Origin
Branford, CT
Morning in Branford on Sunday
Local time
7:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Branford, CT to New Britain, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
34.9 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 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Branford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
New Britain, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward transit across Connecticut, this 34.9-mile journey from Branford to New Britain is an ideal one-day trip. Expect to spend about 47 minutes behind the wheel, making it a highly manageable drive for anyone commuting or visiting between these two Northeast locations. You will primarily utilize I-91 and CT-15 to navigate the state, keeping your fuel costs low at approximately $6. Because the duration is well under an hour, you do not need to worry about overnight logistics or mid-route accommodations. This highway-focused path is designed for efficiency, allowing you to reach your destination quickly without the need for additional stops.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 91 | 16.7 mi | 19m |
| CT 15 | 7.4 mi | 9m |
| West Main Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| CT 9 | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| East Ferry Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Frontage Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Saltonstall Parkway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 91
— 16.7 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Branford, CT and New Britain, CT.
1
Start on CT 146
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
2
Continue on US 1
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
West Main Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on US 1
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Saltonstall Parkway
4
Continue on US 1
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
·
Frontage Road
5
Continue on US 1
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Forbes Avenue
6
Turn right onto Townsend Avenue
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Townsend Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on Fairmont Avenue
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Fairmont Avenue
8
Turn right onto Farren Avenue
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Farren Avenue
9
Turn left onto East Ferry Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Ferry Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 91 North: Hartford
11
Merge onto I 91
17 mi
·
19 min
·
I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 17
Toward CT 15 North
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto CT 15
7.4 mi
·
9 min
·
CT 15
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
514 ft
·
14 sec
15
Turn slight right
291 ft
·
7 sec
16
Turn slight right onto CT 372
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Frontage Road
17
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward CT 9 North: New Britain
Use the left lane.
18
Merge onto CT 9
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
CT 9
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 1
Toward CT 71: Kensington
Use the slight right lane.
21
Turn right onto CT 71
241 ft
·
4 sec
·
New Britain Road
22
Continue on CT 71
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
23
Turn right
195 ft
·
21 sec
24
Turn left onto Whiting Street
154 ft
·
4 sec
·
Whiting Street
25
Arrive at destination
Whiting Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
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 34.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.5 miles from Branford, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 33.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
Townsend Avenue
Turn right onto Townsend Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
23.5 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward CT 15 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17
Toward CT 15 North
8
31.6 mi into trip
|
~42m 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
33.3 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
33.7 mi into trip
|
~45m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.62 one way
$11.24 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.18 | $12.36 |
| premium | $4.86 | $6.68 | $13.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.71 | $15.41 |
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 | 10.5 | 0 | $3.66 | $1.68 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.05 | $1.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14 | 0 | $4.89 | $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 Britain, CT
Morning in New Britain on Sunday
Local time
7:32 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
8 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
47m 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 34.9-mile route is heavily reliant on major thoroughfares, with highways accounting for 76% of your total travel time. You will experience a mix of fast-paced interstate driving and local transitions, specifically utilizing I-91, CT-15, and West Main Street. The most significant portion of your journey involves a 16.7-mile stretch on I-91, which serves as the primary backbone of the trip. As you transition from the interstate toward New Britain, the road character shifts from high-speed highway lanes to the more localized traffic of West Main Street. Overall, it is a functional, highway-focused drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.7 mi on I 91.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 4.5 miles in near Townsend Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 34.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles (Townsend Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in New Britain, CT
Full guide →New Britain is a city in Connecticut. The "Hardware City" is the official nickname of the city.
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 47m. Total distance: 34.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.7 miles on I 91. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at New Britain, CT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 4.5 miles (Townsend Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at New Britain, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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