Origin
Meriden, CT
Afternoon in Meriden on Tuesday
Local time
12:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Meriden, CT to Oakville, CT
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
26m
Distance
18.3 mi
29 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Meriden, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Oakville, CT
David Kanigan
Trip Overview
This short, 18.3-mile drive from Meriden to Oakville, Connecticut, is easily manageable in just 26 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $3, it's an economical option. The route is primarily highway-focused, with about 74% of the journey taking place on major interstates. You'll spend the majority of your time on I-84, experiencing a bit of the Northeast's efficient road network. Given its brevity and straightforward nature, no overnight stays are necessary, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| I 691 | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| West Main Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| CT 73 | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| CT 8 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Buckingham Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Ballfarm Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 84
— 7.7 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Meriden, CT and Oakville, CT.
1
Start on West Main Street
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Continue on Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 691 West: Waterbury
4
Merge onto I 691
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
I 691
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 8B
Toward I 84 West: Waterbury
6
Merge onto I 84
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
I 84
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Exit 20
Toward CT 8 North: Torrington
8
Merge onto CT 8
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
CT 8
9
Take the exit onto CT 73
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
CT 73
Exit 31
Toward CT 73: Oakville, Watertown
Use the slight left lane.
10
Turn right onto Buckingham Street
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Buckingham Street
11
Turn left onto Ballfarm Road
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Ballfarm Road
12
Arrive at destination
Ballfarm Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 15.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 691 West: Waterbury
Navigation decision point
Toward I 691 West: Waterbury
5
2.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 691
Merge onto I 691
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
5.7 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 84 West: Waterbury
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 8B
Toward I 84 West: Waterbury
5
6.7 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 84
Merge onto I 84
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
15.4 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
CT 73
Take the exit onto CT 73 toward CT 73: Oakville, Watertown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 31
Toward CT 73: Oakville, Watertown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.95 one way
$5.89 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $3.24 | $6.48 |
| premium | $4.86 | $3.50 | $7.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.04 | $8.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.4 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 | 5.5 | 0 | $1.92 | $0.88 |
| Efficient EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.60 | $0.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.56 | $1.17 |
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.
Destination
Oakville, CT
Afternoon in Oakville on Tuesday
Local time
12:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
18 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
26m 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 predominantly highway-focused experience on this journey, with 74% of the drive utilizing major roadways. You'll navigate on I-84 and I-691, which provide a consistent pace for most of the 26-minute trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 7.7 miles on I-84, offering a chance to settle into a steady driving rhythm. While the majority is highway, the route concludes on West Main Street, introducing a brief transition to a more local feel before reaching your destination.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.7 mi on I 84.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 84 and I 691. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in.
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 18.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 26m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (I 691): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Meriden, CT to Oakville, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Watertown along the way.
Watertown
15.4 mi in
|
~21m
|
via CT 73
About the Cities
Starting in Meriden, CT
Full guide →Meriden is a city in the Connecticut River Valley. Although not a major tourist destination, it does have an architecturally notable center.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 18.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.7 miles on I 84. 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 Oakville, 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 2.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (I 691): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Weir Farm National Historical Park. 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 Oakville, 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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