Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
38.7 mi
62 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
5 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hartford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Cornwall, CT
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking to escape Hartford for a quick getaway to Cornwall, this 38.7-mile trek is an ideal day trip. Expect to spend about one hour behind the wheel, making it a very manageable journey for a weekend excursion. You will primarily navigate via Albany Avenue, US 202, and Sharon Turnpike as you head west across Connecticut. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $6, this trip remains highly affordable for most travelers. Because the transit time is so short, there is no need to split this into an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. The route provides a straightforward connection between these two Northeast locations, offering a practical way to transition from the city atmosphere of Hartford to the quieter environment of Cornwall.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 202 | 11 mi | 13m |
| Albany Avenue | 6.2 mi | 9m |
| Sharon Turnpike | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Albany Turnpike | 3.3 mi | 6m |
| East Main Street | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| Goshen Road | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Torrington Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Bunker Hill Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hartford, CT and Cornwall, CT.
Start on Armory Road
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue
Turn right onto Broad Street
Continue on Cogswell Street
Turn left onto Garden Street
Turn left onto US 44
Continue on US 44
Continue on US 44; CT 10
Continue on US 44; US 202
Keep slight left at fork onto US 202
Turn right onto CT 4
Continue on CT 4
Continue on CT 4
Continue on CT 4
Enter roundabout onto CT 4
Continue on CT 4
Continue on CT 4
Turn left onto CT 4
Turn left onto Pine Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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.
A short stop after about 38.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 19.4 miles from Hartford, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 25.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto US 44 / Albany Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 202
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn right onto CT 4 / East Elm Street
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$6.23 one way
$12.46 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.85 | $13.71 |
| premium | $4.86 | $7.41 | $14.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.54 | $17.09 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.48
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$0
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.06 | $1.86 |
| Efficient EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.39 | $1.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.42 | $2.48 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Hartford on Sunday
Local time
3:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Cornwall on Sunday
Local time
3:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
59°F
Canton, CT
19 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a mixed drive that balances highway efficiency with more local road navigation. Roughly 46% of your journey is spent on highways, providing a consistent flow before you transition to secondary roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is an 11-mile run on US 202, which offers a steady rhythm for your drive. As you move away from the starting point, the road character shifts from urban thoroughfares to more regional routes like the Sharon Turnpike. You should be prepared for varying road conditions as the drive progresses, requiring you to stay attentive to changing speed limits and signage throughout the hour-long trip.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Capitol Avenue.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 38.7 miles you will encounter 9 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 (Capitol Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (US 44 / Albany Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,385 ft
Total Descent
719 ft
Highest Point
1,435 ft
~36 mi in
Elevation Range
1,385 ft
Hartford is the capital of the state of Connecticut in the United States of America. It is home to the country's oldest public art museum (Wadsworth Atheneum), and the Mark Twain House, in which the author wrote his most famous works and raised his family. Mark Twain wrote in 1868, "Of all the beautiful towns it has been my fortune to see this is the chief."
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 38.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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