Origin
Derby, CT
Afternoon in Derby on Friday
Local time
4:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Derby, 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
23m
Distance
17.9 mi
29 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 22m
★
6 AM
0h 24m
8 AM
0h 28m
10 AM
0h 25m
12 PM
0h 25m
3 PM
0h 26m
5 PM
0h 28m
8 PM
0h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Derby, CT
cottonbro studio
Waterbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Derby to Waterbury is 17.9 miles and takes about 23 minutes via CT 8, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short, direct trip stays within Connecticut, making it a convenient option for a quick journey. With a high percentage of highway driving, expect a straightforward commute rather than a leisurely scenic tour. This route is ideal for those needing to get from point A to point B efficiently, without much fuss. Plan for a single-day adventure, as it's well within reach for a few hours of travel time.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 23m. Total distance: 17.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This drive is heavily focused on highway travel, with 91% of the route utilizing major roads like CT 8. You'll experience a predominantly highway-focused profile, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 16.2 miles on CT 8. Expect consistent speeds and minimal interruptions for most of your journey. While the initial part of the drive might involve local streets like Elizabeth Street and Riverside Street, the transition to CT 8 quickly establishes the dominant character of this route as a rapid transit corridor.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 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 16.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 8 and Elizabeth Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Elizabeth Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 23m 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: near the start (Elizabeth Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (CT 8): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Elizabeth Street
At end of road, turn right onto Elizabeth Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward CT 8 North: Waterbury
Navigation decision point
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CT 8
Merge onto CT 8
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
17 mi into trip
|
~22m 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
17.7 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
West Main Street
Turn right onto West Main Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 8 | 16.2 mi | 20m |
| Elizabeth Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Riverside Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Seymour Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
CT 8
— 16.2 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Derby, CT and Waterbury, CT.
1
Start on this road
94 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Elizabeth Street
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Elizabeth Street
3
Continue on Seymour Avenue
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Seymour Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury
5
Merge onto CT 8
16 mi
·
19 min
·
CT 8
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on CT 8
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
CT 8
Exit 31
Toward I 84 East: Hartford
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 30B
Toward Downtown, Waterbury
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn straight onto Riverside Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Riverside Street
9
Continue on Riverside Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Riverside Street
10
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Main Street
11
Arrive at destination
West Main Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.88 one way
$5.76 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $3.17 | $6.34 |
| premium | $4.86 | $3.43 | $6.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.95 | $7.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.88 | $0.86 |
| Efficient EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.57 | $0.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.51 | $1.15 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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
Afternoon in Waterbury on Friday
Local time
4:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Chance Rain Showers
N 2 to 7 mph
44% chance
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
35 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
23m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Derby, CT to Waterbury, CT covers 17.9 miles and takes about 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CT 8, Elizabeth Street, Riverside Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.9 miles from Derby, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.88 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 23m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Elizabeth Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (CT 8): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Derby, CT to Waterbury, CT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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