Origin
Andover, CT
Morning in Andover on Tuesday
Local time
6:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Trip from Andover, CT to Waterbury, CT
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
49.2 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Andover, CT
MART PRODUCTION
Waterbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Andover, CT to Waterbury, CT is 49.2 miles and takes about 1h 3m via I 84, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Connecticut, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a drive that is primarily on highways, making it a straightforward journey. It’s a practical option for a quick transit between these two points, requiring minimal planning and fitting easily into a single day.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 33.5 mi | 41m |
| I 384 | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| Jonathan Trumbull Highway | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Hop River Road | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Willimantic Turnpike | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Meadow Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Hebron Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 84
— 33.5 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Andover, CT and Waterbury, CT.
1
Start on Center Street
37 ft
·
2 sec
·
Center Street
2
Turn left onto CT 316
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Hebron Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 6
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Jonathan Trumbull Highway
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 6
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
·
Willimantic Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 6
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Hop River Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on I 384
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
I 384
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 84; US 6
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 84; US 6
Use the straight / slight 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.6 miles from Andover, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 48.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 6 / Jonathan Trumbull Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 6 / Jonathan Trumbull Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
14.7 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 84; US 6
Merge onto I 84; US 6
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
16.5 mi into trip
|
~21m 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
31.5 mi into trip
|
~40m 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
48.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.92 one way
$15.84 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $8.71 | $17.43 |
| premium | $4.86 | $9.42 | $18.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.86 | $21.73 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.04
Willimantic Turnpike
(0.6 mi)
$0.04
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$0
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.17 | $2.36 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.31 | $1.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.89 | $3.15 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Waterbury, CT
Morning in Waterbury on Tuesday
Local time
6:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°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.
Road read
1h 3m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 87% of the route utilizing major roadways like I 84 and I 384. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch at 33.5 miles while on I 84, indicating significant time spent on this interstate. The Jonathan Trumbull Highway also features, suggesting a mix that maintains a relatively high-speed character for most of the 49.2-mile journey. Be prepared for a consistent interstate feel rather than winding local roads.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.5 mi on I 84.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 84 and I 384. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 6 / Jonathan Trumbull Highway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.2 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.2 miles (US 6 / Jonathan Trumbull Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles (I 84; US 6): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.5 miles (I 84; US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Waterbury, CT
Full guide →Waterbury is a small city in Connecticut that calls itself Brass City because its industrial base was built on metal industries, including silver, but particularly brass. It is a pleasant city to visit, with a historic downtown, nearby parks, and culinary attractions like a chocolate factory and artisanal bakeries.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 49.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.5 miles on I 84. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.04 in tolls one way, starting with Willimantic Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Waterbury, CT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 6 / Jonathan Trumbull Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles (I 84; US 6): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.5 miles (I 84; US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waterbury, CT before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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