Origin
West Haven, CT
Late night in West Haven on Friday
Local time
1:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Haven, CT to New Canaan, CT
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
49m
Distance
34.8 mi
56 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Haven, CT
Wikimedia Commons
New Canaan, CT
David Kanigan
Trip Overview
The drive from West Haven, CT to New Canaan, CT covers 34.8 miles and takes about 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Merritt Parkway, I 95, New Norwalk Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.8 miles on Merritt Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.60 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 34.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 49m highway drive covering 34.8 miles, with most of the trip on Merritt Parkway and I 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 21.8 miles on Merritt Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Merritt Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 21.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Merritt Parkway and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near I 95.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 34.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
7.7 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward CT 15: Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 38
Toward CT 15: Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways
8
9.6 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Wheelers Farms Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 4
Toward Wheelers Farms Road
7
32.2 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward CT 123: New Canaan Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 15
Toward CT 123: New Canaan Avenue
5
34.6 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
CT 106; CT 124 / Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto CT 106; CT 124 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Merritt Parkway | 21.8 mi | 28m |
| I 95 | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| New Norwalk Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Sawmill Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Wilbur Cross Parkway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Washington Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Merritt Parkway
— 21.8 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Haven, CT and New Canaan, CT.
1
Start on Washington Avenue
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
Washington Avenue
2
Turn left onto Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
3
Turn right onto CT 162
455 ft
·
11 sec
·
Wagner Place
4
Continue on CT 162
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Sawmill Road
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 95 South: New York City
6
Merge onto I 95
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.9 mi
·
2 min
Exit 38
Toward CT 15: Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 4
Toward Wheelers Farms Road
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto CT 15
0.4 mi
·
24 sec
·
Wilbur Cross Parkway
10
Continue on CT 15
22 mi
·
28 min
·
Merritt Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 15
Toward CT 123: New Canaan Avenue
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto CT 123
379 ft
·
7 sec
·
New Canaan Avenue
13
Continue on CT 123
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
New Norwalk Road
14
Turn left onto CT 106
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Avenue
15
At end of road, turn left onto CT 106; CT 124
244 ft
·
6 sec
·
Main Street
16
Turn right onto CT 106; CT 124
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Elm Street
17
Arrive at destination
Elm Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.4 mi from West Haven, CT · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.4 miles from West Haven, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in New Canaan, CT
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into New Canaan, 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
$5.60 one way
$11.20 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.16 | $12.33 |
| premium | $4.86 | $6.66 | $13.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.68 | $15.37 |
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 | 10.4 | 0 | $3.65 | $1.67 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.04 | $1.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.23 |
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
New Canaan, CT
Late night in New Canaan on Friday
Local time
1:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°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
1 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
49m 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 West Haven, CT to New Canaan, CT covers 34.8 miles and takes about 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Merritt Parkway, I 95, New Norwalk 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 17.4 miles from West Haven, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.60 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 short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 34.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from West Haven, CT to New Canaan, 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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