Best stops on I-691 in Connecticut

All 9 exits ranked by what a road-tripper actually needs: real food choice, easy gas, 24-hour service, and the stops worth a detour. Winners below.

1. Exit 1A — Hartford

Milepost 1 · 27 places to eat · 7 gas stations · 11 hotels · ♥ Wadsworth Falls State Park, Tri-Mountain State Park

2. Exit 8B — Hartford

Milepost 8 · 20 places to eat · 9 gas stations · 2 hotels · ♥ Lake Compounce, Lock 12 Historical Park

3. Exit 2A — Downtown Meriden

Milepost 2 · 29 places to eat · 11 gas stations · 12 hotels · ♥ Lamentation Mountain State Park

4. Exit 7 — Cheshire;Plantsville

Milepost 7 · 20 places to eat · 9 gas stations · 2 hotels · ♥ Farmington Canal Line State Park Trail

5. Exit 2B — Meriden

Milepost 2 · 27 places to eat · 7 gas stations · 10 hotels · ♥ Quinnipiac River State Park

6. Exit 1B — New Haven

Milepost 1 · 22 places to eat · 7 gas stations · 12 hotels · open 24 hours

7. Exit 5 — Southington

Milepost 5 · 18 places to eat · 5 gas stations · 1 hotels · ♥ Sleeping Giant State Park

8. Exit 3 — Chamberlain Highway

Milepost 3 · 26 places to eat · 6 gas stations · 7 hotels

9. Exit 1C — Berlin Turnpike

Milepost 1 · 18 places to eat · 7 gas stations · 10 hotels

← Every I-691 exit in Connecticut