Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
14m
Distance
9.1 mi
15 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Hartford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
New Britain, CT
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning a quick excursion between West Hartford and New Britain, you will find this 9.1-mile trip to be a straightforward commute. The journey typically takes about 14 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of just $1, it is an incredibly economical route that requires zero stops along the way. You will primarily navigate via I-84, CT 9, and South Main Street to complete the transit. Whether you are heading out for professional reasons or a local visit, this route offers a simple, no-fuss connection within the Northeast region.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 9 | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| South Main Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| I 84 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Columbus Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Whiting Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Chestnut Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between West Hartford, CT and New Britain, CT.
Start on North Main Street
Keep slight left at fork onto South Main Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 84; US 6
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Continue on CT 9
Take the exit
Turn right onto Chestnut Street
Turn left onto Columbus Boulevard
Turn right onto Whiting Street
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 8.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork onto South Main Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CT 9 South: New Britain
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Chestnut Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Columbus Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Whiting Street
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$1.46 one way
$2.93 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $1.61 | $3.22 |
| premium | $4.86 | $1.74 | $3.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.01 | $4.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.7 | 0 | $0.96 | $0.44 |
| Efficient EV | 2.3 | 0 | $0.80 | $0.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.27 | $0.58 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in West Hartford on Tuesday
Local time
6:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Partly Sunny
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 20 at 1:57PM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Destination
Morning in New Britain on Tuesday
Local time
6:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Partly Sunny
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 20 at 1:57PM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition between high-speed infrastructure and local streets. Roughly 58% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on the highway, providing a swift pace for the majority of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 4.3 miles on CT 9, which helps you make significant progress before shifting into local traffic. As you move from the initial highway segments onto South Main Street, the road feel changes from a steady, fast-moving commute to a more conventional local road environment. It is a functional drive that balances efficiency with the necessity of navigating local access roads.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 South Main Street.
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 9.1 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 (South Main Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
West Hartford is a town in Connecticut.
Founded 1850
New Britain is a city in Connecticut. The "Hardware City" is the official nickname of the city.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 14m. Total distance: 9.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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