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Trip from Colchester, 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

33m

Distance

21.9 mi

35 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 8 min
4 AM
0h 31m ★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 35m
3 PM
0h 36m
5 PM
0h 39m
8 PM
0h 32m

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

town in New London County, Connecticut, United States

Colchester, CT

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Manchester, CT, CT

Manchester, CT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick excursion in the Northeast, this 21.9-mile connection between Colchester and Manchester is an efficient way to travel across Connecticut. You can expect to reach your destination in about 33 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $4, the drive is highly economical for those looking to transit between these two towns. You will primarily utilize CT 2, Manchester Road, and South Main Street to complete the journey. Given the short duration, you won't need to schedule any stops along the way, allowing for a straightforward, direct commute. Whether you are traveling for business or a local visit, this route provides a reliable and fast link within the state.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
CT 2 13.4 mi 15m
Manchester Road 4.8 mi 9m
South Main Street 2.5 mi 5m
Linwood Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
East Center Street 0.1 mi <1m
Main Street <0.1 mi <1m
Hayward Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Lebanon Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: CT 2 — 13.4 mi, about 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Hayward Avenue

181 ft · 14 sec · Hayward Avenue
2

Turn left onto CT 16

132 ft · 6 sec · Lebanon Avenue
3

Turn left onto CT 16; CT 85

445 ft · 10 sec · Main Street
4

Turn right onto CT 16

0.4 mi · 46 sec · Linwood Avenue
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward CT 2 West: Hartford
6

Merge onto CT 2

13 mi · 15 min · CT 2
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Exit 10 Toward CT 83: East Glastonbury, Manchester Use the slight right lane.
8

Turn right onto CT 83

4.8 mi · 9 min · Manchester Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
9

Continue on CT 83

2.5 mi · 5 min · South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
10

Turn right onto US 6; US 44

300 ft · 10 sec · East Center Street
Use the right lane.
11

Continue on US 6; US 44

336 ft · 12 sec · East Center Street
12

Arrive at destination

US 6; US 44

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 21.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | CT 16 / Lebanon Avenue

Turn left onto CT 16 / Lebanon Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in | CT 2

Merge onto CT 2

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
14.2 mi into trip | ~17m in

Take the exit toward CT 83: East Glastonbury, Manchester

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 10 Toward CT 83: East Glastonbury, Manchester
5
14.4 mi into trip | ~18m in | CT 83 / Manchester Road

Turn right onto CT 83 / Manchester Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
5
21.8 mi into trip | ~33m in | US 6; US 44 / East Center Street

Turn right onto US 6; US 44 / East Center Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.53 one way

$7.05 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 8 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $3.88 $7.76
premium $4.86 $4.19 $8.39
diesel $5.61 $4.84 $9.67

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$4

Estimated CO2 emission: 7.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 6.6 0 $2.30 $1.05
Efficient EV 5.5 0 $1.92 $0.88
EV Truck/SUV 8.8 0 $3.07 $1.40

Gas CO2

8 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (63% 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Colchester, CT

Late night in Colchester on Sunday

Local time

3:56 AM

EDT

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Manchester, CT

Late night in Manchester on Sunday

Local time

3:56 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

33m 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 trip is a highway-focused drive, with 61% of your journey spent on faster roads. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 13.4 miles while cruising on CT 2. The experience shifts from the initial highway pace as you transition onto Manchester Road and South Main Street for the final leg of the trip. Expect a balance between the speed of the highway and the more standard pace of local town roads. Behind the wheel, you will notice the road feels purposeful and direct, lacking the complexities of winding mountain passes or heavy traffic congestion.

61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.4 mi on CT 2.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 2 and Manchester Road. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CT 16 / Lebanon Avenue.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 21.9 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (CT 16 / Lebanon Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (CT 2): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 33m. Total distance: 21.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

33m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 13.4 miles on CT 2. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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: near the start (CT 16 / Lebanon Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (CT 2): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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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