Origin
Windsor, CT
Evening in Windsor on Friday
Local time
6:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Windsor, CT to Shelton, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
51.5 mi
83 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Windsor, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Shelton, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Windsor, CT to Shelton, CT covers 51.5 miles and takes about 1h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 91, CT 15, New Haven Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 23.5 miles on I 91. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.29 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 51.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 8m highway drive covering 51.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 91 and CT 15. The longest continuous stretch is about 23.5 miles on I 91.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 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 23.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 91 and CT 15. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in.
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 51.5 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (I 91): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
7
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 91 South: Hartford
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 91 South: Hartford
5
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 91
Merge onto I 91
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
25.6 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward CT 15 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17
Toward CT 15 South
7
26 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CT 15 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CT 15 South
7
47.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward CT 34 West: Derby
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 42B
Toward CT 34 West: Derby
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 91 | 23.5 mi | 29m |
| CT 15 | 21.4 mi | 26m |
| New Haven Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Derby Turnpike | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Park Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Broad Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Windsor Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 91
— 23.5 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Windsor, CT and Shelton, CT.
1
Start on Broad Street
56 ft
·
10 sec
·
Broad Street
2
Continue on CT 159
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Broad Street
3
Continue on CT 159
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Windsor Avenue
4
Turn right onto CT 178
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 91 South: Hartford
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Merge onto I 91
24 mi
·
29 min
·
I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 17
Toward CT 15 South
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
437 ft
·
8 sec
Toward CT 15 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto CT 15
21 mi
·
26 min
·
CT 15
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 42B
Toward CT 34 West: Derby
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn right onto CT 34
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Derby Turnpike
12
Continue on CT 34
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
New Haven Avenue
13
Continue on CT 34
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Derby Avenue
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto CT 34
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto Bridge Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Bridge Street
16
Turn left onto CT 110
283 ft
·
9 sec
·
Howe Avenue
17
Turn right onto CT 108
181 ft
·
9 sec
·
Center Street
18
Turn left
62 ft
·
4 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.7 mi from Windsor, CT · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.7 miles from Windsor, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Shelton, CT
The final approach into Shelton, 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
$8.29 one way
$16.58 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $9.12 | $18.24 |
| premium | $4.86 | $9.86 | $19.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.37 | $22.74 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.08
Derby Turnpike
(1.2 mi)
$0.08
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$0
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.41 | $2.47 |
| Efficient EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.51 | $2.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.21 | $3.30 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Shelton, CT
Evening in Shelton on Friday
Local time
6:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 8m 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 Windsor, CT to Shelton, CT covers 51.5 miles and takes about 1h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 91, CT 15, New Haven Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.7 miles from Windsor, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.29 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 51.5 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (I 91): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Windsor, CT to Shelton, CT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Weir Farm National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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