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Trip from Manchester, CT to Windsor Locks, CT

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

25m

Distance

17.4 mi

28 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 6 min
4 AM
0h 24m ★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 30m
10 AM
0h 27m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 24m ★

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Manchester, CT, CT

Manchester, CT

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Windsor Locks, CT, CT

Windsor Locks, CT

David Kanigan

Trip Overview

Manchester, CT to Windsor Locks, CT is 17.4 miles and takes about 25 minutes via I-91 and I-291, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Connecticut, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a fairly straightforward drive focused on efficient travel between these two locations. Given the minimal distance and time commitment, this route is ideal for a quick commute or an easy add-on to another journey in the area.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 91 6.2 mi 7m
I 291 4.7 mi 5m
Main Street 1.3 mi 2m
Tolland Turnpike 1.3 mi 2m
South Main Street 1.2 mi 2m
North Main Street 1.1 mi 2m
Lawnacre Road 0.2 mi <1m
Chapel Road 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 91 — 6.2 mi, about 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 6; US 44

20 ft · 8 sec · East Center Street
2

Turn sharp right onto CT 83

1.3 mi · 2 min · Main Street
3

Continue on North Main Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · North Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
4

Continue on Tolland Turnpike

1.3 mi · 2 min · Tolland Turnpike
Use the straight / right lanes.
5

Turn right onto Chapel Road

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Chapel Road
6

Turn left

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward I 291 West: Windsor
7

Merge onto I 291

4.7 mi · 5 min · I 291
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 2B Toward I 91 North: Springfield
9

Merge onto I 91

6.2 mi · 7 min · I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 40 sec
Exit 42 Toward Windsor Locks Use the slight right lane.
11

At end of road, turn left onto Lawnacre Road

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Lawnacre Road
12

Continue on CT 159

1.2 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13

Turn right onto CT 140

34 ft · 1 sec · Bridge Street
14

Arrive at destination

CT 140

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 15.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | CT 83 / Main Street

Turn sharp right onto CT 83 / Main Street

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

5
3.9 mi into trip | ~7m in

Turn left toward I 291 West: Windsor

Navigation decision point

Toward I 291 West: Windsor
5
4.2 mi into trip | ~7m in | I 291

Merge onto I 291

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
8.9 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward I 91 North: Springfield

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 2B Toward I 91 North: Springfield
7
15.8 mi into trip | ~22m in

Take the exit toward Windsor Locks

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 42 Toward Windsor Locks

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.80 one way

$5.60 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 6 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $3.08 $6.16
premium $4.86 $3.33 $6.66
diesel $5.61 $3.84 $7.68

Estimated Tolls: $0.09

Tolland Turnpike (1.3 mi) $0.09

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$3

Tolls

$0

Total

$3

Estimated CO2 emission: 6.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 5.2 0 $1.83 $0.84
Efficient EV 4.4 0 $1.52 $0.70
EV Truck/SUV 7 0 $2.44 $1.11

Gas CO2

6 kg

EV CO2

2 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Manchester, CT

Morning in Manchester on Tuesday

Local time

9:39 AM

EDT

Current temp

34°F

Clear

SW 5 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 20 at 2:14AM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Upton NY

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 20 at 2:14AM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Upton NY

Destination

Windsor Locks, CT

Morning in Windsor Locks on Tuesday

Local time

9:39 AM

EDT

Current temp

33°F

Clear

SW 3 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 20 at 2:14AM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Upton NY

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 20 at 2:14AM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Upton NY

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

1 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

25m on the road

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.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with about 70% of the journey on interstates like I-91 and I-291. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 6.2 miles on I-91, offering a consistent cruising speed for a significant portion of the trip. The character is that of a functional, direct connection rather than a scenic tour. Prepare for typical interstate conditions with clear signage and predictable traffic flow for the most part.

70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.2 mi on I 91.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

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 early in the drive near CT 83 / Main Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 17.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 25m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (CT 83 / Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 3.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles (I 291): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 25m. Total distance: 17.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

25m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 6.2 miles on I 91. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.09 in tolls one way, starting with Tolland Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

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 Windsor Locks, 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: near the start (CT 83 / Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 3.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles (I 291): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Windsor Locks, 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.

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