How far is Colchester, CT from Waterbury, CT?

The driving distance from Colchester, CT to Waterbury, CT is about 53.3 miles (85.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 37.2 miles (59.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
53.27 mi
00h 55m
Flight
37.21 mi
59.89 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Colchester.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
37.21 mi
Kilometers
59.89 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
53.27 mi
Kilometers
85.73 km
Drive Time
00h 55m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waterbury
Sat, May 30, 5:14 AM EDT
Return by in Colchester
Sat, May 30, 6:09 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Colchester
2026-05-30T04:18
Arrive Waterbury
Sat, May 30, 5:14 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:56 AM to 10:56 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:38 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Colchester
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Middletown
CT

A city in Middlesex County, Connecticut.

From Colchester
21.4 mi
00h 27m
To Waterbury
31.8 mi
00h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
68°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 16 mph NW
Destination
59°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
14 to 20 mph N

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Colchester and Waterbury.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Colchester and Waterbury.

  1. 1

    Start on Hayward Avenue

    55 m · 15 sec · Hayward Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Lebanon Avenue

    40 m · 6 sec · Lebanon Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Main Street

    136 m · 11 sec · Main Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Linwood Avenue

    2056 ft · 45 sec · Linwood Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on Middletown Road

    6.1 mi · 10 min · Middletown Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Colchester Avenue

    3.1 mi · 5 min · Colchester Avenue

  7. 7

    Continue on Middletown Avenue

    2.4 mi · 4 min · Middletown Avenue

  8. 8

    Turn left onto West High Street

    1.3 km · 59 sec · West High Street

  9. 9

    Continue on Portland-Cobalt Road

    4.2 mi · 7 min · Portland-Cobalt Road

  10. 10

    Continue on Marlborough Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · Marlborough Street

  11. 11

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Main Street

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Main Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Grand Street

    2225 ft · 1 min · Grand Street

  13. 13

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Prospect Street

    560 ft · 16 sec · Prospect Street

  14. 14

    Continue on Liberty Street

    778 ft · 27 sec · Liberty Street

  15. 15

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Newfield Street

    758 ft · 20 sec · Newfield Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Washington Street

    1.9 mi · 4 min · Washington Street

  17. 17

    Continue on Meriden Road

    4.2 mi · 6 min · Meriden Road

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    7.8 mi · 9 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on I 84 West: Waterbury

    1 mi · 1 min

  20. 20

    Merge slight left

    7.2 mi · 9 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward Meadow Street, Bank Street

    1604 ft · 54 sec

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Meadow Street

    2049 ft · 45 sec · Meadow Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    1383 ft · 24 sec · West Main Street

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Colchester and Waterbury.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
24 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
45 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Meriden Road
12.1 mi · 23%
I 84 West
8.17 mi · 15%
Middletown Road
6.13 mi · 12%
Portland-Cobalt Road
4.18 mi · 8%
Colchester Avenue
3.12 mi · 6%
Middletown Avenue
2.35 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Meriden Road

Continue straight

7.82 mi · 00h 09m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 55m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.1 mi
37.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Middletown
00h 27m from Colchester
Leave By
4:38 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny leaving Colchester and Partly Sunny near Waterbury.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Colchester to Waterbury?

The road trip is about 53.3 miles (85.7 km) and usually takes 00h 55m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Middletown is a useful midpoint, sitting about 21.4 miles from Colchester and 31.8 miles from Waterbury.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 37.2 miles (59.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:38 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.42 one way or $14.83 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 16.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny around Colchester and Partly Sunny near Waterbury.

Stop Ideas Near Middletown

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Middletown, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Middletown.

RAIL

Berlin

13 mi away
51 Depot Road
RAIL

Meriden Transit Center

13 mi away
60 State Street
RAIL

Wallingford station

19 mi away
37 Hall Avenue
RAIL

Hartford Union Station

23 mi away
One Union Place

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Colchester and Waterbury. Straight-line distance: 37.21 mi (59.89 km).

Colchester

#1 Colchester

Town in the U.

Population15,774
Coordinates41.5756500, -72.3320300
Altitude144
CountryUnited States
Waterbury

#2 Waterbury

The second most populous city in Connecticut.

Population106,826
Coordinates41.5581500, -73.0515000
Altitude82
CountryUnited States
Start: Hayward Avenue (-72.331811, 41.575728)
End: West Main Street (-73.051505, 41.558157)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 86 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 19m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.88 gal
7.12 L · about $7.42
Round trip
$14.83
3.76 gal · 14.24 L
Estimated CO2
16.7 kg one way
Round trip: 33.4 kg / 74 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $7.42 $14.83
Mid-grade $4.46 $8.38 $16.76
Premium $4.86 $9.13 $18.27
Diesel $6.00 $11.27 $22.55

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Connecticut · May 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Colchester and Waterbury. The current time is 04:18:27.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.