Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
25m
Distance
18.6 mi
30 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hartford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Bristol, CT
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Hartford, CT to Bristol, CT covers 18.6 miles and takes about 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 84, CT 72, Riverside Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 11.8 miles on I 84. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.99 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 25m. Total distance: 18.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 25m highway drive covering 18.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 84 and CT 72. The longest continuous stretch is about 11.8 miles on I 84.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 84 and CT 72. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 18.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 25m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (I 84; US 6): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.4 miles (CT 72): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the ramp toward I 84 West: Waterbury
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 84; US 6
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 72
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto CT 72 / School Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto CT 69 / West Street
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 11.8 mi | 14m |
| CT 72 | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Riverside Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| School Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Capitol Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Armory Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hartford, CT and Bristol, CT.
Start on Armory Road
Turn left onto Capitol Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 84; US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 72
Take the exit onto CT 72
Turn left onto CT 72
Turn right onto CT 72
Turn left onto CT 69
Arrive at destination
Regular Gas
$2.99 one way
$5.99 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $3.29 | $6.59 |
| premium | $4.86 | $3.56 | $7.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.11 | $8.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.95 | $0.89 |
| Efficient EV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.63 | $0.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.60 | $1.19 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Hartford on Friday
Local time
3:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Slight Chance Light Rain
Destination
Afternoon in Bristol on Friday
Local time
3:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Slight Chance Light Rain
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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