Origin
Hamden, CT
Morning in Hamden on Tuesday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hamden, CT to Windsor Locks, 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
57m
Distance
44.9 mi
72 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hamden, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Windsor Locks, CT
David Kanigan
Trip Overview
This 44.9-mile journey between Hamden and Windsor Locks is a straightforward Connecticut transit that typically takes about 57 minutes. Because the trip is short, you can easily complete it as a day trip without needing an overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via Dixwell Avenue, CT 15 North, and the Wilbur Cross Parkway. Budgeting around $7 for fuel makes this an incredibly economical excursion within the Northeast region. It serves as a practical connection for travelers looking to move efficiently between these two points without the complexity of a multi-day itinerary.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 91 | 29.1 mi | 35m |
| Wilbur Cross Parkway | 12.4 mi | 14m |
| South Main Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Whitney Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Dixwell Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Lawnacre Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Bridge Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 91
— 29.1 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hamden, CT and Windsor Locks, CT.
1
Start on CT 10
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Whitney Avenue
2
Turn left onto Dixwell Avenue
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
Dixwell Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward CT 15 North: Hartford
4
Merge onto CT 15
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Wilbur Cross Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 65A
Toward I 91 North, CT 66 East: Hartford, Middletown
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 91
18 mi
·
21 min
·
I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 91
11 mi
·
14 min
·
I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 42
Toward Windsor Locks
Use the slight right lane.
9
At end of road, turn left onto Lawnacre Road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Lawnacre Road
10
Continue on CT 159
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto CT 140
34 ft
·
1 sec
·
Bridge Street
12
Arrive at destination
CT 140
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.4 miles from Hamden, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 43.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~2m 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 / slight right lanes.
8
13.8 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward I 91 North, CT 66 East: Hartford, Middletown
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 65A
Toward I 91 North, CT 66 East: Hartford, Middle...
5
14.2 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 91
Merge onto I 91
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
31.9 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
I 91
Keep slight right at fork onto I 91
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
43.3 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward Windsor Locks
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 42
Toward Windsor Locks
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.23 one way
$14.46 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $7.95 | $15.91 |
| premium | $4.86 | $8.60 | $17.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.91 | $19.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.71 | $2.16 |
| Efficient EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.93 | $1.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18 | 0 | $6.29 | $2.87 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Windsor Locks, CT
Morning in Windsor Locks on Tuesday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
57m 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 rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will spend your time navigating local roads, as the route features 0% highway share, requiring your full attention behind the wheel. The path demands consistent focus due to the frequent turns and local traffic patterns you will encounter throughout the 44.9-mile span. Unlike long-distance highway travel, this drive keeps you engaged with the surrounding local infrastructure from start to finish. It is a functional, hands-on experience that rewards drivers who prefer navigating local corridors over high-speed transit.
92% 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: 29.1 mi on I 91.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 91 and Wilbur Cross Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near CT 15 / Wilbur Cross Parkway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 44.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (CT 15 / Wilbur Cross Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.2 miles (I 91): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Hamden, CT to Windsor Locks, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Middletown along the way.
Middletown
13.8 mi in
|
~17m
About the Cities
Starting in Hamden, CT
Full guide →Hamden is a suburb of the city of New Haven, Connecticut. Quinnipiac University has a significant impact on the town. The town's nickname is "The Land of the Sleeping Giant". It had about 59,500 in 2025.
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 57m. Total distance: 44.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.1 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 Windsor Locks, 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 1.5 miles (CT 15 / Wilbur Cross Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.2 miles (I 91): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New England National Scenic Trail. 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 Windsor Locks, 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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