Origin
Canterbury, CT
Late night in Canterbury on Saturday
Local time
5:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Canterbury, CT to Bristol, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
61.5 mi
99 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Canterbury, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Bristol, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Canterbury, CT to Bristol, CT is 61.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 28 minutes via I-84, I-384, and US-6, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, specifically in Connecticut, offering a straightforward journey. The drive is classified as a mixed drive, suggesting a blend of highway and potentially some local road sections. Given its relatively short duration and manageable distance, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion. It's a practical choice for those looking for an efficient transit between these two Connecticut locations.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 61.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive features a significant highway component, with 57% of the route utilizing interstates like I-84 and I-384, alongside US-6. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 16.8 miles on I-84, indicating periods of consistent, faster travel. The 'mixed drive' profile suggests that beyond the main highways, you might experience some transitions to different road types. Expect a dynamic driving experience that balances efficient highway cruising with potentially more varied conditions as you approach your destination.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 84 is the longest continuous segment at about 16.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.8 miles in near CT 66 / Willimantic Road.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.5 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: at 18.8 miles (CT 66 / Willimantic Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.2 miles (I 84; US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.3 miles (CT 72): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
18.8 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
CT 66 / Willimantic Road
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 66 / Willimantic Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
40.2 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
I 84; US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84; US 6
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
55.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
CT 72
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 72
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 33
6
61.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
CT 72 / School Street
Turn right onto CT 72 / School Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
61.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
|
CT 69 / West Street
Turn left onto CT 69 / West Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 16.8 mi | 21m |
| I 384 | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| US 6 | 5 mi | 6m |
| Westminster Road | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| CT 72 | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Jonathan Trumbull Highway | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| Willimantic Road | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Hop River Road | 2.7 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 84
— 16.8 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Canterbury, CT and Bristol, CT.
1
Start on CT 14
72 ft
·
3 sec
·
Lovell Lane
2
Continue on CT 14
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Westminster Road
3
Continue on CT 14
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Palmer Road
4
Continue on CT 14
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Huntington Road
5
Continue on CT 14
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Scotland Road
6
Turn right onto CT 14; CT 203
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Road
7
Continue on CT 14
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Bricktop Road
8
Turn right onto Tuckie Road
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Tuckie Road
9
At end of road, turn right onto CT 66
290 ft
·
5 sec
·
Boston Post Road
10
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
11
Merge onto US 6
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
US 6
12
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 66
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Willimantic Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 6
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Jonathan Trumbull Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 6
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
·
Willimantic Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 6
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Hop River Road
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on I 384
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
I 384
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 84; US 6
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 84; US 6
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84; US 6
15 mi
·
19 min
·
I 84; US 6
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 72
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
CT 72
Exit 33
Use the slight right lane.
20
Take the exit onto CT 72
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Riverside Avenue
Use the straight / slight right / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto CT 72
276 ft
·
8 sec
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto CT 72
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
School Street
Use the right lane.
23
Turn left onto CT 69
71 ft
·
1 sec
·
West Street
Use the left lane.
24
Arrive at destination
CT 69
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.8 mi from Canterbury, CT · 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.8 miles from Canterbury, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bristol, CT
The final approach into Bristol, 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
$9.55 one way
$19.10 round trip
$3.95/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $10.79 | $21.58 |
| premium | $4.86 | $11.76 | $23.52 |
| diesel | $6.00 | $14.52 | $29.04 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.04
Willimantic Turnpike
(0.6 mi)
$0.04
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$0
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.5 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.46 | $2.95 |
| Efficient EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.38 | $2.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.6 | 0 | $8.61 | $3.94 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Bristol, CT
Late night in Bristol on Saturday
Local time
5:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
33°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
41 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
1h 28m 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 Canterbury, CT to Bristol, CT covers 61.5 miles and takes about 1h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 84, I 384, US 6. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.8 miles from Canterbury, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.55 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 18.8 miles (CT 66 / Willimantic Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.2 miles (I 84; US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.3 miles (CT 72): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Canterbury, CT to Bristol, CT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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