Origin
Rockville, CT
Morning in Rockville on Sunday
Local time
7:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rockville, 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
59m
Distance
46.9 mi
75 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 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 9m
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.
Rockville, CT
David Kanigan
Waterbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Rockville, CT to Waterbury, CT is 46.9 miles and takes about 59 minutes via I 84, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop keeps you entirely within Connecticut, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a highly highway-focused journey that’s perfect for a quick trip. It’s a straightforward drive that’s easy to plan and execute, making it a convenient option if you’re looking for a simple point-to-point route without much fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 44.1 mi | 54m |
| Grove Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Meadow Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Reservoir Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 84
— 44.1 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rockville, CT and Waterbury, CT.
1
Start on West Main Street
81 ft
·
5 sec
·
West Main Street
2
Continue on CT 74
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
West Main Street
Use the slight right / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto CT 31
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Grove Street
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on CT 31
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
Reservoir Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 84 West: Hartford
6
Merge onto I 84
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
I 84
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84
8.0 mi
·
9 min
·
I 84
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84; US 6
15 mi
·
19 min
·
I 84; US 6
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84
17 mi
·
20 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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.4 miles from Rockville, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 45.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CT 31 / Grove Street
Turn right onto CT 31 / Grove Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
6.1 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 84
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
14.1 mi into trip
|
~17m 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
29.2 mi into trip
|
~37m 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
45.9 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
$7.55 one way
$15.10 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $8.31 | $16.61 |
| premium | $4.86 | $8.98 | $17.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.35 | $20.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.92 | $2.25 |
| Efficient EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.10 | $1.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.57 | $3.00 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 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 Sunday
Local time
7:32 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
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 route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the journey taking place on high-speed roads. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on I 84, experiencing a long stretch of 44.1 miles without needing to exit. The primary roads are I 84, Grove Street, and West Main Street, indicating a transition from interstate to local roads closer to your destination. This means you'll encounter a consistent driving pace for most of the trip, with a brief shift in character as you approach Waterbury.
94% 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: 44.1 mi on I 84.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 84 and Grove Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near CT 31 / Grove 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 10 decision points packed into just 46.9 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 0.4 miles (CT 31 / Grove Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles (I 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.1 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 59m. Total distance: 46.9 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 (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.1 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 0.4 miles (CT 31 / Grove Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles (I 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.1 miles (I 84; US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Weir Farm National Historical Park and New England National Scenic Trail. 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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