Origin
Waterbury, CT
Late night in Waterbury on Sunday
Local time
12:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterbury, CT to Barkhamsted, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
37.9 mi
61 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
5 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Barkhamsted, CT
MART PRODUCTION
Trip Overview
Waterbury, CT to Barkhamsted, CT is 37.9 miles and takes about 51 minutes via CT 8 and Litchfield Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays entirely within Connecticut, moving from the more urban Northeast region towards a more rural setting. Given its brevity, you'll likely find this a straightforward drive, perfect for a quick excursion or connecting to another nearby destination. It's a practical route that doesn't demand a full day, offering flexibility for your travel plans.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 8 | 18.8 mi | 22m |
| Litchfield Turnpike | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| Cherry Brook Road | 6.7 mi | 12m |
| East Main Street | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| North Canton Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| River Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Watertown Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
CT 8
— 18.8 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterbury, CT and Barkhamsted, CT.
1
Start on West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
West Main Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn right onto Watertown Avenue
377 ft
·
6 sec
·
Watertown Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward CT 8 North: Watertown, Torrington
4
Merge onto CT 8
19 mi
·
22 min
·
CT 8
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 50
Toward CT 4, US 202: Downtown Torrington
Use the slight right lane.
6
Turn right onto US 202
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East Main Street
7
Continue on US 202
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Litchfield Turnpike
8
Turn left onto CT 179
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
River Road
9
Continue on CT 179
6.7 mi
·
12 min
·
Cherry Brook Road
10
Continue on CT 179
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Canton Road
11
Arrive at destination
CT 179
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 37.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19 miles from Waterbury, 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 30.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Main Street
Depart onto West Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Watertown Avenue
Turn right onto Watertown Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward CT 8 North: Watertown, Torrington
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CT 8 North: Watertown, Torrington
8
19.4 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward CT 4, US 202: Downtown Torrington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 50
Toward CT 4, US 202: Downtown Torrington
4
30.4 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
CT 179 / River Road
Turn left onto CT 179 / River Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.10 one way
$12.20 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.71 | $13.43 |
| premium | $4.86 | $7.26 | $14.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.37 | $16.74 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.58
Litchfield Turnpike
(8.3 mi)
$0.58
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$7
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 | $3.98 | $1.82 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.32 | $1.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.31 | $2.43 |
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
Barkhamsted, CT
Late night in Barkhamsted on Sunday
Local time
12:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°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
2 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
51m 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 primarily highway, with 72% of the drive on faster roads, including an 18.8-mile stretch on CT 8. You'll experience a significant amount of highway cruising before transitioning to surface roads like Litchfield Turnpike and Cherry Brook Road. Expect a good number of exits and merges during the highway portion, then a more relaxed pace as you approach Barkhamsted.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.8 mi on CT 8.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 8 and Litchfield Turnpike. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Main Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Waterbury, CT to Barkhamsted, CT is easy. At 51m with 72% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (Watertown Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 37.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.8 miles on CT 8. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.58 in tolls one way, starting with Litchfield Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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: near the start (West Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (Watertown Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Barkhamsted, 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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