Origin
North Stamford, CT
Late night in North Stamford on Sunday
Local time
4:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Stamford, CT to Derby, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
32.9 mi
53 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Stamford, CT
David Kanigan
Derby, CT
cottonbro studio
Trip Overview
North Stamford, CT to Derby, CT is 32.9 miles and takes about 46 minutes via Merritt Parkway and CT 8, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This northeastern drive stays within Connecticut, offering a straightforward journey between two points. It's a short trip, making it ideal for a quick getaway or an easy transfer. You'll spend most of your time on highways, so expect a relatively quick transit. Consider this route if you're looking for efficiency and don't need a leisurely pace.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Merritt Parkway | 22.8 mi | 29m |
| CT 8 | 6.3 mi | 8m |
| High Ridge Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| North Stamford Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Minerva Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Third Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Cascade Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Merritt Parkway
— 22.8 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Stamford, CT and Derby, CT.
1
Start on Cascade Road
139 ft
·
6 sec
·
Cascade Road
2
Turn straight onto North Stamford Road
475 ft
·
18 sec
·
North Stamford Road
3
Continue on North Stamford Road
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
North Stamford Road
4
Turn left onto CT 137
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
High Ridge Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
6
Merge onto CT 15
23 mi
·
29 min
·
Merritt Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 34
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto CT 8
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
CT 8
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 12B
Toward CT 34: Derby, New Haven
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto CT 34
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Main Street
Use the left / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto Minerva Street
382 ft
·
18 sec
·
Minerva Street
12
Turn left onto Third Street
197 ft
·
10 sec
·
Third Street
13
Turn right
35 ft
·
2 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 32.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.5 miles from North Stamford, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 32.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
CT 15 / Merritt Parkway
Merge onto CT 15 / Merritt Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
25.1 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward CT 8 North: Waterbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 34
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury
5
26 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
CT 8
Merge onto CT 8
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
32.3 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward CT 34: Derby, New Haven
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 12B
Toward CT 34: Derby, New Haven
5
32.6 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
CT 34 / Main Street
Turn left onto CT 34 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.30 one way
$10.59 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $5.83 | $11.65 |
| premium | $4.86 | $6.30 | $12.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.26 | $14.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.5 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 | 9.9 | 0 | $3.45 | $1.58 |
| Efficient EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.88 | $1.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.61 | $2.11 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Derby, CT
Late night in Derby on Sunday
Local time
4:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Fairfield, CT
16 mi in
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
2 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
46m 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 route is predominantly highway-focused, with 88% of the drive taking place on faster roads. You'll begin on High Ridge Road before merging onto the Merritt Parkway, where the longest uninterrupted stretch of 22.8 miles awaits. Following this, the route transitions to CT 8, maintaining a highway feel for the majority of the trip. Expect a consistent driving experience with limited deviations from major thoroughfares. The character is one of efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.8 mi on Merritt Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Merritt Parkway and CT 8. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near CT 15 / Merritt Parkway.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 32.9 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 2.3 miles (CT 15 / Merritt Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 26 miles (CT 8): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 32.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.8 miles on Merritt Parkway. 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 Derby, 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: at 2.3 miles (CT 15 / Merritt Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 26 miles (CT 8): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Derby, 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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