Origin
Southbury, CT
Late night in Southbury on Tuesday
Local time
5:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Southbury, CT to Manchester, 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
1h 4m
Distance
49.3 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Manchester, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Southbury to Manchester is 49.3 miles and takes about 1h 4m via I 84, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Connecticut, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on the interstate, making it a convenient option for a quick transfer or a short day trip. Given its brevity, it’s ideal for when you need to get from point A to point B without a lengthy commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 45.2 mi | 56m |
| Center Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Main Street North | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| US 6 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Middle Turnpike West | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Center Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 84
— 45.2 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southbury, CT and Manchester, CT.
1
Start on US 6; CT 67
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Main Street North
2
Continue on CT 67
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Main Street North
3
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 84 East: Waterbury
4
Merge onto I 84
27 mi
·
33 min
·
I 84
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84
14 mi
·
19 min
·
I 84
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
I 84; US 6
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I 84; US 6
Toward I 84 East: Boston
8
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.
9
Turn right onto US 6; US 44
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Middle Turnpike West
Use the right lane.
10
Turn right onto US 6; US 44
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Center Street
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on US 6; US 44
336 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Center Street
12
Arrive at destination
US 6; US 44
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.6 miles from Southbury, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 46.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 84
Merge onto I 84
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
28.4 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
I 84
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
42.6 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
I 84; US 6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
46.1 mi into trip
|
~58m 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
46.6 mi into trip
|
~59m 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
$7.94 one way
$15.87 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $8.73 | $17.46 |
| premium | $4.86 | $9.44 | $18.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.88 | $21.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.18 | $2.37 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.31 | $1.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.90 | $3.16 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Manchester, CT
Late night in Manchester on Tuesday
Local time
5:38 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
1h 4m 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, with 93% of the route on interstate or major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 45.2 miles on I 84, meaning most of your time will be spent in highway cruising. The transition to surface streets like Center Street and Main Street North will occur closer to your destination in Manchester, marking the end of the high-speed portion.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.2 mi on I 84.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 84 and Center Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near I 84.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.3 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: at 0.9 miles (I 84): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.4 miles (I 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.6 miles (I 84; US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 49.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.2 miles on I 84. 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 0.9 miles (I 84): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.4 miles (I 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.6 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 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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