Origin
Westport, CT
Late night in Westport on Friday
Local time
2:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Westport, CT to New Britain, CT
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
55.5 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Westport, CT
MART PRODUCTION
New Britain, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 55.5-mile drive from Westport, CT, to New Britain, CT, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 13 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. Primarily utilizing the Wilbur Cross Parkway and Merritt Parkway, this route offers a highway-focused experience with 93% of the journey on these main roads. With an estimated fuel cost of $9, it's an economical option for a quick journey within the Northeast. You won't need to break this drive up with an overnight stay; it's designed for convenience and efficiency.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 55.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-centric experience for most of this 55.5-mile trip, with a significant 93% of the drive on parkways like the Wilbur Cross and Merritt. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 30.4 miles on the Wilbur Cross Parkway, offering a consistent pace. While primarily a highway drive, the parkway setting suggests a more managed and potentially scenic environment compared to a typical interstate. The road will largely maintain its character as a fast-paced route connecting these Connecticut locations.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 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 30.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Wilbur Cross Parkway and Merritt Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Main Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.4 miles (Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (CT 15 / Merritt Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.1 miles: 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.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
CT 15 / Merritt Parkway
Merge onto CT 15 / Merritt Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
52.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Take the ramp toward CT 9 North: New Britain
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward CT 9 North: New Britain
6
53.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
54.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward CT 71: Kensington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1
Toward CT 71: Kensington
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wilbur Cross Parkway | 30.4 mi | 37m |
| Merritt Parkway | 15.9 mi | 21m |
| Berlin Turnpike | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| CT 9 | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Myrtle Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Frontage Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Wilbur Cross Parkway
— 30.4 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Westport, CT and New Britain, CT.
1
Start on US 1
44 ft
·
3 sec
·
Post Road East
2
Turn right onto Myrtle Avenue
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Myrtle Avenue
3
Continue on Myrtle Avenue
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Myrtle Avenue
4
Turn right onto Main Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn slight left onto CT 57
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Weston Road
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
7
Merge onto CT 15
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Merritt Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on CT 15
30 mi
·
37 min
·
Wilbur Cross Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on US 5; CT 15
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Berlin Turnpike
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the exit
514 ft
·
14 sec
11
Turn slight right
291 ft
·
7 sec
12
Turn slight right onto CT 372
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Frontage Road
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward CT 9 North: New Britain
Use the left lane.
14
Merge onto CT 9
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
CT 9
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 1
Toward CT 71: Kensington
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto CT 71
241 ft
·
4 sec
·
New Britain Road
18
Continue on CT 71
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
19
Turn right
195 ft
·
21 sec
20
Turn left onto Whiting Street
154 ft
·
4 sec
·
Whiting Street
21
Arrive at destination
Whiting Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.7 mi from Westport, CT · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.7 miles from Westport, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in New Britain, CT
The final approach into New Britain, CT usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.93 one way
$17.87 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $9.83 | $19.66 |
| premium | $4.86 | $10.63 | $21.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.25 | $24.51 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.26
Berlin Turnpike
(3.7 mi)
$0.26
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$0
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.83 | $2.66 |
| Efficient EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.86 | $2.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.77 | $3.55 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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 Britain, CT
Late night in New Britain on Friday
Local time
2:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
18 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
1h 13m 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 Westport, CT to New Britain, CT covers 55.5 miles and takes about 1h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Wilbur Cross Parkway, Merritt Parkway, Berlin Turnpike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.7 miles from Westport, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.93 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 55.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.4 miles (Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (CT 15 / Merritt Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Westport, CT to New Britain, 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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