Origin
Simsbury, CT
Evening in Simsbury on Friday
Local time
6:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Simsbury, CT to Hartford, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
24m
Distance
12.1 mi
19 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 22m
★
6 AM
0h 24m
8 AM
0h 28m
10 AM
0h 25m
12 PM
0h 25m
3 PM
0h 26m
5 PM
0h 28m
8 PM
0h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Simsbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Hartford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward commute, the 12.1-mile journey from Simsbury to Hartford is an ideal local trip. You can expect to reach your destination in about 24 minutes, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion that requires no overnight stops. Because this route stays entirely within the Northeast region of Connecticut, you won't have to worry about changing landscapes or long-distance logistics. Budgeting just $2 for fuel makes this one of the most affordable drives you can take. It is a practical, no-fuss connection between these two Connecticut locales, serving as a reliable way to get from the suburbs into the city center.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 12.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous highway cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will primarily navigate via Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury Road, and Hartford Road, which keeps the experience focused on local infrastructure. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 4.6 miles along Simsbury Road, requiring you to stay alert through frequent turns. Since you are off the interstate for the entire 24-minute duration, the pace is dictated by local traffic patterns and intersections. It is a hands-on driving experience that demands your full attention compared to the mindless cruising found on major expressways.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Simsbury Road is the longest continuous segment at about 4.6 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
395 ft
49 ft
Total Climb
258 ft
Total Descent
387 ft
Highest Point
395 ft
~4.3 mi in
Elevation Range
346 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in near CT 185 / Hartford Road.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 12.1 miles you will encounter 6 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles (CT 185 / Hartford Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (US 44 / Albany Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles (Garden Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
CT 185 / Hartford Road
Turn left onto CT 185 / Hartford Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
9.4 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
US 44 / Albany Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 44 / Albany Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
11 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
Garden Street
Turn right onto Garden Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
11.5 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
Cogswell Street
Turn right onto Cogswell Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
12 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
Capitol Avenue
Turn left onto Capitol Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Simsbury Road | 4.6 mi | 8m |
| Hopmeadow Street | 2.2 mi | 5m |
| Hartford Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Albany Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Bloomfield Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Garden Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Broad Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Cogswell Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Simsbury Road
— 4.6 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Simsbury, CT and Hartford, CT.
1
Start on US 202; CT 10
2.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Hopmeadow Street
2
Turn left onto CT 185
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Hartford Road
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on CT 185
4.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Simsbury Road
4
Turn straight onto CT 189
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Bloomfield Avenue
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 44
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Albany Avenue
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto Garden Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Garden Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn right onto Cogswell Street
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Cogswell Street
Use the right lane.
8
Continue on Broad Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Broad Street
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn left onto Capitol Avenue
382 ft
·
16 sec
·
Capitol Avenue
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto Armory Road
111 ft
·
9 sec
·
Armory Road
11
Arrive at destination
Armory Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.95 one way
$3.90 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $2.14 | $4.29 |
| premium | $4.86 | $2.32 | $4.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.67 | $5.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.27 | $0.58 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.06 | $0.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.69 | $0.77 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Hartford, CT
Evening in Hartford on Friday
Local time
6:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°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
13 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
24m 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 Simsbury, CT to Hartford, CT covers 12.1 miles and takes about 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Simsbury Road, Hopmeadow Street, Hartford Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6 miles from Simsbury, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.95 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 12.1 miles you will encounter 6 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles (CT 185 / Hartford Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (US 44 / Albany Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles (Garden Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Simsbury, CT to Hartford, CT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 49 ft to 395 ft elevation with about 258 ft of total climbing.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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