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Trip from Storrs, CT to Waterbury, CT

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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 9m ★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Storrs, CT, CT

Storrs, CT

MART PRODUCTION

city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States

Waterbury, CT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

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.

Who Is This Route For?

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.

Drive Character

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.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 84 is the longest continuous segment at about 47.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Driving Effort 8/10

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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | CT 195 / Storrs Road

Turn left onto CT 195 / Storrs Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
16.5 mi into trip | ~23m in | I 84

Keep slight right at fork onto I 84

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
24.5 mi into trip | ~33m in | I 84; US 6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 84; US 6

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
39.6 mi into trip | ~52m in | I 84

Keep slight left at fork onto I 84

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
56.3 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 21 Toward Meadow Street, Bank Street

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: I 84 — 47.9 mi, about 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Storrs, CT and Waterbury, CT.

1

Start on Mansfield Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · Mansfield Road
2

Turn left onto CT 195

4.3 mi · 6 min · Storrs Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
3

Continue on CT 195

0.9 mi · 1 min · Tolland Turnpike
4

Continue on CT 195

2.5 mi · 4 min · Merrow Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Toward I 84 West: Hartford
6

Merge onto I 84

8.0 mi · 9 min · I 84
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 84

8.0 mi · 9 min · I 84
Use the straight / right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 84; US 6

15 mi · 19 min · I 84; US 6
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 84

17 mi · 20 min · I 84
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 53 sec
Exit 21 Toward Meadow Street, Bank Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Turn right onto Meadow Street

0.4 mi · 44 sec · Meadow Street
12

Turn left onto West Main Street

0.3 mi · 23 sec · West Main Street
13

Arrive at destination

West Main Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 28.6 mi from Storrs, CT · 38m into the drive

Downtown Hartford, CT, CT

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hartford, CT

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.

Popular next leg

Hartford, CT to Waterbury, CT

30 mi · 38m

Pacing Suggestions

Vernon, CT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hartford, CT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 28.6 miles from Storrs, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Waterbury, CT

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.22 one way

$18.45 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 20 kg CO2
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

Tolland Turnpike (0.9 mi) $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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Jun 22, 2022

Origin

Storrs, CT

Afternoon in Storrs on Friday

Local time

1:25 PM

EDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waterbury, CT

Afternoon in Waterbury on Friday

Local time

1:25 PM

EDT

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

37 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 14m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Storrs, CT to Waterbury, CT covers 57.3 miles and takes about 1h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 84, Storrs Road, Merrow Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 28.6 miles from Storrs, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.22 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

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.

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.

The route from Storrs, CT to Waterbury, CT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Weir Farm National Historical Park.

How this page is built

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.

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