Origin
Bristol, CT
Afternoon in Bristol on Friday
Local time
12:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
33°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bristol, CT to East Haven, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
32.1 mi
52 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 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bristol, CT
Wikimedia Commons
East Haven, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Bristol, CT to East Haven, CT covers 32.1 miles and takes about 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highland Avenue, Whitney Avenue, I 91 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 4.4 miles on Highland Avenue. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.17 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 32.1 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.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 46m drive with frequent turns across 32.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highland Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 4.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 72 / School Street.
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 17 decision points packed into just 32.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CT 72 / School Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (CT 72 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CT 72 / School Street
Turn right onto CT 72 / School Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CT 72 / Main Street
Turn left onto CT 72 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
8.1 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward CT 10: Milldale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 29
Toward CT 10: Milldale
7
23.4 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
CT 40
Take the exit onto CT 40 toward I 91 South: New Haven
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1C
Toward I 91 South: New Haven
8
27 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward CT 17, CT 80: North Branford
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 8
Toward CT 17, CT 80: North Branford
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highland Avenue | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Whitney Avenue | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| I 91 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| CT 40 | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| West Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| I 84 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Middle Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Highland Avenue
— 4.4 mi, about 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bristol, CT and East Haven, CT.
1
Start on CT 69
71 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Street
2
Turn right onto CT 72
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
School Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left onto CT 72
276 ft
·
7 sec
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto CT 72
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Riverside Avenue
Use the right lane.
5
Turn right onto CT 229
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Middle Street
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on CT 229
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 84 West: Waterbury
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 84
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
I 84
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 29
Toward CT 10: Milldale
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Turn sharp right onto CT 10
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
South Main Street
11
Continue on CT 10
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
Norton Street
12
Turn straight onto CT 10
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Cheshire Road
13
Continue on CT 10
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Highland Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on CT 10; CT 68; CT 70
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on CT 10
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Whitney Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward CT 40 South: North Haven
17
Continue on CT 40
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
CT 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit onto CT 40
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
CT 40
Exit 1C
Toward I 91 South: New Haven
Use the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto I 91
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 91
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 8
Toward CT 17, CT 80: North Branford
Use the slight right lane.
21
Turn right onto CT 17
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Middletown Avenue
22
Continue on Ferry Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Ferry Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Continue on Ferry Street
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
Ferry Street
24
Turn right onto Farren Avenue
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Farren Avenue
25
Turn left onto Fairmont Avenue
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Fairmont Avenue
26
Continue on Townsend Avenue
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Townsend Avenue
27
Turn left onto US 1
371 ft
·
6 sec
·
Forbes Avenue
28
Turn right onto US 1
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Frontage Road
29
Continue on US 1
446 ft
·
9 sec
·
Frontage Road
30
Continue on US 1
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
Saltonstall Parkway
31
Turn right onto CT 142
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Hemingway Avenue
32
Arrive at destination
Hemingway Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16 mi from Bristol, CT · 22m into the drive
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 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16 miles from Bristol, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in East Haven, CT
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into East Haven, CT if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.17 one way
$10.34 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $5.69 | $11.37 |
| premium | $4.86 | $6.15 | $12.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.09 | $14.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.37 | $1.54 |
| Efficient EV | 8 | 0 | $2.81 | $1.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.49 | $2.05 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
East Haven, CT
Afternoon in East Haven on Friday
Local time
12:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°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
9 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
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bristol, CT to East Haven, CT covers 32.1 miles and takes about 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highland Avenue, Whitney Avenue, I 91. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16 miles from Bristol, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.17 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 is a short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 32.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CT 72 / School Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (CT 72 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Bristol, CT to East Haven, CT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Weir Farm National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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