Origin
Windsor, CT
Morning in Windsor on Tuesday
Local time
7:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Windsor, CT to Meriden, 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
37m
Distance
26.1 mi
42 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Windsor, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Meriden, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 26.1-mile journey from Windsor to Meriden, Connecticut, is a quick trip that can easily be completed in about 37 minutes. It's a straightforward drive, predominantly on highways, making it ideal as a single-day excursion. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $4, this route is budget-friendly. You'll spend most of your time on major roads like US 5 and I-91. The overall feel of this drive is functional, focusing on efficient travel between two points within the Northeast region. Given its short length and minimal stops, it's best suited for those looking for a direct and uncomplicated transit.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 5 | 13.3 mi | 16m |
| I 91 | 7.1 mi | 9m |
| North Broad Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Park Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Broad Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Liberty Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Windsor Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 5
— 13.3 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Windsor, CT and Meriden, CT.
1
Start on Broad Street
56 ft
·
10 sec
·
Broad Street
2
Continue on CT 159
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Broad Street
3
Continue on CT 159
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Windsor Avenue
4
Turn right onto CT 178
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 91 South: Hartford
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Merge onto I 91
7.1 mi
·
9 min
·
I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 28
Toward US 5 South, CT 15 South: Wethersfield, Newington
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto US 5; CT 15
13 mi
·
16 min
·
US 5; CT 15
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 5
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
North Broad Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto Liberty Street
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Liberty Street
11
Turn straight onto East Main Street
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
East Main Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Arrive at destination
West Main Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 10 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CT 178 / Park Avenue
Turn right onto CT 178 / Park Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 91 South: Hartford
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 91 South: Hartford
5
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 91
Merge onto I 91
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
9.2 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward US 5 South, CT 15 South: Wethersfield, Newington
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 28
Toward US 5 South, CT 15 South: Wethersfield, N...
5
10 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
US 5; CT 15
Merge onto US 5; CT 15
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.20 one way
$8.40 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $4.62 | $9.25 |
| premium | $4.86 | $5.00 | $10.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.76 | $11.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.74 | $1.25 |
| Efficient EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.28 | $1.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.65 | $1.67 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Meriden, CT
Morning in Meriden on Tuesday
Local time
7:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
N 9 mph
54% chance
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
32 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
37m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience on this drive, with approximately 78% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll navigate stretches of US 5 and I-91, which offer a consistent pace for most of the journey. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 13.3 miles on US 5, providing a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. While primarily highway, the route does incorporate some local road segments, including North Broad Street towards the end. This blend means you'll experience both the efficiency of interstate travel and the slightly more varied conditions of local thoroughfares as you approach Meriden.
78% 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: 13.3 mi on US 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 5 and I 91. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near CT 178 / Park Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 26.1 miles you will encounter 7 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 1.1 miles (CT 178 / Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (I 91): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
On the drive from Windsor, CT to Meriden, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Newington along the way.
Newington
9.2 mi in
|
~14m
About the Cities
Arriving in Meriden, CT
Full guide →Meriden is a city in the Connecticut River Valley. Although not a major tourist destination, it does have an architecturally notable center.
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 37m. Total distance: 26.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.3 miles on US 5. 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 Meriden, 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 1.1 miles (CT 178 / Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (I 91): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Meriden, 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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