Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
43.9 mi
71 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Salmon Brook, CT
Héctor Berganza
Waterbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Salmon Brook to Waterbury covers 43.9 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 2 minutes. This straightforward journey is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You can expect to spend approximately $7 on fuel for the entire excursion. The route transitions through the Northeast region of Connecticut, utilizing a combination of local roads like New Hartford Road and East Hartland Road before connecting to the main thoroughfare. Since this is a relatively quick trip, it offers great flexibility for your schedule, allowing you to easily complete the drive in a morning or afternoon window.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 8 | 27.3 mi | 32m |
| New Hartford Road | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| East Hartland Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| West Granby Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Barkhamsted Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Saville Dam Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Gavitt Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Hartland Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Salmon Brook, CT and Waterbury, CT.
Start on CT 20
Continue on CT 20
Turn left onto CT 219
Continue on CT 219
Turn left onto CT 179; CT 219
Continue on CT 318
At end of road, turn left onto CT 181; CT 318
Turn slight right onto CT 318
At end of road, turn right onto US 44
Take the exit
Merge onto CT 8
Take the exit
Turn sharp left onto West Main Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 21.9 miles from Salmon Brook, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.3 and 43.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto CT 181; CT 318 / Pleasant Valley Road
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward CT 8 SOUTH: Torrington, Waterbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto CT 8 toward CT 8 SOUTH: Torrington, Waterbury
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward West Main Street, Downtown Waterbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn sharp left onto West Main Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Regular Gas
$7.07 one way
$14.13 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $7.78 | $15.55 |
| premium | $4.86 | $8.41 | $16.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.69 | $19.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.61 | $2.11 |
| Efficient EV | 11 | 0 | $3.84 | $1.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.15 | $2.81 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Salmon Brook on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Waterbury on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a drive that balances local navigation with a faster highway-focused pace. Roughly 62% of your time will be spent on highways, providing a consistent flow once you reach the primary transit corridors. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 27.3 miles on CT 8, which serves as the backbone of your journey. The character of the road shifts from the initial local stretches on New Hartford and East Hartland roads into the more structured environment of the state highway. This mix ensures you spend less time idling in local traffic and more time maintaining a steady speed toward your destination.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 8 and New Hartford Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 11.3 miles in near CT 181; CT 318 / Pleasant Valley Road.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 2m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.3 miles (CT 181; CT 318 / Pleasant Valley Road): Navigation decision point; at 15.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16 miles (CT 8): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 43.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Straightforward navigation.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Salmon Brook, CT or browse trips ending in Waterbury, CT.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CT road trips.
