Origin
Stamford, CT
Late night in Stamford on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from 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
48m
Distance
34.8 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stamford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Derby, CT
cottonbro studio
Trip Overview
This straightforward 34.8-mile drive from Stamford, CT, to Derby, CT, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 48 minutes to complete. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 93% of the journey on major roads like I-95 and CT 8, making it a quick trip through Connecticut's Northeast region. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $6, this drive is an economical option for a short excursion. Since there are no recommended stops and the longest continuous stretch is 20.3 miles, you can easily complete this journey without needing an overnight stay, fitting perfectly into a day trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 20.3 mi | 27m |
| CT 8 | 12.1 mi | 14m |
| Grove Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Broad Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Atlantic Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Minerva Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Third Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 20.3 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stamford, CT and Derby, CT.
1
Start on Atlantic Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Atlantic Street
2
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.3 mi
·
57 sec
·
Broad Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto Grove Street
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Grove Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 95 North: New Haven
5
Merge onto I 95
20 mi
·
27 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 27A
Toward CT 25, CT 8: Trumbull, Waterbury
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on CT 8; CT 25
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
CT 8; CT 25
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 8
8.9 mi
·
11 min
·
CT 8
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
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
17 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 34.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.4 miles from 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 0.1 and 34.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Broad Street
Turn right onto Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 North: New Haven
Navigation decision point
Toward I 95 North: New Haven
8
21.4 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward CT 25, CT 8: Trumbull, Waterbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 27A
Toward CT 25, CT 8: Trumbull, Waterbury
8
25.2 mi into trip
|
~34m 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
34.1 mi into trip
|
~46m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.60 one way
$11.20 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.16 | $12.33 |
| premium | $4.86 | $6.66 | $13.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.68 | $15.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.65 | $1.67 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.04 | $1.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.23 |
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
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Fairfield, CT
17 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
48m 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?
Expect a highway-centric experience for most of this 34.8-mile journey. With 93% of the drive on major roads, including I-95 and CT 8, you'll encounter mostly high-speed travel. The longest uninterrupted segment on I-95 spans 20.3 miles, offering a substantial period of consistent driving. This route profile suggests minimal time spent on slower, local roads, making it a direct and efficient path between Stamford and Derby. The focus is on covering distance quickly rather than a winding, scenic exploration.
93% 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: 20.3 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and CT 8. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Broad Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
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 34.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 21.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Stamford, CT and Derby, CT, road signs point toward Waterbury and New Haven.
Waterbury
21.4 mi in
|
~30m
New Haven
25.2 mi in
|
~34m
|
via CT 8
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 34.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.3 miles on I 95. 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 0.1 miles (Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 21.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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