How far is East Haddam, CT from Essex, CT?

The driving distance from East Haddam, CT to Essex, CT is about 11.3 miles (18.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 17m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 7.8 miles (12.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 35m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
11.33 mi
00h 17m
Flight
7.8 mi
12.55 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from East Haddam.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
7.8 mi
Kilometers
12.55 km
Flight Time

Driving Distance

Road route
11.33 mi
Kilometers
18.24 km
Drive Time
00h 17m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 17m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Essex
Wed, Apr 15, 6:29 AM EDT
Return by in East Haddam
Wed, Apr 15, 6:47 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave East Haddam
2026-04-15T06:12
Arrive Essex
Wed, Apr 15, 6:29 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 17m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:18 AM to 7:18 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:54 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in East Haddam
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Chester
CT

Town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States

From East Haddam
5.7 mi
00h 08m
To Essex
5.7 mi
00h 08m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph S
Destination
74°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between East Haddam and Essex.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between East Haddam and Essex.

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    1223 ft · 39 sec · Main Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Bridge Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · Bridge Road

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Saybrook Road

    54 m · 3 sec · Saybrook Road

  4. 4

    Exit the roundabout onto Saybrook Road

    1850 ft · 31 sec · Saybrook Road

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

    5 m · 1 sec

  6. 6

    Exit the roundabout

    2 mi · 3 min

  7. 7

    Take the ramp straight

    652 ft · 16 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on CT 9 South

    1.4 km · 2 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    5.9 mi · 7 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward CT 154, CT 153: Essex

    1552 ft · 55 sec

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Middlesex Turnpike

    596 ft · 18 sec · Middlesex Turnpike

  12. 12

    Turn left onto West Avenue

    2872 ft · 1 min · West Avenue

  13. 13

    Continue on West Avenue

    1094 ft · 41 sec · West Avenue

  14. 14

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Main Street

    6 m · 1 sec · Main Street

  15. 15

    Exit the roundabout onto Main Street

    55 m · 13 sec · Main Street

  16. 16

    Turn left

    37 m · 16 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Pratt Street

    34 m · 5 sec · Pratt Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Pratt Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between East Haddam and Essex.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
18 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
1 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
159.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
CT 9 South
6.74 mi · 59%
Saybrook Road
2.46 mi · 22%
West Avenue
0.75 mi · 7%
Bridge Road
0.66 mi · 6%
CT 154
0.29 mi · 3%
Main Street
0.27 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

CT 9 South

Merge slight left

5.87 mi · 00h 07m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 17m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.5 mi
7.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chester
00h 08m from East Haddam
Leave By
7:54 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving East Haddam and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Essex.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from East Haddam to Essex?

The road trip is about 11.3 miles (18.2 km) and usually takes 00h 17m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Chester is a useful midpoint, sitting about 5.7 miles from East Haddam and 5.7 miles from Essex.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 7.8 miles (12.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:54 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.58 one way or $3.16 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 3.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around East Haddam and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Essex.

Stop Ideas Near Chester

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Chester, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Chester.

RAIL

Old Saybrook station

13 mi away
455 Boston Post Road
RAIL

New London Union Station

30 mi away
27 Water Street
RAIL

Wallingford station

32 mi away
37 Hall Avenue
RAIL

Meriden Transit Center

33 mi away
60 State Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between East Haddam and Essex. Straight-line distance: 7.8 mi (12.55 km).

East Haddam

#1 East Haddam

City in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States of America

Population8,956
Coordinates41.4531500, -72.4612000
Altitude11
CountryUnited States
Essex

#2 Essex

Town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States

Population6,634
Coordinates41.3534300, -72.3906400
Altitude17
CountryUnited States
Start: East Haddam (-72.4612, 41.45315)
End: Essex (-72.39064, 41.35343)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 18 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 17m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.4 gal
1.51 L · about $1.58
Round trip
$3.16
0.8 gal · 3.02 L
Estimated CO2
3.6 kg one way
Round trip: 7.1 kg / 16 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $1.58 $3.16
Mid-grade $4.46 $1.78 $3.57
Premium $4.86 $1.94 $3.89
Diesel $6.00 $2.40 $4.80

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Connecticut · Apr 15, 2026

There is no time difference between East Haddam and Essex. The current time is 06:12:07.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.