Origin
Stafford, CT
Late night in Stafford on Sunday
Local time
3:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Stafford, CT to Bristol, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
48.9 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stafford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Bristol, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 48.9-mile drive from Stafford to Bristol, Connecticut, is a quick trip, easily manageable in about 1 hour and 3 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, with no need to break it up overnight. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 82% of the journey on interstates and major roads. You can expect a fuel cost of around $8 for this trip. Since both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, you'll be staying within familiar territory, enjoying a straightforward journey within Connecticut.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 35.8 mi | 43m |
| CT 72 | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| River Road | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| East Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Riverside Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| School Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 84
— 35.8 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stafford, CT and Bristol, CT.
1
Start on CT 19
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
East Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto CT 190
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
East Main Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto CT 190
140 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Main Street
4
Enter roundabout onto CT 32
97 ft
·
8 sec
·
River Road
5
Continue on CT 32
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
River Road
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 84 West: Hartford
7
Merge onto I 84
13 mi
·
14 min
·
I 84
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84
8.0 mi
·
9 min
·
I 84
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84; US 6
15 mi
·
19 min
·
I 84; US 6
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 72
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
CT 72
Exit 33
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit onto CT 72
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Riverside Avenue
Use the straight / slight right / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto CT 72
276 ft
·
8 sec
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto CT 72
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
School Street
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto CT 69
71 ft
·
1 sec
·
West Street
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
CT 69
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.4 miles from Stafford, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 19.5 and 48.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
19.5 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
I 84
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
27.6 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
I 84; US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84; US 6
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
42.7 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
CT 72
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 72
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 33
6
48.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
CT 72 / School Street
Turn right onto CT 72 / School Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
48.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
CT 69 / West Street
Turn left onto CT 69 / West Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.87 one way
$15.74 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $8.66 | $17.32 |
| premium | $4.86 | $9.36 | $18.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.80 | $21.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.13 | $2.35 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.28 | $1.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.85 | $3.13 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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 Sunday
Local time
3:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Light Rain
N 6 to 10 mph
36% chance
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
35 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
1h 3m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this trip. Approximately 82% of the 48.9 miles are spent on major roads like I-84 and CT 72. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a solid 35.8 miles on I-84, offering a good opportunity to settle in. While the majority is highway, the inclusion of River Road at the end suggests a slight shift in scenery and pace as you approach your destination. This route balances efficient travel with a brief introduction to local roadways.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.8 mi on I 84.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 19.5 miles in near I 84.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.9 miles you will encounter 13 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 19.5 miles (I 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.6 miles (I 84; US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.7 miles (CT 72): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 48.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.8 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 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 19.5 miles (I 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.6 miles (I 84; US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.7 miles (CT 72): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — New England National Scenic Trail. 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.
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