How far is Essex, CT from Middletown, CT?

The driving distance from Essex, CT to Middletown, CT is about 20.9 miles (33.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 19.8 miles (31.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 42m 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
20.93 mi
00h 21m
Flight
19.73 mi
31.76 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Essex.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
19.73 mi
Kilometers
31.76 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
20.93 mi
Kilometers
33.68 km
Drive Time
00h 21m

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 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Middletown
Sun, Apr 19, 5:07 AM EDT
Return by in Essex
Sun, Apr 19, 5:28 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Essex
2026-04-19T04:46
Arrive Middletown
Sun, Apr 19, 5:07 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:21 AM to 7:21 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:48 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Essex
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
Haddam
CT

Human settlement in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States of America

From Essex
10.4 mi
00h 10m
To Middletown
10.5 mi
00h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
61°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph SW
Destination
58°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Essex and Middletown.

  1. 1

    Start on Pratt Street

    31 m · 6 sec · Pratt Street

  2. 2

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward West Avenue

    8 m · 1 sec · West Avenue

  3. 3

    Exit the roundabout onto West Avenue

    29 m · 3 sec · West Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn slight right onto Methodist Hill

    117 m · 11 sec · Methodist Hill

  5. 5

    Continue on Prospect Street

    108 m · 10 sec · Prospect Street

  6. 6

    Continue on West Avenue

    2630 ft · 1 min · West Avenue

  7. 7

    Take the ramp right toward CT 9 North

    1493 ft · 20 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight right

    19.7 mi · 24 min

  9. 9

    Turn left onto CT 66 West: Middletown

    46 m · 4 sec

  10. 10

    Continue on Washington Street

    704 ft · 25 sec · Washington Street

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Washington Street

Car Route Details

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

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
11 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
52.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
CT 9 North
20 mi · 96%
West Avenue
0.52 mi · 2%
Washington Street
0.13 mi · 1%
Methodist Hill
0.07 mi
Prospect Street
0.07 mi
CT 66 West
0.03 mi
Longest Stretch

CT 9 North

Merge slight right

19.7 mi · 00h 24m

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 21m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+1.1 mi
19.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Haddam
00h 10m from Essex
Leave By
7:48 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Essex and Rain Showers Likely near Middletown.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Essex to Middletown?

The road trip is about 20.9 miles (33.7 km) and usually takes 00h 21m 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?

Haddam is a useful midpoint, sitting about 10.4 miles from Essex and 10.5 miles from Middletown.

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

The direct path is about 19.8 miles (31.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.1 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 7:48 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.92 one way or $5.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Essex and Rain Showers Likely near Middletown.

Stop Ideas Near Haddam

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Haddam, 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 Haddam.

RAIL

Old Saybrook station

23 mi away
455 Boston Post Road
RAIL

Meriden Transit Center

25 mi away
60 State Street
RAIL

Wallingford station

26 mi away
37 Hall Avenue
RAIL

Berlin

27 mi away
51 Depot Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Essex and Middletown. Straight-line distance: 19.73 mi (31.76 km).

Essex

#1 Essex

Town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States

Population6,634
Coordinates41.3534300, -72.3906400
Altitude17
CountryUnited States
Middletown

#2 Middletown

A city in Middlesex County, Connecticut.

Population46,013
Coordinates41.5623200, -72.6506500
Altitude12
CountryUnited States
Start: Pratt Street (-72.390644, 41.353398)
End: Washington Street (-72.65071, 41.562432)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 34 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 41m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 31m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 17m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 15m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.74 gal
2.8 L · about $2.92
Round trip
$5.84
1.48 gal · 5.6 L
Estimated CO2
6.6 kg one way
Round trip: 13.2 kg / 29 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $2.92 $5.84
Mid-grade $4.46 $3.30 $6.60
Premium $4.86 $3.59 $7.19
Diesel $6.00 $4.44 $8.88

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Essex and Middletown. The current time is 04:46:36.

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.