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Manchester, CT Road Trips

With 6 routes heading out and 1 heading in, Manchester, CT works well as a launching point in the Northeast. Most drives stay under 68 miles, making this area well-suited for day trips and weekend getaways. Most routes from Manchester, CT head west, giving the route network a clear directional lean.

Downtown Manchester, CT, CT

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Trip Routes

7

Longest Drive

88.3 mi

Greenwich, CT

Quickest Drive

1h 8m

Ansonia, CT

Plan Around Manchester, CT

Popular Incoming Routes

Useful if Manchester, CT is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.

Trips from Manchester, CT

Driving from Manchester, CT

Expect an average of 68 miles and about 1h 31m behind the wheel when leaving Manchester, CT. The majority of routes are short drives — quick enough to finish before lunch and be back for dinner. The longest mapped route runs 77 miles (1h 40m), while the shortest is just 52 miles.

Popular Destinations

Drivers leaving Manchester, CT most often head toward New Canaan, CT (76.6 mi, 1h 40m), Wilton, CT (73.5 mi, 1h 38m), Weston, CT (71.3 mi, 1h 33m), Westport, CT (70.4 mi, 1h 31m), and Redding, CT (66.6 mi, 1h 35m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.

Planning & Costs

Regular gas in CT currently averages around $3.95 per gallon. For the typical 68-mile trip from Manchester, CT, budget about $11 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.

Most routes head west — leaving in the morning keeps the sun behind you for a more comfortable drive. With an average drive under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility — leave whenever it suits you.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are 6 mapped routes leaving Manchester, CT and 1 routes heading into Manchester, CT, covering 7 total connections. Distances range from 52 to 77 miles.

The longest mapped route from Manchester, CT covers 77 miles and takes approximately 1h 40m. Shorter options start at just 52 miles.

The average route from Manchester, CT runs about 68 miles with a drive time of roughly 1h 31m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.

At current gas prices (about $3.95/gallon for regular), the average 68-mile trip from Manchester, CT costs roughly $11 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.

The most popular road trip destinations from Manchester, CT include New Canaan, CT, Wilton, CT, Weston, CT and Westport, CT. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.

Manchester, CT by the Numbers

Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Population

36,561

Median Income

$76,780

Median Home Value

$205,800

Median Age

37.0

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.

Manchester, CT at a Glance

Founded

1672

Elevation

272 ft

Area

27,700 mi²

Notable People from Manchester, CT

A sampling of people born in Manchester, CT.

Dana White

Dana White

1969

American businessman and president of UFC (born 1969)

Daniel C. Burbank

Daniel C. Burbank

1961

American astronaut

Henry Molaison

1926–2008

American memory disorder patient (1926–2008)

Astrid Allwyn

Astrid Allwyn

1905–1978

American film and stage actress (1905–1978)

Fred Fish

Fred Fish

1952–2007

U.S. computer programmer (1952-2007)

Joe McCluskey

1911–2002

American steeplechaser and long distance runner (1911-2002)

Doug Blair

Doug Blair

1963

American musician

Simone Schaller

Simone Schaller

1912–2016

American hurdler

Emily Cheney Neville

Emily Cheney Neville

1919–1997

American children's writer (1919–1997)

Landmarks & Historic Sites

Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Manchester, CT.

Case Brothers Historic District

Case Brothers Historic District

historic district in Manchester, Connecticut

National Register of Historic Places listed place
Union Village Historic District

Union Village Historic District

core of a historic 19th-century residential mill village in Manchester, Connecticut

National Register of Historic Places listed place

City data from Wikidata (Q753909), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.

Traveler Guide to Manchester, CT

Manchester is a city in Connecticut.

Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, 20 Hartford Road, ☏ +1 860-646-2223. (updated Dec 2016)

Wickham Park, 1329 West Middle Turnpike (I-84, Exit 60), ☏ +1 860-528-0856. Lutz Children's Museum, 247 South Main St, ☏ +1 860-643-0949. 9AM-noon, 1-4PM. This is a children's museum that has hands-on exhibits and some reptiles. $10, free for children under one. Member of ACM and ASTC reciprocals. (updated Jul 2024)

Manchester Road Race. Annual 4.748-mile footrace head through the streets of Manchester every Thanksgiving Day. Normally drawing around 15,000 participants, it is one of the oldest and largest "Turkey Trots" in the nation, as well as a great source of pride for locals. (updated Dec 2016)

Shady Glen Dairy Stores, 840 East Middle Turnpike, ☏ +1 860-469-4245. 8AM-9PM, on some days, closes at 10PM. A restaurant, locally famous for its homemade ice cream, signature "Bernice Original" cheeseburger, and vintage 1950s style diner and service. Shady Glen was recognized by the James Beard Foundation as an American Classic. (updated Jul 2024) Pastrami on Wry, 550 East Middle Turnpike. A wide variety of deli style foods. Popular with the local community. (updated Jul 2024) Chez Ben, 927 Center St, ☏ +1 860-649-4011. Unpretentious eatery serving American / Canadian lunch standards and all-day breakfast. There are over 8 different varieties of poutine, a popular Canadian dish, including the unique and popular "Breakfast Poutine." (updated Dec 2016) Randy's Wooster Street Pizza, 285 East Center St, ☏ +1 860-649-1166. Their hours depend on the day. This is a place where you can get some apizza. It has a Hot Wheels theme. There's also an arcade, and a gender-neutral bathroom. (updated Jul 2024) Stop & Shop, 318 Middle Turnpike West. 7AM to 10PM except on Sundays, which close at 9PM. This is a grocery store that also has some premade items like fried chicken and baked goods. (updated Jul 2024)

Labyrinth Brewing Company. (updated Aug 2020) Urban Lodge Brewing Co.. (updated Aug 2020)

Courtyard Hartford Manchester, 225 Slater St, ☏ +1 860-533-8484, fax: +1 860 644-2800. Fairfield Inn & Suites Hartford Manchester, 121 Pavilions Dr, ☏ +1 860-648-9796. Residence Inn Hartford Manchester, 201 Hale Road, ☏ +1 860-432-4242, fax: +1 860 432-4243. Best Western, 20 Taylor St, ☏ +1 860-783-5600. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Feb 2025) Extended Stay America, 340 Tolland Tpke, ☏ +1 860-643-5140.

I-291. This is a good way to reach Manchester if you're coming from BDL. (updated Dec 2024) I-84. Good if coming from Hartford or Boston. (updated Dec 2024) Bradley International Airport (BDL), Schoephoester Rd, Windsor Locks (Exit 40 I-91 towards CT-20 West.), ☏ +1 860-292-2000. 24/7, however most airline booths open at 4:00 to 5:00 AM.. (updated Dec 2024)

CTtransit, ☏ +1 860-525-9181 (for hearing impaired people), +1 860-727-8196 (for customer service). Has a few stops in Manchester, also has stops in nearby towns. Stops in Manchester by Manchester Police Department, The Plaza at Burr Corners, and Wickham Park. For seniors/disabled, 85¢. For people from 5-18, $1.40. For children 4 and under, free. For adults, $1.75. (updated Aug 2024)

Travel tips adapted from Manchester (Connecticut) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.

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