Origin
West Hartford, CT
Evening in West Hartford on Sunday
Local time
8:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Hartford, CT to Durham, CT
Drive Time
38m
Distance
26.5 mi
43 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Hartford, CT
David Kanigan
Durham, CT
MART PRODUCTION
Trip Overview
Traveling from West Hartford to Durham is a quick, straightforward 26.5-mile journey that typically takes about 38 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this trip is perfectly suited as a simple day excursion that won't require an overnight stay. You will navigate a mix of I-84, South Main Street, and CT 9 to reach your destination in the Northeast region. Budgeting approximately $4 for fuel should be sufficient for a one-way trip, making this an economical commute. This route offers a practical connection between these two Connecticut towns, providing a reliable path for your travel plans.
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
13.2 miles from West Hartford, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 69% of your time spent on higher-speed roads. You will settle into the flow of traffic on the highway for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 16.8 miles while traveling along CT 9. The experience shifts from the initial interstate pace of I-84 into the more localized feel of South Main Street as you approach Durham. Expect a functional, efficient drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding backroads. It is a no-nonsense route that keeps you moving steadily toward 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 11 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 16.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 9 and South Main Street. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Main Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 26.5 miles you will encounter 7 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 (South Main Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (I 84; US 6): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Main Street
Keep slight left at fork onto South Main Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 84; US 6
Merge onto I 84; US 6
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward CT 9 South: New Britain
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 39A
Toward CT 9 South: New Britain
7
20.7 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
CT 17
Take the exit onto CT 17 toward CT 17 South: South Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 23A
Toward CT 17 South: South Main Street
5
21.2 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
CT 17 / South Main Street
Turn left onto CT 17 / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from West Hartford, CT to Durham, CT, road signs begin pointing toward New Britain along the way.
New Britain
3.3 mi in
|
~5m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 9 | 16.8 mi | 19m |
| South Main Street | 7.1 mi | 14m |
| I 84 | 1 mi | 1m |
| CT 17 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
CT 9
— 16.8 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Hartford, CT and Durham, CT.
1
Start on North Main Street
69 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Keep slight left at fork onto South Main Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
4
Merge onto I 84; US 6
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 84; US 6
Use the none lane.
5
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Exit 39A
Toward CT 9 South: New Britain
Use the slight right lane.
6
Continue on this road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Exit 39A
Toward CT 9 South: Newington, New Britain
7
Continue on CT 9
17 mi
·
19 min
·
CT 9
Use the none lane.
8
Take the exit onto CT 17
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
CT 17
Exit 23A
Toward CT 17 South: South Main Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto CT 17
5.3 mi
·
10 min
·
South Main Street
Use the left / right lanes.
10
Turn left
130 ft
·
9 sec
11
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since the total drive time is under 40 minutes, you have maximum flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to plan for any formal stops, as the 26.5-mile distance is short enough to drive in one go. Keep a close watch on your navigation as you transition from the highway onto South Main Street to ensure you don't miss your turn. Because this is such a brief trip, you can easily adapt your schedule to avoid peak local traffic hours. Filling up your tank before you leave West Hartford is a smart way to ensure you reach Durham without needing to hunt for a gas station immediately upon arrival.
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 13.2 miles from West Hartford, CT, or about 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.8 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 26.5 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13.2 miles or 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Durham, CT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Hartford, 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 West Hartford, CT
This is one driving day of about 26.5 miles and 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from West Hartford, 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 16.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13.2 mi from West Hartford, CT · 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
13 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 26.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 13.2 miles from West Hartford, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Durham, CT
The final approach into Durham, 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 Durham, 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
$4.24 one way
$8.48 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $4.65 | $9.30 |
| premium | $4.83 | $5.04 | $10.07 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.89 | $11.77 |
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: 9.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.78 | $1.27 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.32 | $1.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.71 | $1.70 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Durham, CT
Evening in Durham on Sunday
Local time
8:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
49°F
Brookhaven, NY
13 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
28 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
38m 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 West Hartford, CT to Durham, CT covers 26.5 miles and takes about 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CT 9, South Main Street, I 84. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.2 miles from West Hartford, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.24 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 26.5 miles you will encounter 7 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 (South Main Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (I 84; US 6): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from West Hartford, CT to Durham, CT, road signs begin pointing toward New Britain along the way.
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