Origin
West Hartford, CT
Late night in West Hartford on Sunday
Local time
4:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Hartford, CT to Branford, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
43.2 mi
70 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Hartford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Branford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 43.2-mile drive from West Hartford, CT, to Branford, CT, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in under an hour, making it an excellent day trip. You'll primarily navigate I-91 and CT-9, with a small portion on North Broad Street. With a fuel cost estimated at $7, this trip is budget-friendly and requires no overnight stays. The route offers a convenient way to travel within the Northeast region. Its short distance and efficient path mean you can focus on your destination with minimal travel time.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 91 | 15.8 mi | 18m |
| CT 9 | 7.9 mi | 8m |
| North Broad Street | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| Berlin Turnpike | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| I 95 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| South Main Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Ferry Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| I 84 | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 91
— 15.8 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Hartford, CT and Branford, CT.
1
Start on North Main Street
69 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Keep slight left at fork onto South Main Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
4
Merge onto I 84; US 6
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 84; US 6
5
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Exit 39A
Toward CT 9 South: New Britain
Use the slight right lane.
6
Continue on this road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Exit 39A
Toward CT 9 South: Newington, New Britain
7
Continue on CT 9
7.9 mi
·
8 min
·
CT 9
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
Exit 32
Toward CT 372: East Berlin
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
306 ft
·
7 sec
10
Merge onto US 5; CT 15
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Berlin Turnpike
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on US 5; CT 15
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
North Broad Street
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 64A
Toward I 91 South: New Haven, New York City
Use the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto I 91
16 mi
·
18 min
·
I 91
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 8
Toward CT 17, CT 80: North Branford
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn right onto CT 17
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Middletown Avenue
16
Continue on Ferry Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Ferry Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on Ferry Street
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
Ferry Street
18
Turn right onto Farren Avenue
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Farren Avenue
19
Turn left onto Fairmont Avenue
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Fairmont Avenue
20
Continue on Townsend Avenue
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Townsend Avenue
21
Turn left onto US 1
371 ft
·
6 sec
·
Forbes Avenue
22
Turn right onto US 1
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
·
Frontage Road
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 95 North
24
Merge onto I 95
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 54
Toward Branford, Cedar Street
Use the slight right lane.
26
Turn right onto Cedar Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Cedar Street
Use the right lane.
27
At end of road, turn left onto CT 146
38 ft
·
0 sec
·
Main Street
28
Arrive at destination
CT 146
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 21.6 miles from West Hartford, 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 195 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 42.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward CT 9 South: New Britain
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 39A
Toward CT 9 South: New Britain
7
11.8 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward CT 372: East Berlin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 32
Toward CT 372: East Berlin
8
19.4 mi into trip
|
~25m 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 left lane.
Exit 64A
Toward I 91 South: New Haven, New York City
8
35.4 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward CT 17, CT 80: North Branford
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 8
Toward CT 17, CT 80: North Branford
8
42.3 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward Branford, Cedar Street
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 54
Toward Branford, Cedar Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.95 one way
$13.91 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $7.65 | $15.30 |
| premium | $4.86 | $8.27 | $16.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.54 | $19.08 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.24
Berlin Turnpike
(3.4 mi)
$0.24
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$0
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.54 | $2.07 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.78 | $1.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.05 | $2.76 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Branford, CT
Late night in Branford on Sunday
Local time
4:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°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
29 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
58m 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 drive that is predominantly on highways, with 71% of the route utilizing high-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 15.8 miles on I-91, offering a consistent pace. While CT-9 and North Broad Street introduce some variation, the overall feel is geared towards efficient travel. This highway-focused profile means you'll spend most of your time covering ground quickly, with fewer opportunities for spontaneous stops along the main thoroughfares.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.8 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 3.1 miles in.
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 19 decision points packed into just 43.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.4 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 West Hartford, CT and Branford, CT, road signs point toward New Britain and New York City.
New Britain
3.3 mi in
|
~5m
New York City
19.4 mi in
|
~25m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 43.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.8 miles on I 91. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.24 in tolls one way, starting with Berlin Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Branford, 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 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Branford, 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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