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Trip from Waterbury, CT to Collinsville, CT

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

40m

Distance

31.9 mi

51 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 11 min
4 AM
0h 37m ★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 39m

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

city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States

Waterbury, CT

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Collinsville, CT, CT

Collinsville, CT

Miller Reyes

Trip Overview

This straightforward 31.9-mile drive from Waterbury, CT to Collinsville, CT takes about 40 minutes and is easily manageable as a single-day trip. With an 85% highway share, expect a quick journey primarily utilizing CT 8 and Litchfield Turnpike before reaching East Main Street in Collinsville. The estimated fuel cost is around $5, making it an economical option for a short excursion. This route stays within the Northeast region, offering a brief but efficient connection between two Connecticut towns. It's a practical choice when you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

15.9 miles from Waterbury, CT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 85% of the journey on higher-speed roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 18.8 miles on CT 8, providing a consistent pace for a good portion of the trip. The character is predominantly that of a functional roadway designed for efficient travel, rather than a winding scenic byway. While primarily highway, transitions onto Litchfield Turnpike and East Main Street will introduce more local road elements as you approach your destination.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CT 8 is the longest continuous segment at about 18.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 8 and Litchfield Turnpike. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Main Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 40m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (Watertown Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

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

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West Main Street

Depart onto West Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
4
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Watertown Avenue

Turn right onto Watertown Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in

Take the ramp toward CT 8 North: Watertown, Torrington

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward CT 8 North: Watertown, Torrington
8
19.4 mi into trip | ~24m in

Take the exit toward CT 4, US 202: Downtown Torrington

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 50 Toward CT 4, US 202: Downtown Torrington
4
31.8 mi into trip | ~40m in | Maple Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto Maple Avenue

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
CT 8 18.8 mi 22m
Litchfield Turnpike 8.3 mi 9m
East Main Street 2.5 mi 3m
River Road 1.4 mi 2m
West Main Street 0.2 mi <1m
Watertown Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Maple Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Center Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: CT 8 — 18.8 mi, about 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on West Main Street

0.2 mi · 37 sec · West Main Street
Use the straight lane.
2

Turn right onto Watertown Avenue

377 ft · 6 sec · Watertown Avenue
3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward CT 8 North: Watertown, Torrington
4

Merge onto CT 8

19 mi · 22 min · CT 8
5

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 33 sec
Exit 50 Toward CT 4, US 202: Downtown Torrington Use the slight right lane.
6

Turn right onto US 202

2.5 mi · 3 min · East Main Street
7

Continue on US 202

8.3 mi · 9 min · Litchfield Turnpike
8

Turn right onto CT 179

1.4 mi · 2 min · River Road
9

At end of road, turn right onto Maple Avenue

233 ft · 6 sec · Maple Avenue
10

Turn slight left onto Center Street

156 ft · 5 sec · Center Street
11

Arrive at destination

Center Street

Trip Plan

Given the short 40-minute duration, this trip offers great flexibility, so you can leave whenever is most convenient. With only 31.9 miles, you won't need to worry about extensive rest stops, though it's always wise to take a brief break if you feel the need. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated $5 cost suggests a relatively fuel-efficient trip, but it's good practice to start with a full tank. A specific tip for this route: be aware that the longest uninterrupted stretch is 18.8 miles on CT 8, so plan any quick checks or adjustments before you get onto that segment.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 15.9 miles from Waterbury, CT, or about 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.8 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 31.9 miles or 40m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 15.9 miles or 20m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 33m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Collinsville, CT than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Waterbury, CT so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Waterbury, CT

This is one driving day of about 31.9 miles and 40m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Waterbury, CT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on CT 8 for about 18.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 15.9 mi from Waterbury, CT · 20m into the drive

town in Suffolk County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Smithtown, NY

16 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Smithtown, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Smithtown, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 15.9 miles from Waterbury, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Collinsville, CT

The final approach into Collinsville, CT usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Collinsville, CT.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.14 one way

$10.27 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 11 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $5.65 $11.30
premium $4.86 $6.11 $12.22
diesel $5.61 $7.04 $14.09

Estimated Tolls: $0.58

Litchfield Turnpike (8.3 mi) $0.58

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$5

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 11.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 9.6 0 $3.35 $1.53
Efficient EV 8 0 $2.79 $1.28
EV Truck/SUV 12.8 0 $4.47 $2.04

Gas CO2

11 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (64% 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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Waterbury, CT

Late night in Waterbury on Wednesday

Local time

2:59 AM

EDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Collinsville, CT

Late night in Collinsville on Wednesday

Local time

2:59 AM

EDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

26 degrees warmer at arrival

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

Road read

40m 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 Waterbury, CT to Collinsville, CT covers 31.9 miles and takes about 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CT 8, Litchfield Turnpike, East Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.9 miles from Waterbury, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.14 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 is a straightforward 40m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (Watertown Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Waterbury, CT to Collinsville, CT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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