Middletown sits at the intersection of Routes 9, 66, and 17, about 16 miles south of Hartford and 25 miles north of New Haven. By car from Hartford, take Route 9 south; the drive takes about 25 minutes. From New Haven, Route 15 north and then Route 66 west takes about 35 minutes.
By public transit, Connecticut Transit runs bus service from Hartford. There is no rail connection. Hartford (Bradley International Airport) is the most convenient airport; New Haven and Providence, Rhode Island, are also within range.
Middletown makes most sense as a day trip or overnight from Hartford or New Haven, or as a stop on a drive through central Connecticut.