Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
70.9 mi
114 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plainfield, CT
Miller Reyes
Bristol, CT
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Plainfield, CT to Bristol, CT covers 70.9 miles and takes about 1h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on CT 2, I 395, I 84 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 34.4 miles on CT 2. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.81 one way before food or hotel costs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 2 | 34.4 mi | 40m |
| I 395 | 13.6 mi | 14m |
| I 84 | 13.5 mi | 17m |
| CT 72 | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Riverside Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| West Town Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Norwich Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| School Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Plainfield, CT and Bristol, CT.
Start on CT 12
Turn left onto Lathrop Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 395
Take the exit
Turn right onto West Town Street
Take the exit
Merge onto CT 2
Take the exit
Merge 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
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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.
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 35.4 miles from Plainfield, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 14.5 and 70.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward Hartford, Colchester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward CT 2 West: Hartford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward I 84 West, I 91 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
$11.81 one way
$23.62 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.70 | $13.11 | $26.21 |
| premium | $5.07 | $14.14 | $28.28 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $15.63 | $31.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.44 | $3.40 |
| Efficient EV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.20 | $2.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.93 | $4.54 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Plainfield on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Night in Bristol on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Chance Rain Showers then Patchy Fog
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
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.
70.9 mi in 1h 28m, mostly highway — 34.4 mi of that is on CT 2.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CT 2 and I 395. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 14.5 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.9 miles you will encounter 14 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 14.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 50.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
956 ft
Total Descent
841 ft
Highest Point
490 ft
~25.9 mi in
Elevation Range
452 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Plainfield, CT and Bristol, CT, road signs point toward Hartford and Colchester.
Hartford
Colchester
Founded 1699
Top landmarks
Founded 1785
Bristol is a town in western Connecticut.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 70.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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