Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
27.3 mi
44 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Manchester, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Bristol, CT
Wikimedia Commons
This short 28-mile trip from Manchester to Bristol, Connecticut, is best tackled in about 34 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. You'll navigate local roads like West Center Street and Spencer Street, with no highway driving involved. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is a modest $4, so you won't need to worry about frequent gas stops. Given its brevity and local character, this route is perfect for a spontaneous outing or an easy connection between towns within the Northeast region. It's a straightforward drive that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 16.8 mi | 21m |
| CT 72 | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Riverside Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| West Center Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| East Center Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Spencer Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| School Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Cemetery Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Manchester, CT and Bristol, CT.
Start on US 6; US 44
Continue on West Center Street
Continue on Spencer Street
Turn right onto Cemetery Road
Take the ramp
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 84; US 6
Keep slight right at fork 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
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 26.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward I 84 West, I 84 East, I 291: Hartford, Boston
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 84 West: Hartford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84; US 6
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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
Regular Gas
$4.39 one way
$8.79 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $4.84 | $9.67 |
| premium | $4.86 | $5.23 | $10.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.03 | $12.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.87 | $1.31 |
| Efficient EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.39 | $1.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.75 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Late night in Manchester on Tuesday
Local time
4:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Light Rain
Destination
Late night in Bristol on Tuesday
Local time
4:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Partly Sunny then 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
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, characterized by its 0% highway share. The entire 28 miles will keep you engaged with frequent navigation changes rather than long, uninterrupted stretches. While there isn't a defined 'longest stretch' due to the nature of local roads, this drive prioritizes navigating through communities. You'll be on roads like Cemetery Road, experiencing a more grounded, in-town driving feel throughout the entire journey.
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 2.8 miles in.
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 10 decision points packed into just 27.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles (I 84; US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Manchester, CT to Bristol, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Boston along the way.
Boston
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 27.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
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