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Trip from Middletown, CT to Ellington, CT

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

44m

Distance

32 mi

52 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 11 min
4 AM
0h 40m ★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 51m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 42m

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

Downtown Middletown, CT, CT

Middletown, CT

David Kanigan

Downtown Ellington, CT, CT

Ellington, CT

MART PRODUCTION

Trip Overview

This straightforward 32-mile drive from Middletown to Ellington, Connecticut, is easily manageable as a day trip, taking about 44 minutes. Primarily utilizing major interstates like I-91 and I-84, with a portion on CT-9, this route keeps you moving efficiently through the Northeast region. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $5, it's an economical option for a quick journey. There are no designated stops on this route, making it ideal for those who prefer to reach their destination without detours. Consider this a practical and direct way to travel between these two Connecticut towns.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 91 8.5 mi 10m
I 84 8 mi 9m
CT 9 4.7 mi 5m
Talcottville Road 2.8 mi 4m
West Road 2.1 mi 3m
US 5 1.9 mi 2m
Main Street 0.9 mi 2m
Windsor Avenue 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 91 — 8.5 mi, about 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Middletown, CT and Ellington, CT.

1

Start on Washington Street

86 ft · 6 sec · Washington Street
2

Turn right onto CT 66

0.3 mi · 1 min · Main Street
3

Turn right onto CT 17

0.2 mi · 36 sec · Saint John's Square
4

At end of road, turn left onto CT 9

4.7 mi · 5 min · CT 9
5

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 40 sec
Exit 29 Toward I 91 North: Hartford Use the slight right lane.
6

Merge onto I 91

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

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min
Exit 29 Toward CT 15 North: East Hartford, Boston Use the slight left / straight lanes.
8

Merge onto US 5; CT 15

1.9 mi · 2 min · US 5; CT 15
9

Merge onto I 84; US 6

1.4 mi · 1 min · I 84; US 6
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6

6.6 mi · 7 min · I 84; US 6
Toward I 84 East: Boston Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Exit 64-65 Toward CT 30, CT 83: Vernon Center, Rockville Use the slight right lane.
12

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 64 Toward CT 30 South, CT 83: Talcottville, Rockville Use the slight left lane.
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Toward CT 83 North: Rockville, Ellington Use the slight right lane.
14

Turn straight onto CT 83

2.8 mi · 4 min · Talcottville Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Continue on CT 74; CT 83

0.5 mi · 50 sec · Windsor Avenue
16

Continue on CT 74; CT 83

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Union Street
17

Turn left onto CT 83

0.1 mi · 11 sec · West Street
Use the left lane.
18

Continue on CT 83

2.1 mi · 3 min · West Road
19

Turn left onto CT 286

0.6 mi · 1 min · Main Street
20

Arrive at destination

CT 286

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 5.2 and 25.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
5.2 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the exit toward I 91 North: Hartford

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 29 Toward I 91 North: Hartford
8
14.3 mi into trip | ~18m in

Take the exit toward CT 15 North: East Hartford, Boston

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 29 Toward CT 15 North: East Hartford, Boston
8
25 mi into trip | ~32m in

Take the exit toward CT 30, CT 83: Vernon Center, Rockville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 64-65 Toward CT 30, CT 83: Vernon Center, Rockville
9
25.4 mi into trip | ~32m in

Keep slight left at fork toward CT 30 South, CT 83: Talcottville, Rockville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Exit 64 Toward CT 30 South, CT 83: Talcottville, Rockvi...
9
25.5 mi into trip | ~33m in

Keep slight right at fork toward CT 83 North: Rockville, Ellington

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward CT 83 North: Rockville, Ellington

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.15 one way

$10.30 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 11 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $5.67 $11.34
premium $4.86 $6.13 $12.26
diesel $5.61 $7.07 $14.13

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$5

Estimated CO2 emission: 11.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 9.6 0 $3.36 $1.54
Efficient EV 8 0 $2.80 $1.28
EV Truck/SUV 12.8 0 $4.48 $2.05

Gas CO2

11 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (64% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Middletown, CT

Late night in Middletown on Sunday

Local time

3:56 AM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ellington, CT

Late night in Ellington on Sunday

Local time

3:56 AM

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

44m 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 highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with 72% of the route on interstates. You'll experience a longest stretch of 8.5 miles on I-91, offering a consistent, faster-paced experience. The road is characterized by these main arteries, including I-84 and CT-9, which are designed for efficient travel. While not a winding, scenic byway, this route prioritizes getting you from point A to point B smoothly and quickly, with minimal traffic light delays.

72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.5 mi on I 91.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 91 and I 84. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 15 decision points packed into just 32 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 44m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

245 ft 18 ft

Total Climb

351 ft

Total Descent

162 ft

Highest Point

245 ft

~29.7 mi in

Elevation Range

228 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Middletown, CT and Ellington, CT, road signs point toward Boston and Rockville.

Boston

14.3 mi in | ~18m

Rockville

25 mi in | ~32m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 44m. Total distance: 32 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

44m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 8.5 miles on I 91. 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 Ellington, 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 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Ellington, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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