Origin
Portland, CT
Late night in Portland on Wednesday
Local time
12:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Portland, CT to Essex, CT
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
31m
Distance
22.6 mi
36 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 29m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 37m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portland, CT
MART PRODUCTION
Essex, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Portland, CT to Essex, CT covers 22.6 miles and takes about 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on CT 9, CT 17, Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 15.5 miles on CT 9. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.64 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
11.3 miles from Portland, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 31m highway drive covering 22.6 miles, with most of the trip on CT 9 and CT 17. The longest continuous stretch is about 15.5 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 15 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 15.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 9 and CT 17. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CT 17; CT 66 / Marlborough Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 31m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CT 17; CT 66 / Marlborough Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (CT 17): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CT 17; CT 66 / Marlborough Street
Continue onto CT 17; CT 66 / Marlborough Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
CT 17
Take the exit onto CT 17
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
21.3 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward CT 154, CT 153: Essex
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 3
Toward CT 154, CT 153: Essex
5
22.5 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
Main Street
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 9 | 15.5 mi | 17m |
| CT 17 | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| Main Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| West Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Marlborough Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Middlesex Turnpike | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Pratt Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
CT 9
— 15.5 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portland, CT and Essex, CT.
1
Start on CT 17; CT 66
162 ft
·
3 sec
·
CT 17; CT 66
2
Merge onto CT 17; CT 66
262 ft
·
11 sec
·
Marlborough Street
3
Continue on CT 17; CT 66
465 ft
·
24 sec
·
Marlborough Street
Use the left lane.
4
At end of road, turn left onto CT 17; CT 66
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
5
Take the exit onto CT 17
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
CT 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on CT 9
15 mi
·
17 min
·
CT 9
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 3
Toward CT 154, CT 153: Essex
8
Turn left onto CT 154
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Middlesex Turnpike
9
Turn left onto West Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Avenue
10
Continue on West Avenue
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
West Avenue
11
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
18 ft
·
0 sec
·
Main Street
12
Continue on Main Street
179 ft
·
13 sec
·
Main Street
13
Turn left
120 ft
·
15 sec
14
Turn left onto Pratt Street
113 ft
·
5 sec
·
Pratt Street
15
Arrive at destination
Pratt Street
Trip Plan
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 11.3 miles from Portland, CT, or about 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.5 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 22.6 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 11.3 miles or 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Essex, CT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Portland, 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 Portland, CT
This is one driving day of about 22.6 miles and 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Portland, 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 15.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 11.3 mi from Portland, CT · 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
11 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 22.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 11.3 miles from Portland, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Essex, CT
The final approach into Essex, 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 Essex, 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
$3.64 one way
$7.28 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $4.00 | $8.01 |
| premium | $4.86 | $4.33 | $8.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.99 | $9.98 |
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: 7.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.37 | $1.08 |
| Efficient EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.98 | $0.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9 | 0 | $3.16 | $1.45 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Essex, CT
Late night in Essex on Wednesday
Local time
12:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Brookhaven, NY
11 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
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
31m 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 Portland, CT to Essex, CT covers 22.6 miles and takes about 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CT 9, CT 17, 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 11.3 miles from Portland, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.64 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 straightforward 31m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CT 17; CT 66 / Marlborough Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (CT 17): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Portland, CT to Essex, CT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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