, CT 108: Bridgeport, Waterbury
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward CT 8 South, CT 108 South: Bridgeport
Use the none lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward CT 8 South: Bridgeport
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto CT 8
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
CT 8
Use the none lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 95 South: New York City
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 95
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
I 95
Use the none lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 21
Toward Mill Plain Road
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn left onto Mill Plain Road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Mill Plain Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn right onto US 1
186 ft
·
3 sec
·
Post Road
16
Arrive at destination
US 1
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 47-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. However, be mindful that traffic patterns on I-95 and the Wilbur Cross Parkway can fluctuate; checking local congestion reports before you leave Wallingford is a smart move. You likely won't need to plan for any formal stops given the short distance, but keeping a few dollars extra for fuel beyond the $6 estimate is always a safe habit. Use the lack of required stops to your advantage by planning your arrival in Fairfield precisely when you need to be there. Focus on maintaining a steady pace through the highway segments, as these roads are designed for efficiency rather than leisurely sightseeing.
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 17.8 miles from Wallingford, CT, or about 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.5 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 35.6 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 17.8 miles or 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairfield, CT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wallingford, 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 Wallingford, CT
This is one driving day of about 35.6 miles and 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Wallingford, 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 Wilbur Cross Parkway for about 20.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.8 mi from Wallingford, CT · 23m 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 35.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.8 miles from Wallingford, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fairfield, CT
The final approach into Fairfield, 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 Fairfield, CT.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.70 one way
$11.40 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $6.25 | $12.49 |
| premium | $4.83 | $6.77 | $13.53 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.91 | $15.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.74 | $1.71 |
| Efficient EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.11 | $1.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.98 | $2.28 |
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
Evening in Fairfield on Sunday
Local time
6:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°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
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
47m 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 Wallingford, CT to Fairfield, CT covers 35.6 miles and takes about 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Wilbur Cross Parkway, CT 8, I 95. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.8 miles from Wallingford, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.70 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 demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 35.6 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 24.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Wallingford, CT to Fairfield, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Waterbury along the way.
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