Origin
Prospect, CT
Morning in Prospect on Tuesday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Prospect, CT to Meriden, 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
19m
Distance
13.6 mi
22 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 18m
★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Prospect, CT
MART PRODUCTION
Meriden, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Prospect, CT to Meriden, CT is 13.6 miles and takes about 19 minutes via I-691, I-84, and Scott Road, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Connecticut, making it a quick hop between two points in the Northeast region. Given its brief length and primarily highway focus, it's best suited for a quick transfer or a segment of a larger journey rather than a destination drive itself. Plan for a straightforward transit with minimal deviation from main thoroughfares.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 691 | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| I 84 | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| Scott Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Waterbury Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Austin Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Colony Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Columbia Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 691
— 5.9 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Prospect, CT and Meriden, CT.
1
Start on CT 68
135 ft
·
5 sec
·
Union City Road
2
Turn right onto CT 69
492 ft
·
9 sec
·
New Haven Road
3
Continue on CT 69
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Waterbury Road
4
Turn right onto Scott Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Scott Road
5
Turn straight onto Austin Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Austin Road
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
7
Merge onto I 84
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
I 84
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 27
Toward I 691 East: Meriden
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 691
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
I 691
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 2B
Toward Meriden
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn slight left onto Columbia Street
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Columbia Street
12
At end of road, turn right onto Colony Street
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
Colony Street
13
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
West Main Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 12.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CT 69 / New Haven Road
Turn right onto CT 69 / New Haven Road
Navigation decision point
5
3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 84
Merge onto I 84
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
6.1 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward I 691 East: Meriden
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 27
Toward I 691 East: Meriden
7
12.5 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward Meriden
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2B
Toward Meriden
5
12.9 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
Colony Street
At end of road, turn right onto Colony Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.19 one way
$4.38 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $2.41 | $4.82 |
| premium | $4.86 | $2.60 | $5.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.00 | $6.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.43 | $0.65 |
| Efficient EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.19 | $0.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.90 | $0.87 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Meriden, CT
Morning in Meriden on Tuesday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
19m 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 drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 66% of the journey on major roads like I-691 and I-84. You'll experience a consistent pace for much of the 13.6 miles, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 5.9 miles on I-691. Expect a functional commute rather than a scenic tour, as the route prioritizes direct travel. While Scott Road offers a brief departure from the interstate, the overall character remains that of efficient transit between points.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.9 mi on I 691.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 691 and I 84. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CT 69 / New Haven Road.
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 13.6 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (CT 69 / New Haven Road): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (I 84): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Meriden, CT
Full guide →Meriden is a city in the Connecticut River Valley. Although not a major tourist destination, it does have an architecturally notable center.
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 19m. Total distance: 13.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.9 miles on I 691. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (CT 69 / New Haven Road): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (I 84): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Weir Farm National Historical Park. 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 Meriden, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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