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Trip from Middletown, CT to Vernon, 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

35m

Distance

26.5 mi

43 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min
4 AM
0h 32m ★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 33m

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

town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States

Vernon, CT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Middletown, CT to Vernon, CT is 26.5 miles and takes about 35m via I 91, I 84, and CT 9, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short, highway-focused drive keeps you within Connecticut, making it a convenient option for local travelers. With an 88% highway share, expect a quick transit between these two Northeast locations. It's a straightforward trip, ideal if you're looking for a no-fuss journey with minimal time commitment. The estimated fuel cost is quite low, making it an economical choice for a quick hop.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 91 8.5 mi 10m
I 84 8 mi 9m
CT 9 4.7 mi 5m
US 5 1.9 mi 2m
Dobson Road 0.4 mi <1m
Washington Street 0.4 mi <1m
Main Street 0.3 mi 1m
Saint John's Square 0.2 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 Vernon, 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 right at fork

0.1 mi · 21 sec
Exit 65 Toward CT 30 North: Vernon Center Use the slight right lane.
13

Turn right onto CT 30

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Hartford Turnpike
14

Turn right onto Dobson Road

0.4 mi · 55 sec · Dobson Road
15

Continue on Washington Street

0.4 mi · 52 sec · Washington Street
16

Arrive at destination

Washington Street

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 5.2 and 25.4 — 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
7
18.4 mi into trip | ~24m in | I 84; US 6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6 toward I 84 East: Boston

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 84 East: 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
8
25.4 mi into trip | ~32m in

Keep slight right at fork toward CT 30 North: Vernon Center

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 65 Toward CT 30 North: Vernon Center

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.27 one way

$8.53 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 9 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $4.69 $9.39
premium $4.86 $5.07 $10.15
diesel $5.61 $5.85 $11.70

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$4

Estimated CO2 emission: 9.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7.9 0 $2.78 $1.27
Efficient EV 6.6 0 $2.32 $1.06
EV Truck/SUV 10.6 0 $3.71 $1.70

Gas CO2

9 kg

EV CO2

3 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

Middletown, CT

Late night in Middletown on Tuesday

Local time

4:48 AM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Vernon, CT

Late night in Vernon on Tuesday

Local time

4:48 AM

EDT

Current temp

18°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

41 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

35m 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?

This route leans heavily towards highway driving, with 88% of the journey on major interstates like I 91 and I 84. You'll experience a good stretch of uninterrupted travel, with the longest continuous segment being 8.5 miles on I 91. Expect efficient travel with limited local road detours. The character is primarily that of a fast-paced, highway-focused drive, designed for getting from point A to point B effectively. The transition between I 91, I 84, and CT 9 is seamless, maintaining a consistent driving experience.

88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 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 13 decision points packed into just 26.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 35m.

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 18.4 miles (I 84; US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Vernon, CT, road signs point toward Boston and Rockville.

Boston

14.3 mi in | ~18m

Rockville

25 mi in | ~32m

About the Cities

Starting in Middletown, CT

Full guide →

Middletown in a small city in Connecticut on the Connecticut River, about 20 miles (32 km) south of Hartford.

Arriving in Vernon, CT

Full guide →

Vernon is a town in Connecticut.

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 35m. Total distance: 26.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

35m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (88%). 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 Vernon, 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 18.4 miles (I 84; US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Vernon, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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