Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
32m
Distance
23.6 mi
38 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
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
Portland, CT
MART PRODUCTION
Manchester, CT to Portland, CT is 23.6 miles and takes about 32 minutes via I-91, CT-9, and CT-15, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within Connecticut and the Northeast region, making it a straightforward trip. Given its brevity, this route is ideal for a quick errand, a connection between two points, or a leisurely afternoon drive. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained highways, so expect a smooth and efficient transit.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 91 | 8.4 mi | 10m |
| CT 9 | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| CT 15 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| I 84 | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| West Center Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Center Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Spencer Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Manchester, CT and Portland, 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
Merge onto CT 9
Turn right onto CT 17
Turn right onto CT 17; CT 66
Take the exit onto CT 17; CT 66
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 16.9 — 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 9 South: Middletown, Old Saybrook
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$3.93 one way
$7.86 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.70 | $4.36 | $8.72 |
| premium | $5.07 | $4.71 | $9.41 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $5.20 | $10.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.48 | $1.13 |
| Efficient EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.07 | $0.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.30 | $1.51 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Night in Manchester on Friday
Local time
10:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Patchy Fog
Destination
Night in Portland on Friday
Local time
10:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms
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 route is primarily highway driving, with 71% of the distance spent on major roadways like I-91, CT-9, and CT-15. You'll encounter an 8.4-mile stretch on I-91 without needing to exit. The transition to surface roads will occur after this, offering a different driving experience. Expect a fairly consistent pace with minimal interruptions for much of the drive.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 91 and CT 9. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in.
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 12 decision points packed into just 23.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 32m.
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
275 ft
Total Descent
466 ft
Highest Point
272 ft
Elevation Range
252 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Manchester, CT and Portland, CT, road signs point toward Boston, New York City and Old Saybrook.
Boston
New York City
Old Saybrook
Founded 1672
Manchester is a city in Connecticut.
Top landmarks
Founded 1841
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 32m. Total distance: 23.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). 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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