Origin
Ellington, CT
Late night in Ellington on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ellington, CT to Waterbury, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
47.8 mi
77 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.
Ellington, CT
MART PRODUCTION
Waterbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Ellington, CT to Waterbury, CT is 47.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 3 minutes via I 84, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within Connecticut, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It’s a relatively short trip, primarily on the interstate, making it a convenient option for a quick journey. You'll find it’s a practical route for getting between these two points without much fuss. Consider this your go-to for a no-nonsense connection within the state.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 39.7 mi | 48m |
| Talcottville Road | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| West Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Windsor Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Meadow Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Union Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 84
— 39.7 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ellington, CT and Waterbury, CT.
1
Start on CT 286
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto CT 83
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
West Road
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on CT 83
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
West Street
4
Turn right onto CT 74; CT 83
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Union Street
5
Continue on CT 74; CT 83
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Windsor Avenue
6
Continue on CT 83
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Talcottville Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on CT 30; CT 83
298 ft
·
5 sec
·
Hartford Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 84 West
9
Merge onto I 84
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
I 84
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84; US 6
15 mi
·
19 min
·
I 84; US 6
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84
17 mi
·
20 min
·
I 84
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 21
Toward Meadow Street, Bank Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto Meadow Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Meadow Street
14
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
West Main Street
15
Arrive at destination
West Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 23.9 miles from Ellington, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 46.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CT 83 / West Road
Turn right onto CT 83 / West Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
7.1 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 84
Merge onto I 84
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
15.1 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
30.2 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
46.9 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
$7.70 one way
$15.39 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $8.47 | $16.93 |
| premium | $4.86 | $9.15 | $18.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.55 | $21.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 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 | 14.3 | 0 | $5.02 | $2.29 |
| Efficient EV | 12 | 0 | $4.18 | $1.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.69 | $3.06 |
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
Late night in Waterbury on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
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
1 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 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 overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 83% of the journey on major roads like I 84. You'll experience a significant stretch of 39.7 miles on I 84, offering a consistent pace for a good portion of the trip. While Talcottville Road and West Road will guide you at the beginning and end, the bulk of your time will be spent on the interstate. Expect a driving experience characterized by efficiency and speed rather than winding backroads or frequent scenery changes.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.7 mi on I 84.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 84 and Talcottville Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near CT 83 / West Road.
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 47.8 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 0.6 miles (CT 83 / West Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles (I 84): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.1 miles (I 84; US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 47.8 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 (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.7 miles on I 84. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.6 miles (CT 83 / West Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles (I 84): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.1 miles (I 84; US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New England National Scenic Trail and 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.
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