Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
28m
Distance
20.6 mi
33 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Middletown, CT
David Kanigan
West Hartford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
This short 20.8-mile journey from Middletown, CT, to West Hartford, CT, is a quick 25-minute drive perfect for a single day trip. With no highway driving and a minimal fuel cost estimated at $3, it's an economical option for exploring the Northeast region. The route is characterized by frequent turns, making it a more engaging local drive rather than a straightforward interstate commute. You'll navigate through familiar local roads, offering a relaxed pace for a spontaneous outing or an easy addition to a larger New England itinerary.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 9 | 16 mi | 18m |
| South Main Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| I 84 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| LaSalle Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Brace Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Saint John's Square | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Dale Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Middletown, CT and West Hartford, CT.
Start on Washington Street
Turn right onto CT 66
Turn right onto CT 17
At end of road, turn left onto CT 9
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 9
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 84; US 6
Take the exit
Turn left onto CT 173
Turn left onto Pelham Road
Turn right onto LaSalle Road
At end of road, turn left onto Farmington Avenue
Turn right onto Dale Street
Turn right onto Brace Road
At end of road, turn right onto North Main Street
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 20.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto CT 9
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 9
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 84 East: Hartford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward South Main Street, Elmwood
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
At end of road, turn left onto Farmington Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Regular Gas
$3.32 one way
$6.63 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $3.65 | $7.30 |
| premium | $4.86 | $3.94 | $7.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.55 | $9.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.16 | $0.99 |
| Efficient EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.80 | $0.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.88 | $1.32 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Late night in Middletown on Tuesday
Local time
5:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in West Hartford on Tuesday
Local time
5:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 20.8-mile trip, as indicated by the 0% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not a factor here, meaning you'll be making frequent adjustments. You'll begin on Main Street and pass through Saint John's Square, indicating a journey through built-up areas with potential for traffic lights and intersections. This route prioritizes local navigation over high-speed travel, so keep your attention focused on the road ahead as you make your way through Connecticut's towns.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 9 and South Main Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near CT 9.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 20.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (CT 9): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles (CT 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Middletown, CT to West Hartford, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Elmwood along the way.
Elmwood
Middletown in a small city in Connecticut on the Connecticut River, about 20 miles (32 km) south of Hartford.
West Hartford is a town in Connecticut.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 20.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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