Origin
Groton, CT
Late night in Groton on Sunday
Local time
3:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Groton, 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 26m
Distance
65.3 mi
105 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Groton, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Waterbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 65.3-mile drive from Groton, CT, to Waterbury, CT, will take you approximately 1 hour and 26 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that is easily manageable as a day trip, so no overnight stays are necessary. The estimated fuel cost is around $11, making it an economical journey. You'll primarily travel on CT 9 and I-95 before transitioning to I-691. Given its relatively short distance and highway nature, this route is best suited for efficient travel within the Northeast region.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 9 | 23.3 mi | 27m |
| I 95 | 16.4 mi | 20m |
| I 691 | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| I 84 | 7.2 mi | 9m |
| Meriden Road | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Washington Street | 2.6 mi | 5m |
| Mitchell Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Meadow Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
CT 9
— 23.3 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Groton, CT and Waterbury, CT.
1
Start on Smith Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Smith Street
2
Turn right onto Allen Street
446 ft
·
24 sec
·
Allen Street
3
Turn left onto Mitchell Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Mitchell Street
4
Continue on North Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Street
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
6
Merge onto I 95; US 1
16 mi
·
20 min
·
I 95; US 1
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 69
Toward CT 9 North: Essex, Hartford
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward CT 9 North: Essex, Hartford
9
Continue on CT 9
23 mi
·
27 min
·
CT 9
10
Turn left
150 ft
·
3 sec
Toward CT 66 West: Middletown
11
Continue on Washington Street
2.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on CT 66
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Meriden Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 691
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
I 691
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 8B
Toward I 84 West: Waterbury
15
Merge onto I 84
7.2 mi
·
9 min
·
I 84
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 21
Toward Meadow Street, Bank Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto Meadow Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Meadow Street
18
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
West Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
West Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.7 miles from Groton, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 17.8 and 64.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
17.8 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward CT 9 North: Essex, Hartford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 69
Toward CT 9 North: Essex, Hartford
7
18 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CT 9 North: Essex, Hartford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CT 9 North: Essex, Hartford
6
56.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 84 West: Waterbury
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 8B
Toward I 84 West: Waterbury
5
57.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
I 84
Merge onto I 84
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
64.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m 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
$10.51 one way
$21.02 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $11.57 | $23.13 |
| premium | $4.86 | $12.50 | $25.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.42 | $28.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.86 | $3.13 |
| Efficient EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.1 | 0 | $9.14 | $4.18 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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
3:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
42°F
Middletown, CT
33 mi in
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 26m 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?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience, with 84% of the journey on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 23.3 miles on CT 9, offering a sustained period of highway driving. While not a scenic byway, this route prioritizes directness and speed, allowing you to cover ground efficiently. The character of the drive is consistent, maintaining a highway feel for most of its 65.3 miles.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.3 mi on CT 9.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 9 and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 17.8 miles in.
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 65.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 17.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Groton, CT to Waterbury, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Hartford along the way.
Hartford
17.8 mi in
|
~24m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 65.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.3 miles on CT 9. 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 17.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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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