Origin
Hayden, CT
Morning in Hayden on Tuesday
Local time
8:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hayden, CT to East Hartford, 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
18m
Distance
11.7 mi
19 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 17m
★
6 AM
0h 18m
8 AM
0h 21m
10 AM
0h 19m
12 PM
0h 19m
3 PM
0h 20m
5 PM
0h 21m
8 PM
0h 17m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hayden, CT
MART PRODUCTION
East Hartford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Hayden to East Hartford is 11.7 miles and takes about 18m via I 91 and I 291, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Connecticut, beginning in the Northeast region and ending in the same area. It's a quick hop that's perfect for a same-day excursion, offering a straightforward drive with minimal time commitment. Consider this route if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently without a significant time investment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 91 | 5.1 mi | 5m |
| I 291 | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| School Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Hayden Station Road | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Archer Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| John Fitch Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Ellington Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Kennedy Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 91
— 5.1 mi, about 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hayden, CT and East Hartford, CT.
1
Start on Hayden Station Road
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Hayden Station Road
2
Continue on Hayden Station Road
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Hayden Station Road
3
Continue on Hayden Station Road
456 ft
·
20 sec
·
Hayden Station Road
4
Turn left onto Archer Road
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Archer Road
5
Turn right onto Kennedy Road
505 ft
·
18 sec
·
Kennedy Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 91 South: Hartford
7
Merge onto I 91
5.1 mi
·
5 min
·
I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 35A
Toward I 291: Manchester
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 291
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
I 291
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 2
Toward US 5: South Windsor, East Hartford
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward US 5 South: East Hartford
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
12
Merge onto US 5
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
John Fitch Boulevard
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on US 5
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Ellington Road
14
Turn left onto School Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
School Street
15
Turn left onto Tolland Street
55 ft
·
1 sec
·
Tolland Street
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
Tolland Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 10 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Hayden Station Road
Enter roundabout onto Hayden Station Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 91 South: Hartford
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 91 South: Hartford
7
6.6 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward I 291: Manchester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35A
Toward I 291: Manchester
8
9.7 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward US 5: South Windsor, East Hartford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2
Toward US 5: South Windsor, East Hartford
8
10 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 5 South: East Hartford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Toward US 5 South: East Hartford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.88 one way
$3.77 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $2.07 | $4.14 |
| premium | $4.86 | $2.24 | $4.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.58 | $5.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.23 | $0.56 |
| Efficient EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.02 | $0.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.64 | $0.75 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
East Hartford, CT
Morning in East Hartford on Tuesday
Local time
8:18 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
20 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
18m 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 drive is mostly highway, with 65% of the 11.7 miles on freeways. You'll encounter the longest stretch of continuous highway for 5.1 miles on I 91. Expect merging and exiting as you transition from the interstate system to surface streets like School Street as you approach East Hartford. The majority of your travel time will be on high-speed roads.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.1 mi on I 91.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 91 and I 291. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near Hayden Station Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 11.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 18m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (Hayden Station Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.3 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Hayden, CT to East Hartford, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Hartford along the way.
Hartford
9.7 mi in
|
~14m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Starbucks
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
2min in
0.2 mi from route
Windsor, CT
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteStarbucks
Cafe
Early in the drive, right off the route
4min in
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
Cuisine: coffee_shop
The Bean @226
Cafe
Early in the drive, short detour
6min in
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Windsor, CT
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: We 06:00-18:00; Th 06:00-18:00; Fr 06:00...
Visit websiteCorporate Cafe - Powered by Starbucks & FLIK
Cafe
Early in the drive, short detour
4min in
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Starbucks
Cafe
Near the end, short detour
18min in
3.2 mi from route
~8 min detour
Hartford, CT
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteBlue State Coffee
Cafe
Near the end, short detour
18min in
3.4 mi from route
~8 min detour
Hartford, CT
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteDunkin'
Fast_food
Near the start, right off the route
2min in
0.1 mi from route
Windsor, CT
Cuisine: donut;coffee_shop
Hours: 05:00-20:00
Visit websitePizza Hut Express
Fast_food
Near the start, right off the route
2min in
0.2 mi from route
Windsor, CT
Cuisine: pizza
Visit websiteChar Koon
Restaurant
Near the start, right off the route
2min in
0.2 mi from route
~1 min detour
Windsor, CT
Cuisine: chinese
Visit websiteWhole Deli
Fast_food
Early in the drive, right off the route
4min in
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
Windsor, CT
Cuisine: sandwich
Visit websiteDunkin'
Fast_food
Early in the drive, right off the route
4min in
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
Windsor, CT
Cuisine: donut;coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Sa 05:00-18:00; Su 05:00-17:00
Visit websiteMoe's Southwest Grill
Fast_food
Early in the drive, right off the route
4min in
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
Windsor, CT
Cuisine: mexican
Visit websiteBarber Pond State Wildlife Area
Park
Early in the drive, short detour
6min in
1.3 mi from route
~3 min detour
Beech Grove 5
Camp_site
Near the end, short detour
18min in
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Mill Brook State Park
Park
Early in the drive, short detour
6min in
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Tim Coyne Memorial
Attraction
Early in the drive, short detour
4min in
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
Walter Fyler House Museum
Museum
Early in the drive, short detour
6min in
1.4 mi from route
~3 min detour
CT
Visit websiteWindsor Farms Historic District
District
Later in the drive, right off the route
14min in
0.9 mi from route
~2 min detour
Broad Street Green Historic District
District
Early in the drive, short detour
6min in
1.2 mi from route
~3 min detour
Palisado Avenue Historic District
District
Early in the drive, short detour
6min in
1.4 mi from route
~4 min detour
Downtown Main Street Historic District
District
Near the end, short detour
18min in
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
Central Avenue–Center Cemetery Historic District
District
Near the end, short detour
18min in
1.8 mi from route
~4 min detour
Residence Inn
Hotel
Early in the drive, right off the route
6min in
0.1 mi from route
Windsor, CT
Visit websiteDoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Hartford - Bradley Airport
Hotel
Near the start, short detour
2min in
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Windsor Locks, CT
Visit websiteBeech Grove 5
Camp_site
Near the end, short detour
18min in
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Homewood Suites by Hilton Hardford - Windsor Locks
Hotel
Near the start, short detour
2min in
2.2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Windsor Locks, CT
Traveler Inn Motel
Hotel
Later in the drive, short detour
12min in
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Residence Inn
Hotel
Near the end, short detour
18min in
3.3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Hartford, CT
Visit websitePoints of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 18m. Total distance: 11.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.1 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 East Hartford, 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 0.7 miles (Hayden Station Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.3 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 East Hartford, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From East Hartford, CT
More trips to East Hartford, CT
Explore more options from Hayden, CT or browse trips ending in East Hartford, CT.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CT road trips.