Origin
Thompsonville, CT
Evening in Thompsonville on Friday
Local time
6:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Thompsonville, CT to Bristol, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
37.5 mi
60 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thompsonville, CT
David Kanigan
Bristol, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Thompsonville to Bristol is 37.5 miles and takes about 49 minutes via I-91 and I-84, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short, highway-focused drive stays within Connecticut, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's a straightforward trip, ideal for a quick connection or an easy addition to a larger journey. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it an efficient way to travel between these two locations without much fuss.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 37.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 91% of the journey taking place on major interstates like I-91 and I-84. Expect a consistent experience for much of the trip, especially during the longest stretch of 17 miles on I-91. As you transition to CT-72, the character might shift slightly, but the overall feel remains that of a swift, efficient interstate commute. The road is designed for speed, so you'll likely encounter steady traffic flow for the majority of the 37.5 miles.
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.
I 91 is the longest continuous segment at about 17 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 91 and I 84. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 37.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 18 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.3 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.
8
18 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward I 84 West: Trumbull Street, Waterbury
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 32A-32B
Toward I 84 West: Trumbull Street, Waterbury
8
18.2 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 84 West: Waterbury
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 32A
Toward I 84 West: Waterbury
7
31.3 mi into trip
|
~40m 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
37.1 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
CT 72 / School Street
Turn right onto CT 72 / School Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
37.5 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
CT 69 / West Street
Turn left onto CT 69 / West Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Thompsonville, CT to Bristol, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Waterbury along the way.
Waterbury
18 mi in
|
~22m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 91 | 17 mi | 20m |
| I 84 | 12.7 mi | 16m |
| CT 72 | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Riverside Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Elm Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| School Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| High Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Enfield Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 91
— 17 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thompsonville, CT and Bristol, CT.
1
Start on High Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
High Street
2
Turn left onto US 5
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Enfield Street
3
Turn right onto CT 220
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
Elm Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 91 South: Hartford
5
Merge onto I 91
17 mi
·
20 min
·
I 91
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 32A-32B
Toward I 84 West: Trumbull Street, Waterbury
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 32A
Toward I 84 West: Waterbury
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 84; US 6
13 mi
·
16 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 18.8 mi from Thompsonville, CT · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.8 miles from Thompsonville, 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
$6.04 one way
$12.07 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.64 | $13.28 |
| premium | $4.86 | $7.18 | $14.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.28 | $16.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.94 | $1.80 |
| Efficient EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.28 | $1.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15 | 0 | $5.25 | $2.40 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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 Friday
Local time
6:25 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
9 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
49m 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 Thompsonville, CT to Bristol, CT covers 37.5 miles and takes about 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 91, 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 18.8 miles from Thompsonville, CT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.04 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 37.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
The main spots that need attention: at 18 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.3 miles (CT 72): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Thompsonville, CT to Bristol, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Waterbury along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include New England National Scenic Trail.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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