Origin
New Britain, CT
Late night in New Britain on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from New Britain, CT to Clinton, 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
50m
Distance
33.8 mi
54 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New Britain, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Clinton, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition from New Britain to the coast, this 33.8-mile journey is an efficient way to reach Clinton in just under 50 minutes. Because the trip is short, it works perfectly as a straightforward day trip, requiring no overnight stays or complex logistics. You can expect to spend about $5 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for a quick getaway. The route keeps you entirely within the Northeast region, moving from the inland area of New Britain down to the shoreline. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that prioritizes speed and convenience over long-distance exploration. Whether you are headed to the water for the afternoon or just need a reliable commute, this drive is designed to be simple and stress-free.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 9 | 18.7 mi | 22m |
| Higganum Road | 4.1 mi | 7m |
| Killingworth Road | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| Killingworth Turnpike | 3 mi | 5m |
| Clinton Road | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| High Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Ellis Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
CT 9
— 18.7 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Britain, CT and Clinton, CT.
1
Start on Whiting Street
34 ft
·
7 sec
·
Whiting Street
2
Turn left onto CT 71
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
South Main Street
3
Turn left onto Ellis Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Ellis Street
4
Turn right onto Columbus Boulevard
160 ft
·
4 sec
·
Columbus Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
6
Merge onto CT 9
19 mi
·
22 min
·
CT 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 15
Toward CT 81: Killingworth, Clinton
8
Turn right onto CT 81
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Killingworth Road
9
Continue on CT 81
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Higganum Road
10
Enter roundabout onto CT 81
149 ft
·
2 sec
·
Clinton Road
11
Continue on CT 81
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Clinton Road
12
Continue on CT 81
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Killingworth Turnpike
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on CT 81
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
High Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto CT 81
483 ft
·
17 sec
·
Hull Street
15
Turn left onto US 1
112 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Main Street
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
US 1
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 33.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.9 miles from New Britain, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 33.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Columbus Boulevard
Turn right onto Columbus Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CT 9
Merge onto CT 9
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
19.6 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward CT 81: Killingworth, Clinton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 15
Toward CT 81: Killingworth, Clinton
5
27.7 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
CT 81 / Clinton Road
Enter roundabout onto CT 81 / Clinton Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
33.8 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
US 1 / West Main Street
Turn left onto US 1 / West Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.44 one way
$10.88 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $5.99 | $11.97 |
| premium | $4.86 | $6.47 | $12.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.46 | $14.93 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.21
Killingworth Turnpike
(3 mi)
$0.21
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$0
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.55 | $1.62 |
| Efficient EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.96 | $1.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.73 | $2.16 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Clinton, CT
Late night in Clinton on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Middletown, CT
17 mi in
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
50m 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 experience, as roughly 64% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on faster thoroughfares. Your journey relies heavily on CT 9, which provides the longest uninterrupted stretch of 18.7 miles, allowing you to settle into a steady pace. As you transition off the main highway, the character of the road shifts through Higganum Road and Killingworth Road to guide you toward your final destination. These local segments offer a change in rhythm from the faster highway portions, grounding the drive in the local landscape. You will find that the mix of high-speed transit and local connecting roads keeps the 50-minute travel time feeling balanced and manageable.
64% 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: 18.7 mi on CT 9.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 9 and Higganum Road. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Columbus Boulevard.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 33.8 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (Columbus Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (CT 9): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in New Britain, CT
Full guide →Founded 1850
New Britain is a city in Connecticut. The "Hardware City" is the official nickname of the city.
Top landmarks
- • New Britain Museum of American Art — art museum in New Britain, Connecticut
- • Walnut Hill Park — a large public park west of downtown New Britain, Connecticut, United States of...
- • Sloper-Wesoly House — historic house in Connecticut, United States
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 50m. Total distance: 33.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.7 miles on CT 9. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.21 in tolls one way, starting with Killingworth 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.
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 0.4 miles (Columbus Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (CT 9): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Clinton, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Clinton, CT
More trips to Clinton, CT
Explore more options from New Britain, CT or browse trips ending in Clinton, CT.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CT road trips.