The drive from Cos Cob, CT to Bristol, CT covers 66.8 miles and takes about 1h 32m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on CT 8, I 95, Wolcott Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 28.6 miles on CT 8.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.75 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.4 miles from Cos Cob, CT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 66.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 32m highway drive covering 66.8 miles, with most of the trip on CT 8 and I 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 28.6 miles on CT 8.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CT 8 is the longest continuous segment at about 28.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 8 and I 95. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Loughlin Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 66.8 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 0.2 miles (Loughlin Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Loughlin Avenue
Turn right onto Loughlin Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 95: New York City, New Haven
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95: New York City, New Haven
8
25.1 mi into trip|~35m in
Take the exit toward CT 25, CT 8: Trumbull, Waterbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 27A
Toward CT 25, CT 8: Trumbull, Waterbury
8
29 mi into trip|~40m in|CT 8
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 8 toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
8
54.3 mi into trip|~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward South Leonard Street, Washington Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 29
Toward South Leonard Street, Washington Avenue
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cos Cob, CT and Bristol, CT, road signs point toward Waterbury and New Haven.
Waterbury
25.1 mi in|~35m
New Haven
29 mi in|~40m|via CT 8
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
CT 8
28.6 mi
35m
I 95
23.1 mi
31m
Wolcott Road
6.8 mi
10m
Wolcott Street
1.8 mi
2m
East Putnam Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
Meriden Road
0.7 mi
1m
Washington Street
0.7 mi
1m
Stillson Road
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
CT 8
— 28.6 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cos Cob, CT and Bristol, CT.
1
Start on Maplewood Drive
0.2 mi·38 sec·Maplewood Drive
2
Turn right onto Loughlin Avenue
387 ft·21 sec·Loughlin Avenue
3
Turn left onto Strickland Road
480 ft·24 sec·Strickland Road
4
Turn right onto US 1
1.3 mi·2 min·East Putnam Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward I 95: New York City, New HavenUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 95
23 mi·31 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 27AToward CT 25, CT 8: Trumbull, WaterburyUse the right lane.
8
Continue on CT 8; CT 25
3.2 mi·3 min·CT 8; CT 25
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 8
25 mi·31 min·CT 8
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New HavenUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 29Toward South Leonard Street, Washington AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on South Leonard Street
0.3 mi·35 sec·South Leonard Street
12
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
0.4 mi·41 sec·Washington Avenue
13
At end of road, turn right onto South Main Street
83 ft·6 sec·South Main Street
14
Turn left onto Washington Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Washington Street
15
Continue on CT 69
0.5 mi·44 sec·Silver Street Expressway
16
Continue on CT 69
0.7 mi·1 min·Meriden Road
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn slight left onto CT 69
0.4 mi·35 sec·Woodtick Road
18
Turn straight onto CT 69
0.6 mi·1 min·Stillson Road
19
Turn right onto CT 69
0.7 mi·1 min·Wolcott Street
20
Continue on CT 69
6.8 mi·10 min·Wolcott Road
21
Continue on CT 69
1.1 mi·1 min·Wolcott Street
22
Continue on CT 69
0.3 mi·27 sec·West Street
23
Arrive at destination
CT 69
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 33.4 miles from Cos Cob, CT, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 15 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.4 miles or 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bristol, CT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cos Cob, CT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cos Cob, CT
This is one driving day of about 66.8 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Cos Cob, CT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on CT 8 for about 28.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.4 mi from Cos Cob, CT
· 45m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Weir Farm National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Visit the home and studio of America's most beloved Impressionist, J. Alden Weir, and walk in the footsteps of generations of world-class artists. Set amidst more than 60 acres of painterly woods, fie...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 13.8
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20
0
$7.01
$3.21
Efficient EV
16.7
0
$5.85
$2.67
EV Truck/SUV
26.7
0
$9.35
$4.28
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Cos Cob, CT
Afternoon
in Cos Cob on Friday
Local time
1:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bristol, CT
Afternoon
in Bristol on Friday
Local time
1:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Light Rain
N 6 to 10 mph36% chanceLive forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
29 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 32m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cos Cob, CT to Bristol, CT covers 66.8 miles and takes about 1h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CT 8, I 95, Wolcott Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.4 miles from Cos Cob, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.75 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 66.8 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 0.2 miles (Loughlin Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Cos Cob, CT and Bristol, CT, road signs point toward Waterbury and New Haven.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
