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Trip from Killingworth, 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

56m

Distance

39.2 mi

63 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 52m ★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 6m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 54m

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

town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States of America

Killingworth, CT

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Manchester, CT, CT

Manchester, CT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking to travel between Killingworth and Manchester, Connecticut, this 40.5-mile journey offers a straightforward, local path through the heart of the Northeast. Spanning approximately 46 minutes, the route is perfectly manageable as a quick day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You can expect to spend roughly $6 on fuel for the entire drive, making it a budget-friendly option for your itinerary. Because the path relies entirely on local roads, you avoid the typical congestion of major interstates. It is an ideal choice for travelers who prefer a steady, back-road pace over high-speed highway travel.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
CT 9 12.8 mi 16m
I 91 8.5 mi 10m
Higganum Road 4.1 mi 7m
Killingworth Road 4 mi 6m
I 84 2.8 mi 3m
Center Street 2.3 mi 3m
US 5 1.9 mi 2m
US 6 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: CT 9 — 12.8 mi, about 16m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

166 ft · 13 sec · this road
2

At end of road, turn right

140 ft · 13 sec
3

Turn right onto CT 80

485 ft · 8 sec · Deep River Road
4

Enter roundabout onto CT 81

76 ft · 1 sec · Higganum Road
5

Continue on CT 81

4.1 mi · 7 min · Higganum Road
6

Continue on CT 81

4.0 mi · 6 min · Killingworth Road
7

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Toward CT 9 North
8

Merge onto CT 9

13 mi · 16 min · CT 9
9

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 40 sec
Exit 29 Toward I 91 North: Hartford Use the slight right lane.
10

Merge onto I 91

8.5 mi · 10 min · I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min
Exit 29 Toward CT 15 North: East Hartford, Boston Use the slight left / straight lanes.
12

Merge onto US 5; CT 15

1.9 mi · 2 min · US 5; CT 15
13

Merge onto I 84; US 6

1.4 mi · 1 min · I 84; US 6
14

Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6

1.3 mi · 1 min · I 84; US 6
Toward I 84 East: Boston
15

Take the exit onto US 6

0.4 mi · 58 sec · US 6
Exit 60 Toward US 6, US 44: Middle Turnpike West, Manchester Use the slight right lane.
16

Turn right onto US 6; US 44

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Middle Turnpike West
Use the right lane.
17

Turn right onto US 6; US 44

2.3 mi · 3 min · Center Street
Use the right lane.
18

Continue on US 6; US 44

336 ft · 12 sec · East Center Street
19

Arrive at destination

US 6; US 44

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Newington, CT, CT

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Newington, CT

20 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Middletown, CT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 19.6 miles from Killingworth, 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 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 36.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | CT 81 / Higganum Road

Enter roundabout onto CT 81 / Higganum Road

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

7
21.5 mi into trip | ~32m in

Take the exit toward I 91 North: Hartford

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 29 Toward I 91 North: Hartford
8
30.6 mi into trip | ~43m in

Take the exit toward CT 15 North: East Hartford, Boston

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

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 29 Toward CT 15 North: East Hartford, Boston
8
36 mi into trip | ~50m in | US 6

Take the exit onto US 6 toward US 6, US 44: Middle Turnpike West, 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 60 Toward US 6, US 44: Middle Turnpike West, Manch...
6
36.5 mi into trip | ~51m in | US 6; US 44 / Middle Turnpike West

Turn right onto US 6; US 44 / Middle Turnpike West

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.31 one way

$12.62 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $6.94 $13.89
premium $4.86 $7.51 $15.01
diesel $5.61 $8.65 $17.31

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.7 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 11.8 0 $4.12 $1.88
Efficient EV 9.8 0 $3.43 $1.57
EV Truck/SUV 15.7 0 $5.49 $2.51

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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Killingworth, CT

Late night in Killingworth on Sunday

Local time

12:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

43°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

56m 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 driving experience that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route features zero highway miles, forcing you to navigate through the winding turns of Deep River Road, Higganum Road, and Killingworth Road. The entire 40.5-mile stretch maintains a consistent, technical feel rather than long, open-throttle segments. As you progress from the quiet corridors of Killingworth toward Manchester, the lack of highway infrastructure means you will be relying on local signage and careful navigation. Prepare for a road environment that demands your full attention due to the frequent transitions between local thoroughfares.

68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.8 mi on CT 9.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 9 and I 91. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CT 81 / Higganum Road.

Driving Effort 10/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 39.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CT 81 / Higganum Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 21.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Killingworth, CT to Manchester, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Boston along the way.

Boston

30.6 mi in | ~43m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 39.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

56m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 12.8 miles on CT 9. 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 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 0.1 miles (CT 81 / Higganum Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 21.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.6 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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Explore More

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

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