Origin
Ansonia, CT
Morning in Ansonia on Tuesday
Local time
6:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ansonia, CT to Meriden, CT
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
38m
Distance
27.6 mi
44 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ansonia, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Meriden, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Ansonia to Meriden is 27.6 miles and takes about 38m via Wilbur Cross Parkway, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short, same-day trip stays entirely within Connecticut, connecting two points in the Northeast region. The primary focus is on highway travel, making it a straightforward and efficient journey. You'll find this route to be a practical way to cover a relatively short distance, ideal for when you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss. Consider this a quick hop rather than an extensive exploration.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wilbur Cross Parkway | 18.3 mi | 22m |
| South Broad Street | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Derby Turnpike | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Sentinel Hill Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Colony Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Academy Hill Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Wilbur Cross Parkway
— 18.3 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ansonia, CT and Meriden, CT.
1
Start on East Main Street
281 ft
·
21 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Continue on CT 115
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
3
Continue on CT 115
232 ft
·
4 sec
·
Derby Avenue
4
Turn left onto Academy Hill Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Academy Hill Road
5
Continue on Sentinel Hill Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Sentinel Hill Road
6
Turn left onto CT 34
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
New Haven Avenue
7
Continue on CT 34
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Derby Turnpike
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
Toward CT 15 North: New Haven
9
Merge onto CT 15
18 mi
·
22 min
·
Wilbur Cross Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 61
Toward US 5: Wallingford, Meriden
Use the right lane.
11
Turn right onto US 5
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Colony Road
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 5
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
South Broad Street
13
Turn sharp left onto East Main Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
West Main Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 26.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
4.9 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward CT 15 North: New Haven
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward CT 15 North: New Haven
5
5.1 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
CT 15 / Wilbur Cross Parkway
Merge onto CT 15 / Wilbur Cross Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
23.3 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward US 5: Wallingford, Meriden
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 61
Toward US 5: Wallingford, Meriden
5
23.6 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
US 5 / North Colony Road
Turn right onto US 5 / North Colony Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
26.7 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
East Main Street
Turn sharp left onto East Main Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.44 one way
$8.89 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $4.89 | $9.78 |
| premium | $4.86 | $5.29 | $10.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.09 | $12.19 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.09
Derby Turnpike
(1.3 mi)
$0.09
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$0
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.90 | $1.32 |
| Efficient EV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.42 | $1.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11 | 0 | $3.86 | $1.77 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Meriden, CT
Morning in Meriden on Tuesday
Local time
6:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°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
38m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 71% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion on the Wilbur Cross Parkway, including an uninterrupted stretch of 18.3 miles. The character is that of a steady, consistent drive, minimizing complex intersections or frequent slowdowns. Expect a smooth experience as you navigate these well-established parkways and main roads. The overall feel is one of efficiency, designed to keep you moving forward with minimal interruption.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.3 mi on Wilbur Cross Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Wilbur Cross Parkway and South Broad Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 38m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 5.1 miles (CT 15 / Wilbur Cross Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Meriden, CT
Full guide →Meriden is a city in the Connecticut River Valley. Although not a major tourist destination, it does have an architecturally notable center.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 38m. Total distance: 27.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.3 miles on Wilbur Cross Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.09 in tolls one way, starting with Derby Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 5.1 miles (CT 15 / Wilbur Cross Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Weir Farm National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Meriden, CT before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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