Origin
Stafford Springs, CT
Morning in Stafford Springs on Sunday
Local time
10:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Stafford Springs, 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
59m
Distance
46.4 mi
75 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stafford Springs, CT
David Kanigan
Bristol, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Stafford Springs to Bristol is 46.4 miles and takes about 59 minutes via I-84 and CT-72, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive primarily within Connecticut, making it a convenient option for a quick trip. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained interstates and state routes. Given its short duration, this route is ideal for a same-day excursion, allowing ample time for activities at your destination. Plan for a relatively quick journey with minimal time spent on the road.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 35.8 mi | 43m |
| CT 72 | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| River Road | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| Riverside Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| School Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 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 Springs, CT and Bristol, CT.
1
Start on CT 190
169 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Continue on CT 190
140 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Main Street
3
Enter roundabout onto CT 32
97 ft
·
8 sec
·
River Road
4
Continue on CT 32
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
River Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 84 West: Hartford
6
Merge onto I 84
13 mi
·
14 min
·
I 84
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84
8.0 mi
·
9 min
·
I 84
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84; US 6
15 mi
·
19 min
·
I 84; US 6
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto CT 72
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
CT 72
Exit 33
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit onto CT 72
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Riverside Avenue
Use the straight / slight right / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto CT 72
276 ft
·
8 sec
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto CT 72
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
School Street
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto CT 69
71 ft
·
1 sec
·
West Street
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
CT 69
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.2 miles from Stafford Springs, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 17.1 and 46.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
17.1 mi into trip
|
~21m 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
25.1 mi into trip
|
~30m 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
40.2 mi into trip
|
~50m 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
46.1 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
CT 72 / School Street
Turn right onto CT 72 / School Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
46.4 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
CT 69 / West Street
Turn left onto CT 69 / West Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.47 one way
$14.94 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $8.22 | $16.44 |
| premium | $4.86 | $8.89 | $17.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.24 | $20.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.23 |
| Efficient EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.06 | $1.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.50 | $2.97 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Morning in Bristol on Sunday
Local time
10:19 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
7 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
59m 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 route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 87% of it being on faster roadways. You'll experience the efficiency of interstate travel for the longest stretch, covering 35.8 miles on I-84. Expect a consistent pace as you transition onto CT-72 and River Road, which offer a slightly different feel but maintain a highway-like character. The overall driving experience is designed for direct travel between these two Connecticut points, minimizing complex navigation and maximizing forward momentum. It's a drive built for getting there efficiently.
87% 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: 35.8 mi on I 84.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 17.1 miles in near I 84.
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 11 decision points packed into just 46.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 17.1 miles (I 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 miles (I 84; US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.2 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 59m. Total distance: 46.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). 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 17.1 miles (I 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 miles (I 84; US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.2 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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