Origin
Durham, CT
Night in Durham on Sunday
Local time
10:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Durham, CT to West Hartford, CT
Drive Time
40m
Distance
26.8 mi
43 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Durham, CT
MART PRODUCTION
West Hartford, CT
David Kanigan
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion through Connecticut, the 26.8-mile connection between Durham and West Hartford is an efficient choice. Spanning about 40 minutes of travel time, this trip is perfectly suited for a single-day outing. You will primarily navigate via CT 17, CT 9, and Main Street, making for a straightforward journey across the Northeast. Budgeting around $4 for fuel covers the base cost for this short distance. Because the trip is concise, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations, allowing you the flexibility to complete your business or visit and return home with ease.
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
13.4 miles from Durham, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 21m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as roughly 68% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on faster-moving roads. The drive begins with your longest uninterrupted stretch, covering 11.2 miles along CT 17 before transitioning into the remainder of the route. You will find that the personality of the road shifts from regional state routes to the more structured environment of CT 9 and local connectors. While the pace is generally consistent, the mix of highway and local Main Street driving means you should stay alert as you exit the faster corridors. It is a functional drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding, technical paths.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CT 17 is the longest continuous segment at about 11.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 17 and CT 9. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CT 17 / Main Street.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 26.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CT 17 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles (CT 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.5 miles (CT 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CT 17 / Main Street
Turn right onto CT 17 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
5.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
CT 17
Keep slight left at fork onto CT 17 toward CT 9 North, CT 17 North: Portland, New Britain
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward CT 9 North, CT 17 North: Portland, New B...
6
16.5 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
CT 9
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 9
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
8
22.8 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 84 East: Hartford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 40B
Toward I 84 East: Hartford
6
24.2 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward South Main Street, Elmwood
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 41
Toward South Main Street, Elmwood
Towns Along This Route
Between Durham, CT and West Hartford, CT, road signs point toward New Britain and Elmwood.
New Britain
5.7 mi in
|
~11m
|
via CT 17
Elmwood
24.2 mi in
|
~34m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 17 | 11.2 mi | 14m |
| CT 9 | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| Main Street | 5.3 mi | 10m |
| South Main Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| I 84 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| LaSalle Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Brace Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Dale Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
CT 17
— 11.2 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Durham, CT and West Hartford, CT.
1
Start on this road
130 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto CT 17
5.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn right onto CT 17
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
CT 17
Use the right lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto CT 17
11 mi
·
13 min
·
CT 17
Toward CT 9 North, CT 17 North: Portland, New Britain
Use the slight left lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 9
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
CT 9
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
Exit 40B
Toward I 84 East: Hartford
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 84; US 6
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 84; US 6
Use the none lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 41
Toward South Main Street, Elmwood
9
Turn left onto CT 173
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto Pelham Road
359 ft
·
14 sec
·
Pelham Road
11
Turn right onto LaSalle Road
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
LaSalle Road
12
At end of road, turn left onto Farmington Avenue
134 ft
·
5 sec
·
Farmington Avenue
13
Turn right onto Dale Street
462 ft
·
24 sec
·
Dale Street
14
Turn right onto Brace Road
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Brace Road
15
At end of road, turn right onto North Main Street
287 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 40-minute drive, you have significant flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours remains a smart strategy. You won't need to plan for scheduled stops given the brief duration of the trip, but keep an eye on your fuel levels before leaving Durham to ensure you reach West Hartford without a detour. Because the majority of your time is spent on highways, maintain a steady pace and be prepared for the transition onto Main Street as you arrive at your destination. A helpful tip is to keep your navigation app active as you approach the city center to navigate the shift from highway speeds to local traffic patterns effectively.
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 13.4 miles from Durham, CT, or about 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 11.2 miles.
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 26.8 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13.4 miles or 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Hartford, CT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Durham, 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 Durham, CT
This is one driving day of about 26.8 miles and 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Durham, 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.
The longest stretch is on CT 17 for about 11.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13.4 mi from Durham, CT · 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
13 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 26.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 13.4 miles from Durham, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in West Hartford, CT
The final approach into West Hartford, 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 West Hartford, 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
$4.29 one way
$8.58 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $4.70 | $9.41 |
| premium | $4.83 | $5.09 | $10.19 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.95 | $11.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8 | 0 | $2.81 | $1.29 |
| Efficient EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.34 | $1.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.75 | $1.72 |
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
West Hartford, CT
Night in West Hartford on Sunday
Local time
10:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
49°F
Brookhaven, NY
13 mi in
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
28 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
40m 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 Durham, CT to West Hartford, CT covers 26.8 miles and takes about 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CT 17, CT 9, Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.4 miles from Durham, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.29 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 26.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CT 17 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles (CT 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.5 miles (CT 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Durham, CT and West Hartford, CT, road signs point toward New Britain and Elmwood.
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