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Trip from Canterbury, CT to Manchester, CT

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

54m

Distance

33.9 mi

55 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 50m ★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in Connecticut, USA

Canterbury, CT

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Manchester, CT, CT

Manchester, CT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 33.9-mile drive from Canterbury, CT to Manchester, CT takes approximately 54 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. You'll primarily be on US 6 and Westminster Road. With a modest fuel cost of around $5, it's an economical option for a short excursion. The route is characterized as 'turn-heavy,' suggesting a local, winding feel rather than a straightforward highway cruise. Since it's a quick journey within the Northeast region, no overnight stay is necessary, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 6 7.6 mi 10m
Westminster Road 4.9 mi 7m
Jonathan Trumbull Highway 4.1 mi 5m
Willimantic Road 3.9 mi 5m
Hop River Road 2.7 mi 4m
Huntington Road 2 mi 3m
Scotland Road 1.9 mi 3m
Tuckie Road 1.9 mi 4m
Longest stretch: US 6 — 7.6 mi, about 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Canterbury, CT and Manchester, CT.

1

Start on CT 14

72 ft · 3 sec · Lovell Lane
2

Continue on CT 14

4.9 mi · 7 min · Westminster Road
3

Continue on CT 14

1.4 mi · 2 min · Palmer Road
4

Continue on CT 14

2.0 mi · 3 min · Huntington Road
5

Continue on CT 14

1.9 mi · 3 min · Scotland Road
6

Turn right onto CT 14; CT 203

0.8 mi · 1 min · North Road
7

Continue on CT 14

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Bricktop Road
8

Turn right onto Tuckie Road

1.9 mi · 4 min · Tuckie Road
9

At end of road, turn right onto CT 66

290 ft · 5 sec · Boston Post Road
10

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min
11

Merge onto US 6

5.0 mi · 6 min · US 6
12

Keep slight right at fork onto CT 66

3.9 mi · 5 min · Willimantic Road
Use the straight lane.
13

Continue on US 6

4.1 mi · 5 min · Jonathan Trumbull Highway
Use the straight lane.
14

Continue on US 6

0.6 mi · 39 sec · Willimantic Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
15

Continue on US 6

2.7 mi · 4 min · Hop River Road
Use the straight lane.
16

Take the exit onto US 6; US 44

2.5 mi · 4 min · US 6; US 44
Exit 8 Toward US 6, US 44 West: Bolton Use the slight right lane.
17

Keep slight left at fork onto US 6; US 44

1.4 mi · 2 min · East Center Street
18

Arrive at destination

US 6; US 44

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Columbia, CT

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

Vernon, CT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Columbia, CT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 17 miles from Canterbury, 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 7

5 decision points cluster between mile 11.2 and 32.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
11.2 mi into trip | ~19m in | Tuckie Road

Turn right onto Tuckie Road

Navigation decision point

5
13.1 mi into trip | ~24m in | CT 66 / Boston Post Road

At end of road, turn right onto CT 66 / Boston Post Road

Navigation decision point

7
18.8 mi into trip | ~31m in | CT 66 / Willimantic Road

Keep slight right at fork onto CT 66 / Willimantic Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
30 mi into trip | ~48m in | US 6; US 44

Take the exit onto US 6; US 44 toward US 6, US 44 West: Bolton

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 8 Toward US 6, US 44 West: Bolton
4
32.5 mi into trip | ~52m in | US 6; US 44 / East Center Street

Keep slight left at fork onto US 6; US 44 / East Center Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.46 one way

$10.91 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $6.00 $12.01
premium $4.86 $6.49 $12.98
diesel $5.61 $7.48 $14.97

Estimated Tolls: $0.04

Willimantic Turnpike (0.6 mi) $0.04

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$5

Tolls

$0

Total

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 11.9 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 10.2 0 $3.56 $1.63
Efficient EV 8.5 0 $2.97 $1.36
EV Truck/SUV 13.6 0 $4.75 $2.17

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.

Forecast as of Jun 1, 2022

Origin

Canterbury, CT

Late night in Canterbury on Sunday

Local time

12:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Manchester, CT

Late night in Manchester on Sunday

Local time

12:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

--

Unavailable

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Road read

54m 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?

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 54-minute, 33.9-mile trip. While 24% of the journey involves highway driving, much of your time will be spent navigating local roads, including Westminster Road and Jonathan Trumbull Highway. The longest stretch without a turn is 7.6 miles on US 6. This suggests a route that requires your attention, with frequent changes in direction and potentially varying speed limits as you transition between road types.

Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.6 mi on US 6.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 11.2 miles in near Tuckie Road.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 33.9 miles you will encounter 7 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 11.2 miles (Tuckie Road): Navigation decision point; at 13.1 miles (CT 66 / Boston Post Road): Navigation decision point; at 18.8 miles (CT 66 / Willimantic Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 33.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

54m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 7.6 miles on US 6. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.04 in tolls one way, starting with Willimantic 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.

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 Manchester, 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 11.2 miles (Tuckie Road): Navigation decision point; at 13.1 miles (CT 66 / Boston Post Road): Navigation decision point; at 18.8 miles (CT 66 / Willimantic Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Manchester, 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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Explore More

Explore more options from Canterbury, CT or browse trips ending in Manchester, CT.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CT road trips.