Origin
Berlin, CT
Morning in Berlin on Tuesday
Local time
8:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Trip from Berlin, 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
28m
Distance
21.6 mi
35 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Berlin, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Waterbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This quick 21.6-mile drive from Berlin, CT to Waterbury, CT is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking only about 28 minutes to complete. The primary arteries for this journey are I-84, I-691, and the Berlin Turnpike. With a highway share of 76%, expect a predominantly highway-focused experience. The estimated fuel cost for this short hop is around $3, making it an economical option. Given its brevity, this route is perfect for a spontaneous excursion or a simple point-to-point commute within Connecticut.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 7.2 mi | 9m |
| I 691 | 6.4 mi | 7m |
| Berlin Turnpike | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| North Broad Street | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Meadow Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Worthington Ridge | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Middletown Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 84
— 7.2 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Berlin, CT and Waterbury, CT.
1
Start on Worthington Ridge
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Worthington Ridge
2
Turn left onto Middletown Road
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Middletown Road
3
Turn right onto US 5; CT 15
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Berlin Turnpike
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on US 5; CT 15
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Broad Street
5
Continue on US 5
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broad Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 691 West
7
Merge onto I 691
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
I 691
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 8B
Toward I 84 West: Waterbury
9
Merge onto I 84
7.2 mi
·
9 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
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 20.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 5; CT 15 / Berlin Turnpike
Turn right onto US 5; CT 15 / Berlin Turnpike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
6.1 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 691
Merge onto I 691
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
12.5 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 84 West: Waterbury
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 8B
Toward I 84 West: Waterbury
5
13.5 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
I 84
Merge onto I 84
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
20.6 mi into trip
|
~26m 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
$3.48 one way
$6.95 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $3.83 | $7.65 |
| premium | $4.86 | $4.14 | $8.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.77 | $9.54 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.20
Berlin Turnpike
(2.9 mi)
$0.20
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$0
Total
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.27 | $1.04 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
8:13 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
28m 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?
The character of this drive is largely defined by its highway-centric nature, with 76% of the journey taking place on interstates. You'll encounter stretches on I-84, I-691, and the Berlin Turnpike, offering a consistent pace. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll navigate is approximately 7.2 miles on I-84. While not overly complex, the route demands your attention as you transition between these major roadways. Expect a functional driving experience rather than a scenic tour.
76% 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: 7.2 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 691. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near US 5; CT 15 / Berlin Turnpike.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 21.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (US 5; CT 15 / Berlin Turnpike): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles (I 691): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 28m. Total distance: 21.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.2 miles on I 84. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.20 in tolls one way, starting with Berlin 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 0.5 miles (US 5; CT 15 / Berlin Turnpike): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles (I 691): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Weir Farm National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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, 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
Continue From Waterbury, CT
More from Berlin, CT
More trips to Waterbury, CT
Explore more options from Berlin, CT or browse trips ending in Waterbury, CT.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CT road trips.