Origin
Bridgeport, CT
Evening in Bridgeport on Friday
Local time
5:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bridgeport, CT to Waterbury, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
39m
Distance
30.4 mi
49 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bridgeport, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Waterbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 30.4-mile drive from Bridgeport, CT to Waterbury, CT is a quick trip that can easily be completed in under an hour, making it perfect for a single day. The route primarily utilizes CT 8, with brief sections on Riverside Street and Fairfield Avenue, and is largely a highway-focused experience. With a modest fuel cost estimate of around $5, this drive offers an efficient way to travel between these two Northeast locations. Given its short distance and duration, it doesn't require an overnight stay, allowing for maximum flexibility in your travel plans.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 39m. Total distance: 30.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 96% of the journey on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 29.1 miles on CT 8, indicating a consistent flow for much of the trip. This means you'll likely experience a steady pace without many abrupt slowdowns. While the highway percentage suggests a straightforward commute, keep an eye out for the transitions onto Riverside Street and Fairfield Avenue as you approach your destination.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CT 8 is the longest continuous segment at about 29.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 8 and Riverside Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 39m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.5 miles (CT 8; CT 25): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles (CT 8): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward CT 8, CT 25 North: Trumbull, Waterbury
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CT 8, CT 25 North: Trumbull, Waterbury
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CT 8; CT 25
Merge onto CT 8; CT 25
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
3.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
CT 8
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 8 toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
8
29.6 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Waterbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 30B
Toward Downtown, Waterbury
5
30.2 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
West Main Street
Turn right onto West Main Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bridgeport, CT to Waterbury, CT, road signs begin pointing toward New Haven along the way.
New Haven
3.2 mi in
|
~3m
|
via CT 8
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 8 | 29.1 mi | 36m |
| Riverside Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Fairfield Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
CT 8
— 29.1 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bridgeport, CT and Waterbury, CT.
1
Start on CT 130
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Fairfield Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward CT 8, CT 25 North: Trumbull, Waterbury
3
Merge onto CT 8; CT 25
2.7 mi
·
2 min
·
CT 8; CT 25
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 8
26 mi
·
32 min
·
CT 8
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on CT 8
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
CT 8
Exit 31
Toward I 84 East: Hartford
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 30B
Toward Downtown, Waterbury
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn straight onto Riverside Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Riverside Street
8
Continue on Riverside Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Riverside Street
9
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Main Street
10
Arrive at destination
West Main Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.89 one way
$9.79 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $5.38 | $10.77 |
| premium | $4.86 | $5.82 | $11.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.71 | $13.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.19 | $1.46 |
| Efficient EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.66 | $1.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.26 | $1.95 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Waterbury, CT
Evening in Waterbury on Friday
Local time
5:15 PM
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
3 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
39m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bridgeport, CT to Waterbury, CT covers 30.4 miles and takes about 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CT 8, Riverside Street, Fairfield Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.2 miles from Bridgeport, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.89 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 39m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.5 miles (CT 8; CT 25): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles (CT 8): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Bridgeport, CT to Waterbury, CT, road signs begin pointing toward New Haven along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Weir Farm National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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