Origin
East Norwalk, CT
Late night in East Norwalk on Tuesday
Local time
5:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Norwalk, CT to Bristol, CT
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
54.5 mi
88 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Norwalk, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Bristol, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
East Norwalk to Bristol is 54.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 14 minutes via CT 8 and I-95, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Connecticut, moving from the Northeast region of the state to another part of the Northeast. It's a relatively short drive, mostly on highways, making it a convenient option for a quick transit or a day trip. Given its duration and mostly highway profile, it’s well-suited for a single day of travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 8 | 28.6 mi | 35m |
| I 95 | 10.7 mi | 14m |
| Wolcott Road | 6.8 mi | 10m |
| Wolcott Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Saugatuck Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| Winfield Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Meriden Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Washington Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
CT 8
— 28.6 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Norwalk, CT and Bristol, CT.
1
Start on CT 136
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Winfield Street
2
Continue on CT 136
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Saugatuck Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 95 North: New Haven
4
Merge onto I 95
11 mi
·
14 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 27A
Toward CT 25, CT 8: Trumbull, Waterbury
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on CT 8; CT 25
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
CT 8; CT 25
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 8
25 mi
·
31 min
·
CT 8
Toward CT 8 North: Waterbury, New Haven
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 29
Toward South Leonard Street, Washington Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on South Leonard Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
South Leonard Street
10
Turn right onto Washington Avenue
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Washington Avenue
11
At end of road, turn right onto South Main Street
83 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Main Street
12
Turn left onto Washington Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
13
Continue on CT 69
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
Silver Street Expressway
14
Continue on CT 69
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Meriden Road
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn slight left onto CT 69
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
Woodtick Road
16
Turn straight onto CT 69
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Stillson Road
17
Turn right onto CT 69
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Wolcott Street
18
Continue on CT 69
6.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Wolcott Road
19
Continue on CT 69
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Wolcott Street
20
Continue on CT 69
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
West Street
21
Arrive at destination
CT 69
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.2 miles from East Norwalk, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 41.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 North: New Haven
Navigation decision point
Toward I 95 North: New Haven
5
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
12.7 mi into trip
|
~18m 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
16.6 mi into trip
|
~23m 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
41.9 mi into trip
|
~54m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.77 one way
$17.55 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $9.65 | $19.31 |
| premium | $4.86 | $10.44 | $20.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.03 | $24.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.72 | $2.62 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.77 | $2.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.63 | $3.49 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Late night in Bristol on Tuesday
Local time
5:38 AM
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
26 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
1h 14m 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 predominantly highway, with 73% of the route utilizing major expressways. You'll encounter a continuous stretch of 28.6 miles on CT 8. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur at some point, requiring you to navigate local traffic for the remainder of the trip. Expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate this section of Connecticut.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.6 mi on CT 8.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 8 and I 95. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 54.5 miles you will encounter 9 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 1.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Between East Norwalk, CT and Bristol, CT, road signs point toward Waterbury and New Haven.
Waterbury
12.7 mi in
|
~18m
New Haven
16.6 mi in
|
~23m
|
via CT 8
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 54.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.6 miles on CT 8. 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 Bristol, 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 1.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.7 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 Bristol, 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, and NPS for national parks. 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 Bristol, CT
More trips to Bristol, CT
Explore more options from East Norwalk, CT or browse trips ending in Bristol, CT.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CT road trips.