Origin
Wallingford, CT
Evening in Wallingford on Sunday
Local time
8:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wallingford, CT to West Haven, CT
Drive Time
25m
Distance
16.2 mi
26 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 25m
8 AM
0h 30m
10 AM
0h 27m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 29m
8 PM
0h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wallingford, CT
David Kanigan
West Haven, CT
David Kanigan
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick trip from Wallingford to West Haven, you are looking at a straightforward 16.2-mile journey that typically takes about 25 minutes. This Connecticut route is ideal for a single-day trip, as the distance is short enough that you will not need an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $3 on fuel for the entire drive, making it a very budget-friendly excursion within the Northeast region. Because the trip is so brief, it offers high flexibility for your schedule, whether you are commuting or heading out for a local visit. It is a practical, no-fuss drive that connects two neighboring areas without requiring extensive planning or long-haul preparation.
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
8.1 miles from Wallingford, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .
Drive Character
This 16.2-mile commute features a mixed driving profile that keeps the experience varied. You will spend about 60% of your time on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 8.6 miles on I-91. As you transition from the interstate to local routes like North Colony Road and Washington Avenue, the pace shifts from a fast highway grind to a more standard road experience. This combination ensures you aren't stuck in one type of environment for too long. Behind the wheel, you will notice the balance between the efficiency of the interstate and the accessibility provided by the local connector roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 91 is the longest continuous segment at about 8.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in near I 91.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 16.2 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 4.5 miles (I 91): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.1 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
4.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 91
Merge onto I 91
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
13.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
8
14.2 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward CT 10: Downtown, West Haven
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 44
Toward CT 10: Downtown, West Haven
7
14.4 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
CT 10 / Ella T. Grasso Boulevard
Turn left onto CT 10 / Ella T. Grasso Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
16.2 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
Washington Avenue
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
Navigation decision point
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Wallingford, CT to West Haven, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Haven along the way.
Haven
14.2 mi in
|
~20m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 91 | 8.6 mi | 11m |
| North Colony Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Washington Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| I 95 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Elm Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Campbell Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Ella T. Grasso Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Kimberly Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 91
— 8.6 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wallingford, CT and West Haven, CT.
1
Start on this road
216 ft
·
21 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto US 5
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Colony Road
3
Continue on US 5
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Washington Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 91 South: New Haven
5
Merge onto I 91
8.6 mi
·
11 min
·
I 91
Use the none lane.
6
Merge onto I 95
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95
Use the none lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 44
Toward CT 10: Downtown, West Haven
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto CT 10
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Ella T. Grasso Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Turn left onto Kimberly Avenue
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Kimberly Avenue
10
Turn straight onto Elm Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Elm Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto Campbell Avenue
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Campbell Avenue
12
Turn left onto New Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
New Street
13
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
68 ft
·
2 sec
·
Washington Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Washington Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 25-minute trip, you have the advantage of total scheduling flexibility, allowing you to depart whenever suits your plans best. You won't need to worry about pacing or mapping out rest stops, as the duration is manageable in a single stint. Keep in mind that while the highway portion is efficient, you should be prepared for the transition onto Washington Avenue as you reach your destination. Budgeting about $3 for fuel should be more than enough to cover your travel costs. My best tip for this specific route is to keep an eye on your GPS as you switch from I-91 to the local roads, ensuring you navigate the transition between the highway and city streets smoothly.
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 8.1 miles from Wallingford, CT, or about 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.6 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 16.2 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.1 miles or 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Haven, 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 16.2 miles and 25m.
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 I 91 for about 8.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.1 mi from Wallingford, CT · 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 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 16.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8.1 miles from Wallingford, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in West Haven, CT
The final approach into West Haven, 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 West Haven, 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
$2.59 one way
$5.19 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $2.84 | $5.69 |
| premium | $4.83 | $3.08 | $6.16 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.60 | $7.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.70 | $0.78 |
| Efficient EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.42 | $0.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.27 | $1.04 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
West Haven, CT
Evening in West Haven on Sunday
Local time
8:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
3 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
25m 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 West Haven, CT covers 16.2 miles and takes about 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 91, North Colony Road, Washington Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.1 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 $2.59 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 11 significant decision points across 16.2 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 4.5 miles (I 91): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.1 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Wallingford, CT to West Haven, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Haven along the way.
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