Origin
Kensington, CT
Late night in Kensington on Sunday
Local time
4:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kensington, 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
30m
Distance
22.8 mi
37 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kensington, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Waterbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This quick 22.8-mile drive from Kensington to Waterbury, Connecticut, is easily manageable in just 30 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. Primarily utilizing I-84 and CT 72, the route is heavily highway-focused, accounting for 80% of the journey. With a modest fuel cost estimate of around $4, this trip is budget-friendly. You'll traverse within the Northeast region, staying within Connecticut for the entire duration. The short distance and straightforward path mean you won't need an overnight stay, offering flexibility for when you decide to go.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 16.7 mi | 20m |
| CT 72 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Corbin Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| New Britain Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Meadow Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 84
— 16.7 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kensington, CT and Waterbury, CT.
1
Start on CT 71
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
New Britain Road
2
Take the ramp
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward CT 72, I 84: Meriden, Southington
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on CT 372
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Corbin Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward CT 72 West: Bristol
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto CT 72
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
CT 72
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84
17 mi
·
20 min
·
I 84
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 21
Toward Meadow Street, Bank Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto Meadow Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Meadow Street
9
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
West Main Street
10
Arrive at destination
West Main Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 22.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward CT 72, I 84: Meriden, Southington
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward CT 72, I 84: Meriden, Southington
7
3.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward CT 72 West: Bristol
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward CT 72 West: Bristol
6
5.1 mi into trip
|
~8m 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
21.8 mi into trip
|
~28m 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
4
22.1 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
Meadow Street
Turn right onto Meadow Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.67 one way
$7.34 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $4.04 | $8.08 |
| premium | $4.86 | $4.37 | $8.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.03 | $10.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8 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 | 6.8 | 0 | $2.39 | $1.09 |
| Efficient EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.99 | $0.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.19 | $1.46 |
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
Late night in Waterbury on Sunday
Local time
4:00 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
41 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
30m 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 highway-focused experience for most of this trip, with 80% of the drive on high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 16.7 miles on I-84, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. As you transition onto CT 72 and Corbin Avenue, the road character may shift slightly, but the emphasis remains on efficient travel rather than scenic detours. This route is designed for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.7 mi on I 84.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 84 and CT 72. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 22.8 miles you will encounter 7 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 0.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles (I 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 30m. Total distance: 22.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.7 miles on I 84. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles (I 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
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