Origin
Milford, CT
Morning in Milford on Tuesday
Local time
8:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Milford, CT to Waterbury, CT
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
39m
Distance
26.9 mi
43 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Milford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Waterbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition from the coast to the interior, this 26.9-mile drive between Milford and Waterbury is a straightforward commute. The trip typically takes about 39 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via CT 8, supplemented by Grassy Hill Road and North Street. With a fuel budget of approximately $4, it is an economical route that connects two distinct parts of the Northeast. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick change of scenery, this efficient path gets you to your destination without unnecessary hassle.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 8 | 16.9 mi | 21m |
| Grassy Hill Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| North Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| New Haven Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Derby Turnpike | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Riverside Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Derby Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| River Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
CT 8
— 16.9 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Milford, CT and Waterbury, CT.
1
Start on Factory Lane
53 ft
·
7 sec
·
Factory Lane
2
Turn right onto CT 162
137 ft
·
2 sec
·
New Haven Avenue
3
Keep slight left at fork onto Daniel Street
475 ft
·
10 sec
·
Daniel Street
4
Turn right onto River Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
River Street
5
Turn left onto West Main Street
57 ft
·
1 sec
·
West Main Street
6
Keep slight right at fork onto Plymouth Place
387 ft
·
7 sec
·
Plymouth Place
7
Turn slight right onto North Street
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Street
8
Keep slight left at fork onto North Street
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Street
9
Continue on CT 121
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Grassy Hill Road
10
Turn left onto CT 34
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
Derby Turnpike
11
Continue on CT 34
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
New Haven Avenue
12
Continue on CT 34
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Derby Avenue
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto CT 34
508 ft
·
8 sec
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto CT 8
17 mi
·
20 min
·
CT 8
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on CT 8
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
CT 8
Exit 31
Toward I 84 East: Hartford
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 30B
Toward Downtown, Waterbury
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto Riverside Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Riverside Street
19
Continue on Riverside Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Riverside Street
20
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Main Street
21
Arrive at destination
West Main Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 26.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CT 162 / New Haven Avenue
Turn right onto CT 162 / New Haven Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Daniel Street
Keep slight left at fork onto Daniel Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
8.8 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
CT 34 / Main Street
Turn left onto CT 34 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
8.9 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward CT 8 North: Waterbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury
8
26.1 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.33 one way
$8.66 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $4.76 | $9.53 |
| premium | $4.86 | $5.15 | $10.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.94 | $11.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.82 | $1.29 |
| Efficient EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.35 | $1.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.77 | $1.72 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Morning in Waterbury on Tuesday
Local time
8:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
15 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
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 65% of your time spent on main thoroughfares. You will experience a significant 16.9-mile uninterrupted stretch along CT 8, which allows for consistent pacing. As you move away from Milford, the road transitions from local access points into a more sustained highway experience. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that favors speed and directness over technical, winding backroads. Expect a steady, predictable pace that feels like a standard Connecticut transit route.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.9 mi on CT 8.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 8 and Grassy Hill Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CT 162 / New Haven Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 26.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 39m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CT 162 / New Haven Avenue): Navigation decision point; near the start (Daniel Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8.8 miles (CT 34 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Milford, CT
Full guide →Milford is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut. It is bordered to the south by Long Island sound, to the west by the Housatonic river, to the North by the town of Orange, and to the east by the town of West Haven. Milford is approximately 70 miles east of New York City. Milford is home of the Subway chain of restaurants and the Bic company.
Arriving in Waterbury, CT
Full guide →Waterbury is a small city in Connecticut that calls itself Brass City because its industrial base was built on metal industries, including silver, but particularly brass. It is a pleasant city to visit, with a historic downtown, nearby parks, and culinary attractions like a chocolate factory and artisanal bakeries.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 39m. Total distance: 26.9 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 (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.9 miles on CT 8. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Waterbury, CT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CT 162 / New Haven Avenue): Navigation decision point; near the start (Daniel Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8.8 miles (CT 34 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Weir Farm National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waterbury, CT before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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