Origin
Waterbury, CT
Late night in Waterbury on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterbury, CT to Enfield, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
47.2 mi
76 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 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Enfield, CT
Tima Miroshnichenko
Trip Overview
Spanning 47.2 miles, this straightforward trek across Connecticut connects Waterbury to Enfield in about one hour and two minutes. It is a highly efficient route that serves as a perfect day trip, requiring no overnight stays or complex logistics. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $8, the journey is both economical and quick to execute. You will primarily navigate via Meadow Street, I-84 East, and I-91 North, moving entirely within the Northeast region. Because the route is short and direct, it offers the flexibility to head out for a quick business meeting or a casual visit without needing to pack for an extended excursion.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 29.3 mi | 37m |
| I 91 | 14 mi | 16m |
| King Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Enfield Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Meadow Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 84
— 29.3 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterbury, CT and Enfield, CT.
1
Start on West Main Street
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
West Main Street
2
Turn right onto Meadow Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Meadow Street
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 84 East: Hartford
4
Merge onto I 84
17 mi
·
20 min
·
I 84
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84
12 mi
·
16 min
·
I 84
Use the slight right lane.
6
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 51
Toward I 91 North: Springfield
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 91
14 mi
·
16 min
·
I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
1 min
Exit 46
Toward US 5: King Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn sharp right onto US 5
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
King Street
10
Continue on US 5
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Enfield Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Arrive at destination
US 5
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 23.6 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 45 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 84
Merge onto I 84
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
18.1 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
I 84
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
30.3 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward I 91 North: Springfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 51
Toward I 91 North: Springfield
5
31.1 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
I 91
Merge onto I 91
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
45 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward US 5: King Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 46
Toward US 5: King Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.60 one way
$15.20 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $8.36 | $16.72 |
| premium | $4.86 | $9.04 | $18.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.42 | $20.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.96 | $2.27 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.13 | $1.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.61 | $3.02 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Enfield, CT
Late night in Enfield on Sunday
Local time
12:36 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
1h 2m 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 turn-heavy local drive that transitions into a more structured highway experience as you progress. You will spend your time navigating off the local streets of Waterbury before merging onto the interstate system to cover the bulk of the 47.2-mile distance. While this trip avoids the monotony of a long-haul interstate grind, the initial local segments require your full attention behind the wheel. The route lacks long, uninterrupted stretches, keeping you engaged with a variety of road types throughout the hour-long commute. It is a functional, no-frills drive that prioritizes directness over scenic highway cruising.
92% 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: 29.3 mi on I 84.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 84 and I 91. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near I 84.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.2 miles you will encounter 8 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 1 miles (I 84): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.1 miles (I 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 47.2 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 (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.3 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 Enfield, 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 1 miles (I 84): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.1 miles (I 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Enfield, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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