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Trip from Portland, CT to Manchester, 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

33m

Distance

23.8 mi

38 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 8 min
4 AM
0h 31m ★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 35m
3 PM
0h 36m
5 PM
0h 39m
8 PM
0h 32m

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

Downtown Portland, CT, CT

Portland, CT

MART PRODUCTION

Downtown Manchester, CT, CT

Manchester, CT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 23.8-mile drive from Portland, CT to Manchester, CT is a quick, efficient journey designed for a single day. Expect to spend about 33 minutes on the road, with a modest fuel cost of around $4. The route primarily utilizes major highways, including I-91, CT-9, and I-84, making it a highway-focused experience. With no recommended stops, this trip is perfect for a direct transit or a short excursion. Given its brevity and focus on interstate travel, it's ideal for a single-day adventure within Connecticut, part of the Northeast region.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 91 8.5 mi 10m
CT 9 4.7 mi 5m
I 84 2.8 mi 3m
Center Street 2.3 mi 3m
US 5 1.9 mi 2m
Main Street 1 mi 2m
US 6 0.4 mi <1m
Middle Turnpike West 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 91 — 8.5 mi, about 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Portland, CT and Manchester, CT.

1

Start on CT 17; CT 66

162 ft · 3 sec · CT 17; CT 66
2

Merge onto CT 17; CT 66

262 ft · 11 sec · Marlborough Street
3

Continue on CT 17; CT 66

465 ft · 24 sec · Marlborough Street
Use the left lane.
4

At end of road, turn left onto CT 17; CT 66

1.0 mi · 2 min · Main Street
5

Turn left onto CT 17

0.2 mi · 38 sec · Saint John's Square
6

At end of road, turn left onto CT 9

4.7 mi · 5 min · CT 9
7

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 40 sec
Exit 29 Toward I 91 North: Hartford Use the slight right lane.
8

Merge onto I 91

8.5 mi · 10 min · I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min
Exit 29 Toward CT 15 North: East Hartford, Boston Use the slight left / straight lanes.
10

Merge onto US 5; CT 15

1.9 mi · 2 min · US 5; CT 15
11

Merge onto I 84; US 6

1.4 mi · 1 min · I 84; US 6
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6

1.3 mi · 1 min · I 84; US 6
Toward I 84 East: Boston
13

Take the exit onto US 6

0.4 mi · 58 sec · US 6
Exit 60 Toward US 6, US 44: Middle Turnpike West, Manchester Use the slight right lane.
14

Turn right onto US 6; US 44

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Middle Turnpike West
Use the right lane.
15

Turn right onto US 6; US 44

2.3 mi · 3 min · Center Street
Use the right lane.
16

Continue on US 6; US 44

336 ft · 12 sec · East Center Street
17

Arrive at destination

US 6; US 44

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 21.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | CT 17; CT 66 / Marlborough Street

Continue onto CT 17; CT 66 / Marlborough Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
6.1 mi into trip | ~9m 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
15.2 mi into trip | ~20m 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
20.6 mi into trip | ~27m in | US 6

Take the exit onto US 6 toward US 6, US 44: Middle Turnpike West, Manchester

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 60 Toward US 6, US 44: Middle Turnpike West, Manch...
6
21.1 mi into trip | ~28m in | US 6; US 44 / Middle Turnpike West

Turn right onto US 6; US 44 / Middle Turnpike West

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.83 one way

$7.66 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 8 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $4.22 $8.43
premium $4.86 $4.56 $9.12
diesel $5.61 $5.25 $10.51

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$4

Estimated CO2 emission: 8.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7.1 0 $2.50 $1.14
Efficient EV 6 0 $2.08 $0.95
EV Truck/SUV 9.5 0 $3.33 $1.52

Gas CO2

8 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (63% 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

Portland, CT

Morning in Portland on Tuesday

Local time

6:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Manchester, CT

Morning in Manchester on Tuesday

Local time

6:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

--

Unavailable

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Road read

33m 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 is predominantly a highway drive, with 78% of the journey taking place on interstates. You'll experience stretches of consistent speed, including the longest uninterrupted segment of 8.5 miles on I-91. The character is largely that of efficient, high-speed travel, designed for covering distance quickly rather than for leisurely sightseeing. Expect a functional, direct path that prioritizes getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.

78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 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 CT 9. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CT 17; CT 66 / Marlborough Street.

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 14 decision points packed into just 23.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 33m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CT 17; CT 66 / Marlborough Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Portland, CT to Manchester, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Boston along the way.

Boston

15.2 mi in | ~20m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 33m. Total distance: 23.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

33m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (78%). 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 Manchester, 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 0.1 miles (CT 17; CT 66 / Marlborough Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Manchester, 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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