Origin
Stratford, CT
Afternoon in Stratford on Thursday
Local time
3:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Stratford, CT to Waterbury, CT
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
40m
Distance
28.9 mi
46 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stratford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Waterbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 28.9-mile drive from Stratford to Waterbury, Connecticut, is a quick trip that can easily be completed in about 40 minutes. With 78% of the journey on highways, it’s primarily a highway-focused experience, making it a straightforward option for a single-day excursion. You can expect to spend around $5 on fuel for this route. Since it's a short drive through the Northeast region of Connecticut, you won't need to worry about overnight stays. This route is ideal for a brief journey when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 40m. Total distance: 28.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The personality of this drive is distinctly highway-focused, with a significant 78% of the 28.9 miles utilizing faster roads. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 22.6 miles primarily on CT 8. While much of the route involves highway driving, you'll also encounter sections on Huntington Road and Main Street, suggesting a transition into more local thoroughfares as you approach your destination. This blend means you'll spend most of your time on faster roads but should anticipate a change in pace and road type.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 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 22.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 8 and Huntington Road. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 28.9 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Wells Place): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (Huntington Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 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
|
East Street
Turn left onto East Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Wells Place
Turn right onto Wells Place
Navigation decision point
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Huntington Road
Turn left onto Huntington Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
5.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
CT 8
Merge onto CT 8
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
28.1 mi into trip
|
~38m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 8 | 22.6 mi | 28m |
| Huntington Road | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| Main Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Riverside Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Wells Place | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Jane Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
CT 8
— 22.6 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stratford, CT and Waterbury, CT.
1
Start on Jane Street
159 ft
·
12 sec
·
Jane Street
2
Turn left onto East Street
209 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Street
3
Turn right onto Wells Place
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Wells Place
4
Turn left onto CT 113
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
5
Turn left onto Huntington Road
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Huntington Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury
7
Merge onto CT 8
22 mi
·
27 min
·
CT 8
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on CT 8
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
CT 8
Exit 31
Toward I 84 East: Hartford
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 30B
Toward Downtown, Waterbury
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn straight onto Riverside Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Riverside Street
11
Continue on Riverside Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Riverside Street
12
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Main Street
13
Arrive at destination
West Main Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.65 one way
$9.30 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $5.12 | $10.24 |
| premium | $4.86 | $5.53 | $11.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.38 | $12.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.03 | $1.39 |
| Efficient EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.53 | $1.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.05 | $1.85 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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 Thursday
Local time
3:03 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
40m 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 Stratford, CT to Waterbury, CT covers 28.9 miles and takes about 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CT 8, Huntington Road, Main 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 14.4 miles from Stratford, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.65 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 28.9 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Wells Place): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (Huntington Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Stratford, CT to Waterbury, CT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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