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Trip from Bristol, CT to New Canaan, CT

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 18m

Distance

56.2 mi

90 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 12m ★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States

Bristol, CT

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown New Canaan, CT, CT

New Canaan, CT

David Kanigan

Trip Overview

The drive from Bristol, CT to New Canaan, CT covers 56.2 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Wolcott Street, Wolcott Road, Stillson Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.05 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 56.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 18m drive with frequent turns across 56.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Wolcott Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Bristol, CT to New Canaan, CT is easy. At 1h 18m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bristol, CT to New Canaan, CT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Wolcott Street
Wolcott Road
Stillson Road
Woodtick Road
Meriden Road
Silver Street Expressway
Washington Street
South Main Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Wolcott Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bristol, CT and New Canaan, CT.

1

Start on West Street

0.3 mi · 30 sec · West Street
2

Continue on Wolcott Street

1.1 mi · 1 min · Wolcott Street
3

Turn straight onto Wolcott Road

6.8 mi · 10 min · Wolcott Road
4

Continue on Wolcott Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Wolcott Street
5

Turn left onto Stillson Road

0.6 mi · 59 sec · Stillson Road
6

Continue on Woodtick Road

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Woodtick Road
7

Continue on Meriden Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Meriden Road
8

Continue on Silver Street Expressway

0.5 mi · 44 sec · Silver Street Expressway
9

Continue on Washington Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Washington Street
10

At the end of the road, turn left onto South Main Street

2.1 mi · 3 min · South Main Street
11

Continue on Waterbury Road

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Waterbury Road
12

Take the ramp straight toward CT 8 South: Bridgeport

0.2 mi · 23 sec · CT 8 South: Bridgeport
13

Merge slight left

21 mi · 25 min
14

Take the exit slight right toward CT 15 South: Merritt Parkway, New York City

0.8 mi · 1 min · CT 15 South: Merritt Parkway, New York City
15

Merge slight left onto Merritt Parkway

18 mi · 23 min · Merritt Parkway
16

Take the exit slight right toward CT 123: New Canaan Avenue

0.1 mi · 20 sec · CT 123: New Canaan Avenue
17

Turn left onto New Canaan Avenue

377 ft · 7 sec · New Canaan Avenue
18

Continue on New Norwalk Road

1.6 mi · 2 min · New Norwalk Road
19

Turn left onto East Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Avenue
20

At the end of the road, turn left onto Main Street

243 ft · 7 sec · Main Street
21

Turn right onto Elm Street

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Elm Street
22

Arrive at your destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 28.1 mi from Bristol, CT · 39m into the drive

town in Connecticut, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Naugatuck, CT

28 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

Waterbury, CT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Naugatuck, CT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 28.1 miles from Bristol, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in New Canaan, CT

The final approach into New Canaan, CT usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.05 one way

$18.09 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 20 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.50 $9.95 $19.91
premium $4.86 $10.76 $21.52
diesel $5.61 $12.41 $24.82

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 19.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 16.9 0 $5.90 $2.70
Efficient EV 14.1 0 $4.92 $2.25
EV Truck/SUV 22.5 0 $7.87 $3.60

Gas CO2

20 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (65% 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.

Forecast as of Mar 4, 2022

Origin

Bristol, CT

Afternoon in Bristol on Thursday

Local time

1:37 PM

EDT

Current temp

33°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

New Canaan, CT

Afternoon in New Canaan on Thursday

Local time

1:37 PM

EDT

Current temp

44°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

11 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

1h 18m 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 New Canaan, CT covers 56.2 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Wolcott Street, Wolcott Road, Stillson Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.1 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 $9.05 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.
The drive from Bristol, CT to New Canaan, CT is easy. At 1h 18m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bristol, CT to New Canaan, CT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Bristol, CT to New Canaan, CT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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