Origin
Stafford, CT
Late night in Stafford on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Stafford, CT to Middletown, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
44.5 mi
72 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 6m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stafford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Middletown, CT
David Kanigan
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward connection between Stafford and Middletown, this 44.5-mile journey is a practical choice. You can expect to spend about 56 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $7 for fuel should cover your travel expenses for this efficient transit. Since you are staying within the Northeast region, you will find the infrastructure familiar and easy to navigate. The route is designed for speed and directness rather than leisure, so plan accordingly if you are looking for a quick arrival at your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 20.7 mi | 23m |
| I 91 | 8.4 mi | 10m |
| CT 9 | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| River Road | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| East Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| CT 15 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| East Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Washington Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 84
— 20.7 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stafford, CT and Middletown, CT.
1
Start on CT 19
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
East Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto CT 190
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
East Main Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto CT 190
140 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Main Street
4
Enter roundabout onto CT 32
97 ft
·
8 sec
·
River Road
5
Continue on CT 32
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
River Road
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 84 West: Hartford
7
Merge onto I 84
13 mi
·
14 min
·
I 84
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84
8.0 mi
·
9 min
·
I 84
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto CT 15
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
CT 15
Toward CT 15 South: New York City
Use the slight left lane.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 86
Toward I 91 South: New Haven, New York City
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 91
8.4 mi
·
10 min
·
I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 22S
Toward CT 9 South: Middletown, Old Saybrook
Use the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto CT 9
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
CT 9
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
183 ft
·
7 sec
Exit 23C
Toward CT 66 West: Middletown, Meriden
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Washington Street
16
Arrive at destination
Washington Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.2 miles from Stafford, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 19.5 and 44.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
19.5 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
I 84
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
27.6 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
CT 15
Keep slight left at fork onto CT 15 toward CT 15 South: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward CT 15 South: New York City
8
29.5 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward I 91 South: New Haven, New York City
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 86
Toward I 91 South: New Haven, New York City
8
38.5 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward CT 9 South: Middletown, Old Saybrook
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 22S
Toward CT 9 South: Middletown, Old Saybrook
8
44.3 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward CT 66 West: Middletown, Meriden
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 23C
Toward CT 66 West: Middletown, Meriden
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.16 one way
$14.33 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $7.88 | $15.76 |
| premium | $4.86 | $8.52 | $17.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.83 | $19.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.67 | $2.14 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.89 | $1.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.23 | $2.85 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Middletown, CT
Late night in Middletown on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°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
3 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
56m 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 trip is heavily highway-focused, with 81% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time navigating I-84, I-91, and CT-9, which keeps the pace consistent throughout the drive. Be prepared for a standard interstate experience, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 20.7 miles on I-84. Because the route relies so heavily on high-speed roads, you will experience a very efficient, albeit utilitarian, transition from northern Connecticut down toward the Middletown area.
81% 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: 20.7 mi on I 84.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 84 and I 91. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.5 miles in near I 84.
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 44.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 19.5 miles (I 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.6 miles (CT 15): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.5 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Stafford, CT and Middletown, CT, road signs point toward New York City and Old Saybrook.
New York City
29.5 mi in
|
~37m
Old Saybrook
38.5 mi in
|
~49m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 44.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.7 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 Middletown, 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 19.5 miles (I 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.6 miles (CT 15): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — New England National Scenic Trail. 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 Middletown, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Middletown, CT
More trips to Middletown, CT
Explore more options from Stafford, CT or browse trips ending in Middletown, CT.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CT road trips.