Origin
Storrs, CT
Afternoon in Storrs on Friday
Local time
1:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
57.3 mi
92 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Storrs, CT
MART PRODUCTION
Waterbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
This 57.3-mile drive from Storrs to Waterbury, Connecticut, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 14 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 85% of it on major roads, so you'll experience a consistent pace for most of the journey. Expect a fuel cost of around $9 for this drive, which is quite reasonable. Given that both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region of Connecticut, you'll be traversing familiar territory without significant regional shifts.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 57.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 57.3-mile route, with 85% of the drive taking place on major roadways. You'll encounter a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 47.9 miles on I-84, offering a chance to settle into a steady cruising speed. While the main roads like I-84, Storrs Road, and Merrow Road form the backbone of this trip, the overall feel is one of efficient transit rather than winding scenic byways. It's a drive designed for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 84 and Storrs Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near CT 195 / Storrs Road.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.3 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 0.4 miles (CT 195 / Storrs Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.5 miles (I 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.5 miles (I 84; US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto CT 195 / Storrs Road
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84; US 6
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Meadow Street, Bank Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 47.9 mi | 58m |
| Storrs Road | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| Merrow Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Tolland Turnpike | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Mansfield Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Meadow Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Storrs, CT and Waterbury, CT.
Start on Mansfield Road
Turn left onto CT 195
Continue on CT 195
Continue on CT 195
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 84
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84; US 6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84
Take the exit
Turn right onto Meadow Street
Turn left onto West Main Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.6 mi from Storrs, CT · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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.
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 28.6 miles from Storrs, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Waterbury, CT usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$9.22 one way
$18.45 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $10.15 | $20.30 |
| premium | $4.86 | $10.97 | $21.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.65 | $25.30 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.07
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$0
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.02 | $2.75 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.02 | $3.67 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Storrs on Friday
Local time
1:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Waterbury on Friday
Local time
1:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Storrs, CT or browse trips ending in Waterbury, CT.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CT road trips.