Origin
Meriden, CT
Evening in Meriden on Sunday
Local time
6:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Meriden, CT to Groton, CT
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
51.5 mi
83 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Meriden, CT
MART PRODUCTION
Groton, CT
MART PRODUCTION
Trip Overview
If you are looking to zip across Connecticut, the 51.5-mile journey from Meriden to Groton is a straightforward, efficient trek. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 9 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via CT 9, I-95, and CT 66, keeping your travel costs predictable with an estimated fuel budget of just $8. Since the route stays entirely within the Northeast, you will experience a consistent regional feel from start to finish. This drive is designed for those who prioritize speed and convenience over scenic meandering, serving as a reliable connector between these two points.
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
25.8 miles from Meriden, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 34m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with 94% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will find yourself cruising along CT 9 for the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip, covering 23.3 miles of pavement. The transition between the primary arteries keeps the pace brisk, though you should be prepared for the typical flow of interstate traffic as you merge onto I-95. Because the route relies so heavily on major thoroughfares, the driving experience is consistent and utilitarian rather than technical or winding. It is a no-nonsense path that gets you to your destination with minimal fuss.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 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 23.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 9 and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Lewis Avenue.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 51.5 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: at 0.1 miles (Lewis Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 33.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Lewis Avenue
Turn right onto Lewis Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 691 East: Middletown
Navigation decision point
Toward I 691 East: Middletown
6
33.3 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North, US 1 North: New London, Providence
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 North, US 1 North: New London, Prov...
6
50.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
US 1
Take the exit onto US 1 toward US 1 North: Thames Street, Downtown Groton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 85
Toward US 1 North: Thames Street, Downtown Grot...
6
51.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
Smith Street
Turn sharp right onto Smith Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Towns Along This Route
Between Meriden, CT and Groton, CT, road signs point toward New Haven and Providence.
New Haven
10 mi in
|
~16m
Providence
33.3 mi in
|
~43m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 9 | 23.3 mi | 27m |
| I 95 | 16.2 mi | 20m |
| CT 66 | 7 mi | 11m |
| I 691 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Lewis Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Mitchell Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| US 1 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
CT 9
— 23.3 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Meriden, CT and Groton, CT.
1
Start on West Main Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
West Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn right onto Lewis Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Lewis Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 691 East: Middletown
4
Merge onto I 691
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
I 691
Use the none lane.
5
Continue on CT 66
7.0 mi
·
11 min
·
CT 66
Use the none lane.
6
Take the ramp
132 ft
·
3 sec
Toward CT 9 South, CT 17 South: Old Saybrook, New Haven
7
Merge onto CT 9; CT 17
23 mi
·
27 min
·
CT 9; CT 17
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 95 North, US 1 North: New London, Providence
9
Merge onto I 95; US 1
16 mi
·
20 min
·
I 95; US 1
10
Take the exit onto US 1
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
US 1
Exit 85
Toward US 1 North: Thames Street, Downtown Groton
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
12
Keep slight left at fork
226 ft
·
9 sec
13
Continue on North Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Street
14
Continue on Mitchell Street
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Mitchell Street
15
Turn right onto Ledyard Avenue
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Ledyard Avenue
16
Turn sharp right onto Smith Street
27 ft
·
1 sec
·
Smith Street
17
Arrive at destination
Smith Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 1-hour and 9-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. However, to avoid the heaviest congestion on I-95, it is wise to plan your departure outside of peak morning or evening commute hours. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled for this 51.5-mile stretch, you can easily complete the entire drive in one go without needing to refuel. If you prefer a more relaxed pace, use the transition onto CT 66 as a natural waypoint to check your navigation or adjust your climate control. Staying alert during the transition from the state highway system to the busier interstate is the best way to ensure a smooth arrival in Groton.
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 25.8 miles from Meriden, CT, or about 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.3 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 51.5 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 25.8 miles or 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Groton, CT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Meriden, 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 Meriden, CT
This is one driving day of about 51.5 miles and 1h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Meriden, 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 9 for about 23.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.8 mi from Meriden, CT · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 51.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.8 miles from Meriden, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Groton, CT
The final approach into Groton, 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 Groton, 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
$8.24 one way
$16.49 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $9.04 | $18.07 |
| premium | $4.83 | $9.79 | $19.58 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $11.44 | $22.88 |
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: 18 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.41 | $2.47 |
| Efficient EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.51 | $2.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.21 | $3.30 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Groton, CT
Evening in Groton on Sunday
Local time
6:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
49°F
Brookhaven, NY
26 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
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 9m 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 Meriden, CT to Groton, CT covers 51.5 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CT 9, I 95, CT 66. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.8 miles from Meriden, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.24 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 13 significant decision points across 51.5 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: at 0.1 miles (Lewis Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 33.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Meriden, CT and Groton, CT, road signs point toward New Haven and Providence.
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