Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
28.5 mi
46 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Haven, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Watertown, CT
Wikimedia Commons
West Haven to Watertown is 28.5 miles and takes about 46 minutes via CT 8, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Connecticut, traversing the Northeast region. The route offers a mix of driving experiences, making it a convenient option for a quick relocation or a brief excursion. You'll find it straightforward to navigate, with a clear path connecting these two points efficiently.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 8 | 6.1 mi | 7m |
| Straits Turnpike | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| Amity Road | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Seymour Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Forest Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Campbell Avenue | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Church Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| New Haven Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between West Haven, CT and Watertown, CT.
Start on Washington Avenue
Turn right onto Court Street
Turn right onto Campbell Avenue
Continue on CT 122
At end of road, turn left onto CT 122; CT 243
Turn right onto CT 122
At end of road, turn left onto CT 63
Continue on CT 63
Turn left onto CT 67
Continue on CT 67
Take the ramp
Merge onto CT 8
Take the exit
Turn left onto South Main Street
Turn left onto Maple Street
Turn right onto Water Street
Turn right onto Church Street
Continue on CT 63
Turn left onto CT 63
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 18.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Court Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Campbell Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
At end of road, turn left onto CT 122; CT 243 / Fountain Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto CT 67 / Seymour Road
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CT 63: South Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$4.59 one way
$9.18 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $5.05 | $10.10 |
| premium | $4.86 | $5.46 | $10.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.29 | $12.58 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.40
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$0
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10 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 | 8.5 | 0 | $2.99 | $1.37 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in West Haven on Tuesday
Local time
5:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Partly Sunny
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 20 at 1:57PM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Destination
Late night in Watertown on Tuesday
Local time
5:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This 28.5-mile drive features 42% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads. The longest stretch on a single road is 6.1 miles, primarily on CT 8. After the highway segments, you'll transition to surface roads like Straits Turnpike and Amity Road. Expect a mixed profile with periods of highway cruising followed by more local driving.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Court Street.
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 28.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Campbell Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.4 miles (CT 122; CT 243 / Fountain Street): Navigation decision point.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 28.5 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 (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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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