Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
51.8 mi
83 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Manchester, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Ansonia, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Manchester, CT to Ansonia, CT is 51.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 8 minutes via CT 15, I-91, and I-84, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Connecticut, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Given its short duration and mostly highway profile, it's a straightforward trip suitable for a single day. You'll primarily be on major roadways, making it a functional option for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 15 | 23.3 mi | 28m |
| I 91 | 16.5 mi | 19m |
| I 84 | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| West Center Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Derby Turnpike | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Sentinel Hill Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Academy Hill Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Manchester, CT and Ansonia, CT.
Start on US 6; US 44
Continue on West Center Street
Continue on Spencer Street
Turn right onto Cemetery Road
Take the ramp
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 84; US 6
Keep slight left at fork onto CT 15
Take the exit
Merge onto I 91
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto CT 15
Take the exit
Turn right onto CT 34
Continue on CT 34
Turn right onto Sentinel Hill Road
Continue on Academy Hill Road
At end of road, turn right onto CT 115
Continue on CT 115
Continue on East Main Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25.9 miles from Manchester, 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 2.9 and 25.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork toward I 84 West: Hartford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto CT 15 toward CT 15 South: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 91 South: New Haven, New York City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward CT 15 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward CT 15 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$9.16 one way
$18.31 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $10.03 | $20.06 |
| premium | $5.29 | $10.79 | $21.57 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $10.91 | $21.82 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.08
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$0
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.44 | $2.49 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.53 | $2.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.25 | $3.32 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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
Afternoon in Manchester on Wednesday
Local time
4:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Afternoon in Ansonia on Wednesday
Local time
4:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Mostly Clear
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.
This drive is predominantly highway, with 83% of the 51.8 miles on major routes like CT 15, I-91, and I-84. You'll encounter a stretch of 23.3 miles on CT 15 without needing to exit. The majority of your time will be spent on these faster roads, with the transition to surface streets occurring closer to your destination in Ansonia. Expect a consistent flow of traffic typical of interstate travel.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 15 and I 91. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.8 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 2.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles (CT 15): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
657 ft
Total Descent
872 ft
Highest Point
341 ft
~44.4 mi in
Elevation Range
332 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Manchester, CT and Ansonia, CT, road signs point toward Boston and New York City.
Boston
New York City
Founded 1672
Manchester is a city in Connecticut.
Top landmarks
Founded 1889
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 51.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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