Origin
Bethlehem, CT
Late night in Bethlehem on Sunday
Local time
12:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bethlehem, CT to Hartford, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
35.2 mi
57 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethlehem, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Hartford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition from the quiet surroundings of Bethlehem to the capital city of Hartford, this 35.2-mile journey is an ideal day trip. You can expect to spend about 55 minutes behind the wheel, making it a highly manageable drive for a single afternoon. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $7, the trip is quite economical. Because the entire route remains within the Northeast region of Connecticut, you will experience a consistent local atmosphere throughout. You won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay, as the distance allows you to easily complete the round trip in just a few hours. It is a straightforward, practical connection between two distinct parts of the state.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 6 | 8.6 mi | 12m |
| East Main Street | 4 mi | 5m |
| Colt Highway | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| Branch Road | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| Farmington Avenue | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Scott Swamp Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Thomaston Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Terryville Avenue | 2.2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
US 6
— 8.6 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethlehem, CT and Hartford, CT.
1
Start on CT 61
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street North
2
Continue on CT 61
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto CT 109
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Street
4
Continue on Thomaston Road
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Thomaston Road
5
Continue on CT 109
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Branch Road
6
Turn left onto US 6
355 ft
·
6 sec
·
Watertown Road
7
Turn right onto US 6
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Pine Hill Road
8
Take the ramp onto US 6
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US 6
9
Take the exit onto US 6
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
US 6
Exit 39
Toward US 6 East, CT 222: Thomaston, Bristol
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto US 6
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
East Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on US 6
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Terryville Avenue
12
Continue on US 6; CT 69
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on US 6
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Farmington Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on US 6
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Scott Swamp Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn straight onto US 6
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Colt Highway
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit onto US 6
7.1 mi
·
10 min
·
US 6
Toward I 84 East, US 6 South
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 48A; 48B
Toward Capitol Avenue, Asylum Street
Use the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 48B
Toward Capitol Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
19
Turn sharp right onto Capitol Avenue
330 ft
·
9 sec
·
Capitol Avenue
20
Turn right onto Armory Road
111 ft
·
9 sec
·
Armory Road
21
Arrive at destination
Armory Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.6 miles from Bethlehem, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 11.8 and 35.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
11.8 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward US 6 East, CT 222: Thomaston, Bristol
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 39
Toward US 6 East, CT 222: Thomaston, Bristol
6
27.6 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward I 84 East, US 6 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 84 East, US 6 South
8
34.7 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward Capitol Avenue, Asylum Street
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 48A; 48B
Toward Capitol Avenue, Asylum Street
9
34.8 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Capitol Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 48B
Toward Capitol Avenue
6
35.1 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
Capitol Avenue
Turn sharp right onto Capitol Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.67 one way
$11.33 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $6.23 | $12.47 |
| premium | $4.86 | $6.74 | $13.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.77 | $15.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.70 | $1.69 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.08 | $1.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.93 | $2.25 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Hartford, CT
Late night in Hartford on Sunday
Local time
12:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
33°F
Bristol, CT
18 mi in
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
25 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
55m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local experience rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. You will primarily navigate via US 6, East Main Street, and Colt Highway, which together create a route that is only 24% highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is an 8.6-mile segment on US 6, meaning you should be prepared for frequent adjustments and turns. This drive lacks the repetitive monotony of a major highway, instead requiring your full attention as you transition between local roads. The character of the road is defined by its technical nature, moving away from the rural feel of Bethlehem toward the more developed infrastructure surrounding Hartford.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.6 mi on US 6.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.8 miles in near US 6.
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 11 decision points packed into just 35.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.8 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.6 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,101 ft
51 ft
Total Climb
664 ft
Total Descent
1,477 ft
Highest Point
1,101 ft
~2.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,050 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Bethlehem, CT to Hartford, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Bristol along the way.
Bristol
11.8 mi in
|
~20m
|
via US 6
About the Cities
Arriving in Hartford, CT
Full guide →Hartford is the capital of the state of Connecticut in the United States of America. It is home to the country's oldest public art museum (Wadsworth Atheneum), and the Mark Twain House, in which the author wrote his most famous works and raised his family. Mark Twain wrote in 1868, "Of all the beautiful towns it has been my fortune to see this is the chief."
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 35.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.6 miles on US 6. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Hartford, CT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.8 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.6 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Weir Farm National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hartford, CT before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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