Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
46.8 mi
75 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
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
East Haven, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Spanning 46.8 miles across Connecticut, this trip from Manchester to East Haven is a straightforward commute that typically takes about one hour and one minute. You will primarily navigate a combination of I-91, CT-15, and I-84 to reach your destination. Because the journey is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $7, the route is both economical and efficient. Both your starting point and destination are located within the Northeast, ensuring a familiar regional feel as you transition between these two Connecticut hubs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 91 | 33.3 mi | 39m |
| CT 15 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| I 84 | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| West Center Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Ferry Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Frontage Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Middletown Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Center Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Manchester, CT and East Haven, 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
Turn right onto CT 17
Continue on Ferry Street
Continue on Ferry Street
Turn right onto Farren Avenue
Turn left onto Fairmont Avenue
Continue on Townsend Avenue
Turn left onto US 1
Turn right onto US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Turn right onto CT 142
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 23.4 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 2.8 and 41.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward I 84 West, I 84 East, I 291: Hartford, Boston
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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 17, CT 80: North Branford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$7.53 one way
$15.07 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $8.29 | $16.58 |
| premium | $4.86 | $8.96 | $17.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.33 | $20.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.4 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 | 14 | 0 | $4.91 | $2.25 |
| Efficient EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.10 | $1.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.55 | $3.00 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Manchester on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in East Haven on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
42°F
Middletown, CT
23 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.
This trip is a quintessentially highway-focused drive, with 80% of your time spent cruising on major thoroughfares. You should be prepared for a consistent pace, anchored by a significant 33.3-mile stretch along I-91 that serves as the backbone of your journey. While the transition between interstate systems requires steady attention, the overall character of the drive is utilitarian rather than leisurely. Expect a high-speed environment that prioritizes directness over winding backroads. Once you exit the main highway arteries, the final leg of your trip will guide you into the East Haven area.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 91 and CT 15. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 2.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; 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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
351 ft
Total Descent
601 ft
Highest Point
384 ft
~23.4 mi in
Elevation Range
362 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Manchester, CT and East Haven, CT, road signs point toward Boston and New York City.
Boston
New York City
East Haven is a town in Connecticut three minutes' drive from New Haven and 35 miles from Hartford. It is part of the Greater New Haven area, founded in 1683. The town's population was 28,000 as of 2020. While East Haven has been well-known for a large Italian-American population, the town has received many newer immigrants, particularly from Ecuador, since the late 20th century. The shape of the town is vertically long, and split into three different areas: Foxon, the Center, and Momauguin. Foxon is the northernmost section and is surrounded Branford and North Branford as well as New Haven. The Center is not geographically the center of town, but contains the town hall, library, and the green, surrounded by a suburban area. Momauguin, to the south, borders New Haven along the coastline and contains the Tweed New Haven Regional Airport.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 46.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). 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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