Origin
Bethel, CT
Afternoon in Bethel on Monday
Local time
3:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bethel, CT to Meriden, CT
Drive Time
50m
Distance
40.9 mi
66 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethel, CT
David Kanigan
Meriden, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Bethel, CT to Meriden, CT covers 40.9 miles and takes about 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Chestnut Street, Maple Avenue, Plumtrees Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.55 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
20.4 miles from Bethel, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 50m drive with frequent turns across 40.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Chestnut Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Bethel, CT to Meriden, CT is easy. At 50m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bethel, CT to Meriden, CT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chestnut Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Maple Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Plumtrees Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Old Hawleyville Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Stony Hill Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Mount Pleasant Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Hawleyville Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 691 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Chestnut Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethel, CT and Meriden, CT.
1
Start on Greenwood Avenue
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Greenwood Avenue
2
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
420 ft
·
9 sec
·
Chestnut Street
3
Continue on Maple Avenue
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Maple Avenue
4
Turn straight onto Plumtrees Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Plumtrees Road
5
Turn left onto Old Hawleyville Road
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Hawleyville Road
6
Turn right onto Stony Hill Road
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Stony Hill Road
7
Continue on Mount Pleasant Road
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Mount Pleasant Road
8
Turn left onto Hawleyville Road
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Hawleyville Road
9
Take the ramp right
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
10
Merge slight left
28 mi
·
33 min
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 691 East: Meriden
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
I 691 East: Meriden
12
Continue straight
5.9 mi
·
6 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward Meriden
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Meriden
14
Turn slight left onto Columbia Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Columbia Street
15
At the end of the road, turn right onto Colony Street
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Colony Street
16
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Main Street
17
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 20.4 miles from Bethel, CT, or about 25m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 40.9 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 20.4 miles or 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Meriden, CT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bethel, CT so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bethel, CT
This is one driving day of about 40.9 miles and 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bethel, CT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.4 mi from Bethel, CT · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.4 miles from Bethel, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Meriden, CT
The final approach into Meriden, CT usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Meriden, CT.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.55 one way
$13.09 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $7.18 | $14.35 |
| premium | $4.83 | $7.77 | $15.55 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $9.09 | $18.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.29 | $1.96 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.58 | $1.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.73 | $2.62 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Afternoon in Meriden on Monday
Local time
3:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
50m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bethel, CT to Meriden, CT covers 40.9 miles and takes about 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Chestnut Street, Maple Avenue, Plumtrees Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.4 miles from Bethel, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.55 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Bethel, CT to Meriden, CT is easy. At 50m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bethel, CT to Meriden, CT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Bethel, CT to Meriden, CT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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