Origin
Bristol, CT
Late night in Bristol on Sunday
Local time
4:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
33°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bristol, CT to East 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
33m
Distance
23.5 mi
38 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 35m
3 PM
0h 36m
5 PM
0h 39m
8 PM
0h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bristol, CT
Wikimedia Commons
East Hartford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick trip from Bristol to East Hartford, you are looking at a straightforward 23.5-mile journey that typically takes about 33 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as it is short enough to handle without any overnight stops. With a fuel budget of approximately $4, it is an economical drive that keeps you within the Northeast region for the entire duration. You will primarily navigate via I-84, supplemented by local stretches on Pine Street and Riverside Avenue. Because this drive is short and efficient, it works well for commuters or anyone needing to move between these two Connecticut hubs quickly.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 14.7 mi | 20m |
| Pine Street | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| Riverside Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Hillside Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| School Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Roberts Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Burnside Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 84
— 14.7 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bristol, CT and East Hartford, CT.
1
Start on CT 69
71 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Street
2
Turn right onto CT 72
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
School Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left onto CT 72
276 ft
·
7 sec
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto CT 72
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Riverside Avenue
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left onto CT 72
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Pine Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84
14 mi
·
19 min
·
I 84
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
I 84; US 6
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 58
Toward Roberts Street, Silver Lane, Burnside Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto Roberts Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Roberts Street
10
Turn left onto Hillside Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Hillside Street
11
Turn right onto US 44
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Burnside Avenue
12
Turn left onto School Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
School Street
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto Tolland Street
55 ft
·
1 sec
·
Tolland Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Arrive at destination
Tolland Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 23.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CT 72 / School Street
Turn right onto CT 72 / School Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CT 72 / Main Street
Turn left onto CT 72 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CT 72 / Pine Street
Turn left onto CT 72 / Pine Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
8
21.4 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward Roberts Street, Silver Lane, Burnside 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 58
Toward Roberts Street, Silver Lane, Burnside Av...
7
23.5 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
Tolland Street
Turn right onto Tolland Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.78 one way
$7.57 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $4.16 | $8.32 |
| premium | $4.86 | $4.50 | $9.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.19 | $10.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.47 | $1.13 |
| Efficient EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.06 | $0.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.29 | $1.50 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
East Hartford, CT
Late night in East Hartford on Sunday
Local time
4:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
28 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
33m 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?
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 62% of your travel time spent on major roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm on I-84, which hosts your longest uninterrupted stretch of 14.7 miles. Transitioning from the local roads of Pine Street and Riverside Avenue onto the interstate creates a clear shift in pace as you move from local traffic to higher-speed highway driving. The experience is functional and direct, prioritizing speed and efficiency over winding, scenic detours. Expect a consistent, no-nonsense commute that relies heavily on the main interstate artery to connect your start and end points.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.7 mi on I 84.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 84 and Pine Street. 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 72 / School Street.
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 23.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 33m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CT 72 / School Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (CT 72 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (CT 72 / Pine Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 33m. Total distance: 23.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.7 miles on I 84. 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 East 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: near the start (CT 72 / School Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (CT 72 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (CT 72 / Pine Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at East 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From East Hartford, CT
More trips to East Hartford, CT
Explore more options from Bristol, CT or browse trips ending in East Hartford, CT.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CT road trips.