Origin
Thomaston, CT
Late night in Thomaston on Tuesday
Local time
5:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Thomaston, CT to New Britain, 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
25m
Distance
17.2 mi
28 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 30m
10 AM
0h 27m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 24m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thomaston, CT
Wikimedia Commons
New Britain, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick commute or connection between Thomaston and New Britain, you can expect a straightforward 17.2-mile journey. Clocking in at approximately 32 minutes, this trip is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, requiring no overnight stays. You will navigate entirely via local roads, including Elm Street, East Main Street, and Allen Street, rather than relying on major highways. With an estimated fuel cost of just $3, it is an incredibly budget-friendly drive. This route stays within the Northeast region, serving as a practical, no-fuss link between two Connecticut towns.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pine Street | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| East Main Street | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| CT 72 | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Riverside Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Terryville Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Park Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Allen Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Canal Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pine Street
— 4.9 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thomaston, CT and New Britain, CT.
1
Start on Park Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Park Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto Elm Street
451 ft
·
12 sec
·
Elm Street
3
Turn right onto CT 222
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
East Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn right onto Allen Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Allen Street
5
Turn straight onto Canal Street
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Canal Street
6
At end of road, turn right onto CT 72
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Terryville Road
7
Continue on CT 72
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Street
8
Continue on CT 72
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
School Street
9
Turn left onto CT 72
276 ft
·
7 sec
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto CT 72
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Riverside Avenue
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto CT 72
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Pine Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto CT 72
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
CT 72
Exit 35
Toward CT 72 East: New Britain
Use the slight left lane.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 1D
Toward Downtown New Britain
Use the slight right lane.
14
Continue on Columbus Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Columbus Boulevard
15
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Main Street
16
Turn right onto CT 71
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Franklin Square
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left
195 ft
·
21 sec
18
Turn left onto Whiting Street
154 ft
·
4 sec
·
Whiting Street
19
Arrive at destination
Whiting Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 16 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Elm Street
At end of road, turn left onto Elm Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
7.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
CT 72 / Main Street
Turn left onto CT 72 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
8.9 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
CT 72 / Pine Street
Turn left onto CT 72 / Pine Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
8
13.8 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
CT 72
Keep slight left at fork onto CT 72 toward CT 72 East: New Britain
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 35
Toward CT 72 East: New Britain
7
16 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward Downtown New Britain
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1D
Toward Downtown New Britain
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.77 one way
$5.54 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $3.05 | $6.09 |
| premium | $4.86 | $3.29 | $6.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.80 | $7.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.81 | $0.83 |
| Efficient EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.51 | $0.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.41 | $1.10 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
New Britain, CT
Late night in New Britain on Tuesday
Local time
5:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
25m 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. Because the path relies on local streets, you will find yourself navigating frequent turns through the Connecticut landscape. There are no long, uninterrupted highway stretches here, meaning the pace remains steady but focused on local traffic patterns. You will experience a direct, hands-on driving environment from start to finish. It is a functional drive that prioritizes local connectivity over the monotony of long-distance highway travel.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.9 mi on Pine Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Elm Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 17.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 25m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Elm Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 7.5 miles (CT 72 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.9 miles (CT 72 / Pine Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
774 ft
168 ft
Total Climb
417 ft
Total Descent
639 ft
Highest Point
774 ft
~2.5 mi in
Elevation Range
606 ft
About the Cities
Arriving 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 25m. Total distance: 17.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4.9 miles on Pine Street. 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 New Britain, 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 (Elm Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 7.5 miles (CT 72 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.9 miles (CT 72 / Pine Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at New Britain, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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