Origin
Essex, CT
Late night in Essex on Friday
Local time
2:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Essex, CT to Manchester, CT
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
56m
Distance
43.5 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Essex, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Manchester, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Essex, CT to Manchester, CT covers 43.5 miles and takes about 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on CT 9, I 91, I 84 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.8 miles on CT 9. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.00 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 43.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 56m highway drive covering 43.5 miles, with most of the trip on CT 9 and I 91. The longest continuous stretch is about 24.8 miles on CT 9.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CT 9 is the longest continuous segment at about 24.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 9 and I 91. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Avenue.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 43.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 25.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Avenue
Enter roundabout onto West Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
25.8 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward I 91 North: Hartford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 29
Toward I 91 North: Hartford
8
34.9 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward CT 15 North: East Hartford, Boston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 29
Toward CT 15 North: East Hartford, Boston
8
40.3 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward US 6, US 44: Middle Turnpike West, Manchester
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 60
Toward US 6, US 44: Middle Turnpike West, Manch...
6
40.7 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
US 6; US 44 / Middle Turnpike West
Turn right onto US 6; US 44 / Middle Turnpike West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
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 Essex, CT to Manchester, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Boston along the way.
Boston
34.9 mi in
|
~43m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 9 | 24.8 mi | 30m |
| I 91 | 8.5 mi | 10m |
| I 84 | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Center Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| US 5 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| West Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| US 6 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Middle Turnpike West | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
CT 9
— 24.8 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Essex, CT and Manchester, CT.
1
Start on Pratt Street
101 ft
·
6 sec
·
Pratt Street
2
Enter roundabout onto West Avenue
27 ft
·
0 sec
·
West Avenue
3
Continue on West Avenue
96 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Avenue
4
Turn slight right onto Methodist Hill
383 ft
·
10 sec
·
Methodist Hill
5
Continue on Prospect Street
353 ft
·
9 sec
·
Prospect Street
6
Continue on West Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
Toward CT 9 North
8
Merge onto CT 9
25 mi
·
30 min
·
CT 9
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 29
Toward I 91 North: Hartford
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 91
8.5 mi
·
10 min
·
I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 29
Toward CT 15 North: East Hartford, Boston
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
12
Merge onto US 5; CT 15
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 5; CT 15
13
Merge onto I 84; US 6
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 84; US 6
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I 84; US 6
Toward I 84 East: Boston
15
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
US 6
Exit 60
Toward US 6, US 44: Middle Turnpike West, Manchester
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto US 6; US 44
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Middle Turnpike West
Use the right lane.
17
Turn right onto US 6; US 44
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Center Street
Use the right lane.
18
Continue on US 6; US 44
336 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Center Street
19
Arrive at destination
US 6; US 44
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.7 mi from Essex, CT · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.7 miles from Essex, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Manchester, CT
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Manchester, 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
$7.00 one way
$14.01 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $7.70 | $15.41 |
| premium | $4.86 | $8.33 | $16.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.60 | $19.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.57 | $2.09 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.81 | $1.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.09 | $2.78 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Manchester, CT
Late night in Manchester on Friday
Local time
2:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Road read
56m 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 Essex, CT to Manchester, CT covers 43.5 miles and takes about 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CT 9, I 91, I 84. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.7 miles from Essex, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.00 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 short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 43.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 25.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Essex, CT to Manchester, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Boston along the way.
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