Origin
Moodus, CT
Morning in Moodus on Tuesday
Local time
6:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Moodus, 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
59m
Distance
38.1 mi
61 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Moodus, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Waterbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Moodus, CT to Waterbury, CT is 38.1 miles and takes about 59 minutes via I 691 and I 84, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Connecticut, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads as you make your way across the state. It's a straightforward connection, ideal for a quick commute or a brief scenic detour.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 691 | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| I 84 | 7.2 mi | 9m |
| Meriden Road | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Portland-Cobalt Road | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| Moodus Road | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| Middle Haddam Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Washington Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 691
— 7.8 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Moodus, CT and Waterbury, CT.
1
Start on CT 149
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
East Haddam Moodus Road
2
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 151
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Moodus Leesville Road
3
Turn straight onto CT 151
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Leesville Road
4
Continue on CT 151
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Moodus Road
5
Continue on CT 151
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Middle Haddam Road
6
Turn left onto CT 66
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Portland-Cobalt Road
7
Continue on CT 17; CT 66
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Marlborough Street
Use the straight lane.
8
At end of road, turn left onto CT 17; CT 66
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto Grand Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Street
10
At end of road, turn left onto Prospect Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Prospect Street
11
Continue on Liberty Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Liberty Street
12
At end of road, turn left onto CT 3
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Newfield Street
13
Turn right onto CT 66
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on CT 66
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Meriden Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 691
7.8 mi
·
9 min
·
I 691
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 8B
Toward I 84 West: Waterbury
17
Merge onto I 84
7.2 mi
·
9 min
·
I 84
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 21
Toward Meadow Street, Bank Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto Meadow Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Meadow Street
20
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
West Main Street
21
Arrive at destination
West Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.1 miles from Moodus, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 13.1 and 37.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
13.1 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
14.9 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
CT 3 / Newfield Street
At end of road, turn left onto CT 3 / Newfield Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
15 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
CT 66 / Washington Street
Turn right onto CT 66 / Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
29 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 84 West: Waterbury
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 8B
Toward I 84 West: Waterbury
8
37.2 mi into trip
|
~57m 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
$6.13 one way
$12.27 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.75 | $13.50 |
| premium | $4.86 | $7.30 | $14.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.41 | $16.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.4 | 0 | $4.00 | $1.83 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.33 | $1.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.33 | $2.44 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
59°F
Middletown, CT
19 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
59m 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 39% highway, with the longest stretch of continuous highway travel being 7.8 miles on I 691. You'll transition from highway driving to surface roads as you approach Waterbury. Expect to encounter moderate traffic and frequent exits as you navigate the interconnected highway system.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.8 mi on I 691.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.1 miles in near CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 38.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 13.1 miles (CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.9 miles (CT 3 / Newfield Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 15 miles (CT 66 / Washington Street): 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 59m. Total distance: 38.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.8 miles on I 691. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 13.1 miles (CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.9 miles (CT 3 / Newfield Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 15 miles (CT 66 / Washington Street): 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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