Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
28m
Distance
18.8 mi
30 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Farmington, CT
David Kanigan
Manchester, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Farmington to Manchester is 18.8 miles and takes about 28 minutes via I 84, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Connecticut and the Northeast region. It's primarily a highway-focused drive, making it a quick hop between two points. Consider this route if you need to get from Farmington to Manchester efficiently, as it's designed for straightforward travel with minimal fuss. The entire journey should be manageable within a single day, offering a simple transit option.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 18.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This drive leans heavily towards highway travel, with about 70% of the route on major roads like I 84. You'll experience a mostly uninterrupted stretch of 12.4 miles on I 84, which forms the backbone of this journey. While much of the drive is on the interstate, expect some transitions onto local roads like Center Street and Farmington Avenue as you approach your destination. The character is predominantly that of a functional, highway-focused transit, prioritizing speed and directness over scenic detours.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 84 and Center Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in.
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 10 decision points packed into just 18.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 3.2 miles (I 84; US 6): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.1 miles (I 84; US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork toward I 84 East: Hartford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Merge onto I 84; US 6
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Turn right onto US 6; US 44 / Middle Turnpike West
Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Farmington, CT and Manchester, CT, road signs point toward Hartford and Waterbury.
Hartford
Waterbury
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 12.4 mi | 17m |
| Center Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Farmington Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| US 6 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Middle Turnpike West | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Center Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Farmington, CT and Manchester, CT.
Start on CT 10
Take the exit
Turn straight onto CT 4
Take the ramp
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 84; US 6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6
Take the exit onto US 6
Turn right onto US 6; US 44
Turn right onto US 6; US 44
Continue on US 6; US 44
Arrive at destination
Regular Gas
$3.03 one way
$6.05 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $3.33 | $6.66 |
| premium | $4.86 | $3.60 | $7.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.15 | $8.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.97 | $0.90 |
| Efficient EV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.65 | $0.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Farmington on Friday
Local time
7:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Chance Light Rain
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 17 at 3:18PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Destination
Evening in Manchester on Friday
Local time
7:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Light Rain
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 17 at 3:18PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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