Origin
Meriden, CT
Night in Meriden on Friday
Local time
9:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Meriden, CT to Oakville, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
26m
Distance
18.3 mi
29 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Meriden, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Oakville, CT
David Kanigan
Trip Overview
This short, 18.3-mile drive from Meriden to Oakville, Connecticut, is easily manageable in just 26 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $3, it's an economical option. The route is primarily highway-focused, with about 74% of the journey taking place on major interstates. You'll spend the majority of your time on I-84, experiencing a bit of the Northeast's efficient road network. Given its brevity and straightforward nature, no overnight stays are necessary, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 18.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this journey, with 74% of the drive utilizing major roadways. You'll navigate on I-84 and I-691, which provide a consistent pace for most of the 26-minute trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 7.7 miles on I-84, offering a chance to settle into a steady driving rhythm. While the majority is highway, the route concludes on West Main Street, introducing a brief transition to a more local feel before reaching your destination.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 84 is the longest continuous segment at about 7.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 84 and I 691. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 18.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 26m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (I 691): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 691 West: Waterbury
Navigation decision point
Toward I 691 West: Waterbury
5
2.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 691
Merge onto I 691
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
5.7 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 84 West: Waterbury
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 8B
Toward I 84 West: Waterbury
5
6.7 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 84
Merge onto I 84
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
15.4 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
CT 73
Take the exit onto CT 73 toward CT 73: Oakville, Watertown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 31
Toward CT 73: Oakville, Watertown
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 Meriden, CT to Oakville, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Watertown along the way.
Watertown
15.4 mi in
|
~21m
|
via CT 73
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| I 691 | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| West Main Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| CT 73 | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| CT 8 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Buckingham Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Ballfarm Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 84
— 7.7 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Meriden, CT and Oakville, CT.
1
Start on West Main Street
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Continue on Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 691 West: Waterbury
4
Merge onto I 691
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
I 691
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 8B
Toward I 84 West: Waterbury
6
Merge onto I 84
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
I 84
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Exit 20
Toward CT 8 North: Torrington
8
Merge onto CT 8
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
CT 8
9
Take the exit onto CT 73
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
CT 73
Exit 31
Toward CT 73: Oakville, Watertown
Use the slight left lane.
10
Turn right onto Buckingham Street
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Buckingham Street
11
Turn left onto Ballfarm Road
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Ballfarm Road
12
Arrive at destination
Ballfarm Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.95 one way
$5.89 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $3.24 | $6.48 |
| premium | $4.86 | $3.50 | $7.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.04 | $8.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.92 | $0.88 |
| Efficient EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.60 | $0.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.56 | $1.17 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Oakville, CT
Night in Oakville on Friday
Local time
9:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°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
2 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
26m 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 Oakville, CT covers 18.3 miles and takes about 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 84, I 691, West 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 9.2 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 $2.95 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 10 decision points packed into just 18.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 26m.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (I 691): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Meriden, CT to Oakville, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Watertown along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Weir Farm National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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