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Trip from Stratford, CT to Manchester, CT

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 16m

Distance

57.6 mi

93 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 11m ★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States

Stratford, CT

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Manchester, CT, CT

Manchester, CT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Stratford, CT to Manchester, CT covers 57.6 miles and takes about 1h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Wilbur Cross Parkway, Berlin Turnpike, Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 30.4 miles on Wilbur Cross Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.27 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 57.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 16m highway drive covering 57.6 miles, with most of the trip on Wilbur Cross Parkway and Berlin Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch is about 30.4 miles on Wilbur Cross Parkway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Wilbur Cross Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 30.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Wilbur Cross Parkway and Berlin Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.6 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (East Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Wells Place): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (CT 113 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Street

Turn left onto East Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Wells Place

Turn right onto Wells Place

Navigation decision point

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | CT 113 / Main Street

Turn left onto CT 113 / Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
8
54.5 mi into trip | ~1h 11m in | US 6

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 60 Toward US 6, US 44: Middle Turnpike West, Manch...
6
54.9 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in | US 6; US 44 / Middle Turnpike West

Turn right onto US 6; US 44 / Middle Turnpike West

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Wilbur Cross Parkway 30.4 mi 37m
Berlin Turnpike 15.7 mi 20m
Main Street 4.5 mi 7m
I 84 2.8 mi 3m
Center Street 2.3 mi 3m
Merritt Parkway 0.7 mi <1m
US 6 0.4 mi <1m
Middle Turnpike West 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Wilbur Cross Parkway — 30.4 mi, about 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Stratford, CT and Manchester, CT.

1

Start on Jane Street

159 ft · 12 sec · Jane Street
2

Turn left onto East Street

209 ft · 11 sec · East Street
3

Turn right onto Wells Place

0.1 mi · 33 sec · Wells Place
4

Turn left onto CT 113

2.9 mi · 4 min · Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5

Continue on CT 110

1.6 mi · 2 min · Main Street
6

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec
7

Merge onto CT 15

0.7 mi · 59 sec · Merritt Parkway
8

Continue on CT 15

30 mi · 37 min · Wilbur Cross Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on US 5; CT 15

16 mi · 20 min · Berlin Turnpike
Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Merge onto I 84; US 6

1.4 mi · 1 min · I 84; US 6
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6

1.3 mi · 1 min · I 84; US 6
Toward I 84 East: Boston
12

Take the exit onto US 6

0.4 mi · 58 sec · US 6
Exit 60 Toward US 6, US 44: Middle Turnpike West, Manchester Use the slight right lane.
13

Turn right onto US 6; US 44

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Middle Turnpike West
Use the right lane.
14

Turn right onto US 6; US 44

2.3 mi · 3 min · Center Street
Use the right lane.
15

Continue on US 6; US 44

336 ft · 12 sec · East Center Street
16

Arrive at destination

US 6; US 44

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 28.8 mi from Stratford, CT · 38m into the drive

Downtown Newington, CT, CT

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Newington, CT

29 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

Ansonia, CT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Meriden, CT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 28.8 miles from Stratford, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Manchester, CT

The final approach into Manchester, CT usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.27 one way

$18.55 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 20 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $10.20 $20.40
premium $4.86 $11.03 $22.06
diesel $5.61 $12.72 $25.43

Estimated Tolls: $1.10

Berlin Turnpike (15.7 mi) $1.10

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Tolls

$1

Total

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 17.3 0 $6.05 $2.76
Efficient EV 14.4 0 $5.04 $2.30
EV Truck/SUV 23 0 $8.06 $3.69

Gas CO2

20 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (65% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Stratford, CT

Morning in Stratford on Friday

Local time

9:12 AM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Manchester, CT

Morning in Manchester on Friday

Local time

9:12 AM

EDT

Current temp

--

Unavailable

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Road read

1h 16m 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 Stratford, CT to Manchester, CT covers 57.6 miles and takes about 1h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Wilbur Cross Parkway, Berlin Turnpike, 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 28.8 miles from Stratford, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.27 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 57.6 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (East Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Wells Place): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (CT 113 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Stratford, CT to Manchester, CT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.

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