How far is Waterbury, CT from Preston City, CT?
The driving distance from Waterbury, CT to Preston City, CT is about 73.9 miles (118.9 km), with a travel time of about 01h 36m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 55.7 miles (89.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 13m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
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.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 01h 36m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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.
Census-designated place in Connecticut, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Waterbury and Preston City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterbury and Preston City.
-
1
Start on West Main Street
1383 ft · 26 sec · West Main Street
-
2
Turn right onto Meadow Street
2052 ft · 44 sec · Meadow Street
-
3
Take the ramp slight left toward I 84 East: Hartford
1901 ft · 49 sec
-
4
Merge slight left
7.2 mi · 9 min
-
5
Take the exit slight right toward I 691 East: Meriden
2821 ft · 54 sec
-
6
Continue straight
8.1 mi · 10 min
-
7
Take the exit slight left toward I 91 North: Hartford, Springfield
132 m · 15 sec
-
8
Continue on I 91 North: Hartford, Springfield
1998 ft · 55 sec
-
9
Merge slight left
13 mi · 15 min
-
10
Take the exit slight right toward CT 3 North: Glastonbury, Old Wethersfield
952 ft · 23 sec
-
11
Keep slight left to continue on CT 3 North: Glastonbury
1515 ft · 37 sec
-
12
Merge slight left
1.9 mi · 3 min
-
13
Keep slight right to continue on CT 2 East: Norwich
1622 ft · 34 sec
-
14
Merge slight left
2125 ft · 33 sec
-
15
Keep slight right
19.3 mi · 22 min
-
16
Keep slight left
13.8 mi · 16 min
-
17
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown: CT 2 East, CT 32 South
2890 ft · 2 min
-
18
Turn slight left onto Broadway
3045 ft · 1 min · Broadway
-
19
Continue on Union Street
1856 ft · 37 sec · Union Street
-
20
Turn right onto Broadway
610 ft · 24 sec · Broadway
-
21
Turn sharp left onto Main Street
90 m · 6 sec · Main Street
-
22
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Main Street
17 m · 1 sec · Main Street
-
23
Exit the roundabout onto Main Street
2988 ft · 2 min · Main Street
-
24
Turn left onto Hamilton Avenue
1.3 mi · 3 min · Hamilton Avenue
-
25
Continue on Shetucket Turnpike
3.4 mi · 6 min · Shetucket Turnpike
-
26
Turn right onto Old Shetucket Turnpike
1539 ft · 34 sec · Old Shetucket Turnpike
-
27
Turn left onto Jewett City Road
141 m · 12 sec · Jewett City Road
-
28
Turn right
35 m · 8 sec
-
29
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Waterbury and Preston City.
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.
CT 2 East
Keep slight right
19.3 mi · 00h 22m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Partly Sunny leaving Waterbury and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny near Preston City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Waterbury to Preston City?
The road trip is about 73.9 miles (118.9 km) and usually takes 01h 36m 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?
Glastonbury Center is a useful midpoint, sitting about 36.9 miles from Waterbury and 37 miles from Preston City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 55.7 miles (89.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.2 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 3:16 PM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $10.30 one way or $20.59 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 23.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Waterbury and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny near Preston City.
Stop Ideas Near Glastonbury Center
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Glastonbury Center.
Hartford Union Station
Berlin
Windsor station
Windsor Locks
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Waterbury and Preston City. Straight-line distance: 55.76 mi (89.74 km).
#1 Waterbury
The second most populous city in Connecticut.
| Population | 106,826 |
| Coordinates | 41.5581500, -73.0515000 |
| Altitude | 82 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Preston City
Town in New London County, Connecticut, United States
| Population | 5,000 |
| Coordinates | 41.5289900, -71.9739600 |
| Altitude | 67 |
| Country | United States |
End: Preston City (-71.97396, 41.52899)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 119 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 02h 27m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 01h 50m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 01h 28m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 01h 13m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 01h 03m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 55m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.95 | $10.30 | $20.59 |
| Mid-grade | $4.46 | $11.63 | $23.27 |
| Premium | $4.86 | $12.68 | $25.36 |
| Diesel | $6.00 | $15.65 | $31.30 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.