Origin
Colchester, CT
Evening in Colchester on Thursday
Local time
6:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colchester, CT to Bristol, CT
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
56m
Distance
43.7 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 6m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Colchester, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Bristol, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Colchester, CT to Bristol, CT covers 43.7 miles and takes about 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on CT 2, I 84, CT 72 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 22.6 miles on CT 2. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.04 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 43.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m 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.
Drive Character
This is a 56m highway drive covering 43.7 miles, with most of the trip on CT 2 and I 84. The longest continuous stretch is about 22.6 miles on CT 2.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CT 2 is the longest continuous segment at about 22.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 2 and I 84. 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 16 / Lebanon Avenue.
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 12 decision points packed into just 43.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CT 16 / Lebanon Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 23.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.5 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.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CT 16 / Lebanon Avenue
Turn left onto CT 16 / Lebanon Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
23.4 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward I 84 West, I 91 North
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 1B
Toward I 84 West, I 91 North
7
37.5 mi into trip
|
~47m 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
43.3 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
CT 72 / School Street
Turn right onto CT 72 / School Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
43.7 mi into trip
|
~56m 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CT 2 | 22.6 mi | 27m |
| I 84 | 13.5 mi | 17m |
| CT 72 | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Riverside Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Linwood Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| School Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Hayward Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
CT 2
— 22.6 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colchester, CT and Bristol, CT.
1
Start on Hayward Avenue
181 ft
·
14 sec
·
Hayward Avenue
2
Turn left onto CT 16
132 ft
·
6 sec
·
Lebanon Avenue
3
Turn left onto CT 16; CT 85
445 ft
·
10 sec
·
Main Street
4
Turn right onto CT 16
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
Linwood Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward CT 2 West: Hartford
6
Merge onto CT 2
23 mi
·
27 min
·
CT 2
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1B
Toward I 84 West, I 91 North
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 84; US 6
13 mi
·
17 min
·
I 84; US 6
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 72
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
CT 72
Exit 33
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit onto CT 72
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Riverside Avenue
Use the straight / slight right / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto CT 72
276 ft
·
8 sec
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto CT 72
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
School Street
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto CT 69
71 ft
·
1 sec
·
West Street
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
CT 69
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.8 mi from Colchester, CT · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.8 miles from Colchester, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bristol, CT
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Bristol, 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
$7.04 one way
$14.07 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $7.74 | $15.48 |
| premium | $4.86 | $8.37 | $16.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.65 | $19.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.59 | $2.10 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.12 | $2.80 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Bristol, CT
Evening in Bristol on Thursday
Local time
6:48 PM
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
8 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
56m 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 Colchester, CT to Bristol, CT covers 43.7 miles and takes about 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CT 2, I 84, CT 72. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.8 miles from Colchester, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.04 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 12 decision points packed into just 43.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CT 16 / Lebanon Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 23.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.5 miles (CT 72): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Colchester, CT to Bristol, CT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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