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Trip from Branford, CT to West Hartford, CT

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

51m

Distance

48.4 mi

78 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 47m ★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States

Branford, CT

Wikimedia Commons

town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States

West Hartford, CT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Branford, CT to West Hartford, CT covers 48.4 miles and takes about 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on West Main Street, Saltonstall Parkway, Frontage Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.79 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

This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.

Midpoint

24.2 miles from Branford, CT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 51m drive with frequent turns across 48.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Main 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 Branford, CT to West Hartford, CT is easy. At 51m 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 Branford, CT to West Hartford, CT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
West Main Street
Saltonstall Parkway
Frontage Road
Forbes Avenue
Townsend Avenue
Quinnipiac Avenue
Foxon Boulevard
I 91 North

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: West Main Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Branford, CT and West Hartford, CT.

1

Start on Main Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street
2

Continue on West Main Street

2.0 mi · 3 min · West Main Street
3

Continue on Saltonstall Parkway

0.8 mi · 1 min · Saltonstall Parkway
4

Continue on Frontage Road

0.7 mi · 55 sec · Frontage Road
5

Continue on Forbes Avenue

0.3 mi · 32 sec · Forbes Avenue
6

Turn right onto Townsend Avenue

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Townsend Avenue
7

Turn right onto Quinnipiac Avenue

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Quinnipiac Avenue
8

At the end of the road, turn right onto Quinnipiac Avenue

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Quinnipiac Avenue
9

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Quinnipiac Avenue

20 ft · Quinnipiac Avenue
10

Exit the roundabout onto Quinnipiac Avenue

1.7 mi · 3 min · Quinnipiac Avenue
11

Turn left onto Foxon Boulevard

0.4 mi · 39 sec · Foxon Boulevard
12

Turn slight right onto CT 17 North, I 91 North: Hartford

233 ft · 8 sec · CT 17 North, I 91 North: Hartford
13

Turn straight onto Middletown Avenue

0.3 mi · 34 sec · Middletown Avenue
14

Take the ramp left toward I 91 North: Hartford

0.2 mi · 26 sec · I 91 North: Hartford
15

Merge slight left

16 mi · 18 min
16

Take the exit slight right toward CT 15 North

0.3 mi · 36 sec · CT 15 North
17

Merge slight right

7.4 mi · 9 min
18

Take the exit slight right

515 ft · 14 sec
19

Turn slight right

292 ft · 8 sec
20

Turn slight right onto Frontage Road

0.2 mi · 41 sec · Frontage Road
21

Take the ramp left toward CT 9 North: New Britain

0.2 mi · 25 sec · CT 9 North: New Britain
22

Merge slight left

1.5 mi · 1 min
23

Keep slight right

6.3 mi · 7 min
24

Keep slight right to continue on I 84 East: Hartford

0.6 mi · 59 sec · I 84 East: Hartford
25

Merge slight left onto Grand Army of the Republic Highway

0.9 mi · 1 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
26

Take the exit slight right toward South Main Street, Elmwood

0.3 mi · 40 sec · South Main Street, Elmwood
27

Turn left onto South Main Street

1.6 mi · 3 min · South Main Street
28

Turn left onto Pelham Road

361 ft · 15 sec · Pelham Road
29

Turn right onto LaSalle Road

0.3 mi · 52 sec · LaSalle Road
30

At the end of the road, turn left onto Farmington Avenue

135 ft · 5 sec · Farmington Avenue
31

Turn right onto Dale Street

463 ft · 22 sec · Dale Street
32

Turn right onto Brace Road

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Brace Road
33

At the end of the road, turn right onto North Main Street

289 ft · 10 sec · North Main Street
34

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 24.2 miles from Branford, 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 11 miles or 11m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 24.2 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 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Hartford, CT than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving Branford, CT.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Branford, CT

This is one driving day of about 48.4 miles and 51m.

At 48.4 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 24.2 mi from Branford, CT · 25m into the drive

Downtown Meriden, CT, CT

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Meriden, CT

24 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

New Haven, CT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Meriden, CT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24.2 miles from Branford, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in West Hartford, CT

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into West Hartford, CT if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.79 one way

$15.58 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $8.57 $17.15
premium $4.86 $9.27 $18.54
diesel $5.61 $10.69 $21.37

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$8

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$33–$58

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.5 0 $5.08 $2.32
Efficient EV 12.1 0 $4.23 $1.94
EV Truck/SUV 19.4 0 $6.78 $3.10

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Branford, CT

Afternoon in Branford on Wednesday

Local time

4:15 PM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

West Hartford, CT

Afternoon in West Hartford on Wednesday

Local time

4:15 PM

EDT

Current temp

82°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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

51m 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 Branford, CT to West Hartford, CT covers 48.4 miles and takes about 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Main Street, Saltonstall Parkway, Frontage Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.2 miles from Branford, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.79 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 Branford, CT to West Hartford, CT is easy. At 51m 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 Branford, CT to West Hartford, CT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Branford, CT to West Hartford, CT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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