How far is Waterbury, CT from Salem, CT?

The driving distance from Waterbury, CT to Salem, CT is about 59.1 miles (95.1 km), with a travel time of about 01h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 40.5 miles (65.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 30m 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
59.06 mi
01h 15m
Flight
40.42 mi
65.05 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waterbury.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
40.42 mi
Kilometers
65.05 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
59.06 mi
Kilometers
95.05 km
Drive Time
01h 15m

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 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Salem
Tue, May 12, 9:41 PM EDT
Return by in Waterbury
Tue, May 12, 10:56 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waterbury
2026-05-12T20:26
Arrive Salem
Tue, May 12, 9:41 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:15 AM to 11:15 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:00 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Waterbury
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
Wethersfield
CT

Town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States

From Waterbury
29.5 mi
00h 37m
To Salem
29.6 mi
00h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph NW
Destination
66°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West Main Street

    1383 ft · 26 sec · West Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Meadow Street

    2052 ft · 44 sec · Meadow Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 84 East: Hartford

    1901 ft · 49 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    7.2 mi · 9 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 691 East: Meriden

    2821 ft · 54 sec

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    8.1 mi · 10 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight left toward I 91 North: Hartford, Springfield

    132 m · 15 sec

  8. 8

    Continue on I 91 North: Hartford, Springfield

    1998 ft · 55 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    13 mi · 15 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward CT 3 North: Glastonbury, Old Wethersfield

    952 ft · 23 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on CT 3 North: Glastonbury

    1515 ft · 37 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    1.9 mi · 3 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on CT 2 East: Norwich

    1622 ft · 34 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    2125 ft · 33 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right

    19.3 mi · 22 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight right

    1565 ft · 21 sec

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward CT 85, CT 354: Lake Hayward Road

    1410 ft · 45 sec

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Lake Hayward Road

    1608 ft · 35 sec · Lake Hayward Road

  19. 19

    Turn right onto New London Road

    2.9 mi · 4 min · New London Road

  20. 20

    Continue on Hartford Road

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Hartford Road

  21. 21

    Turn left

    51 m · 12 sec

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
22 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
37.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
CT 2 East
20.3 mi · 34%
I 91 North
13.5 mi · 23%
I 691 East
8.66 mi · 15%
I 84 East
7.55 mi · 13%
New London Road
2.9 mi · 5%
Hartford Road
2.5 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

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.

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
01h 15m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.6 mi
40.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Wethersfield
00h 37m from Waterbury
Leave By
4:00 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Waterbury and Mostly Sunny near Salem.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 59.1 miles (95.1 km) and usually takes 01h 15m 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?

Wethersfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 29.5 miles from Waterbury and 29.6 miles from Salem.

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

The direct path is about 40.5 miles (65.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.6 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 4:00 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $8.21 one way or $16.41 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 18.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Waterbury and Mostly Sunny near Salem.

Stop Ideas Near Wethersfield

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Wethersfield, 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 Wethersfield.

RAIL

Hartford Union Station

6 mi away
One Union Place
RAIL

Berlin

13 mi away
51 Depot Road
RAIL

Windsor station

15 mi away
41 Central St.
RAIL

Windsor Locks

22 mi away
South Main St at Stanton Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waterbury and Salem. Straight-line distance: 40.42 mi (65.05 km).

Waterbury

#1 Waterbury

The second most populous city in Connecticut.

Population106,826
Coordinates41.5581500, -73.0515000
Altitude82
CountryUnited States
Salem

#2 Salem

Town in New London County, Connecticut, United States

Population4,083
Coordinates41.4903800, -72.2753600
Altitude107
CountryUnited States
Start: Waterbury (-73.0515, 41.55815)
End: Salem (-72.27536, 41.49038)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 95 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 58m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 28m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 59m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 50m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 44m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.08 gal
7.89 L · about $8.21
Round trip
$16.41
4.16 gal · 15.78 L
Estimated CO2
18.5 kg one way
Round trip: 37 kg / 82 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $8.21 $16.41
Mid-grade $4.46 $9.27 $18.54
Premium $4.86 $10.10 $20.21
Diesel $6.00 $12.47 $24.95

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 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Waterbury and Salem. The current time is 20:26:37.

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.