Origin
Windsor, CT
Morning in Windsor on Tuesday
Local time
8:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Windsor, 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
37m
Distance
26 mi
42 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Windsor, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Bristol, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick connection between Windsor and Bristol, this 26-mile trip is an efficient way to get across Connecticut. You can easily complete the drive in about 37 minutes, making it a perfect one-day excursion that doesn't require an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $4 on fuel for the journey, keeping the trip budget-friendly for a solo driver or a small group. By utilizing a combination of I-91, I-84, and CT-72, you will navigate through the heart of the Northeast region with ease. Since the entire route takes place within the same state, you won't have to worry about changing regional driving regulations or long-distance fatigue.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 84 | 12.7 mi | 16m |
| CT 72 | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| I 91 | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Riverside Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Park Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Broad Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Windsor Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| School Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 84
— 12.7 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Windsor, CT and Bristol, CT.
1
Start on Broad Street
56 ft
·
10 sec
·
Broad Street
2
Continue on CT 159
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Broad Street
3
Continue on CT 159
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Windsor Avenue
4
Turn right onto CT 178
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 91 South: Hartford
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Merge onto I 91
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 32A-32B
Toward I 84 West: Trumbull Street, Waterbury
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 32A
Toward I 84 West: Waterbury
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 84; US 6
13 mi
·
16 min
·
I 84; US 6
Use the straight / slight right 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
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 25.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 91 South: Hartford
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 91 South: Hartford
8
6.5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 84 West: Trumbull Street, Waterbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 32A-32B
Toward I 84 West: Trumbull Street, Waterbury
8
6.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 84 West: Waterbury
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 32A
Toward I 84 West: Waterbury
7
19.8 mi into trip
|
~28m 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
25.6 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
CT 72 / School Street
Turn right onto CT 72 / School Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.19 one way
$8.37 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $4.61 | $9.21 |
| premium | $4.86 | $4.98 | $9.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.74 | $11.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.73 | $1.25 |
| Efficient EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.28 | $1.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.64 | $1.66 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (67% 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 Tuesday
Local time
8:21 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
9 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
37m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 83% of your time spent cruising on major thoroughfares. You will find that the road is designed for speed and efficiency rather than leisurely winding paths. The most significant portion of your journey involves a 12.7-mile stretch on I-84, which serves as the backbone of the route. Because the drive is primarily interstate-based, the experience is straightforward and lacks complex local navigation until you approach your final destination in Bristol. Expect a consistent, fast-paced rhythm that rewards steady driving rather than frequent stops.
83% 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: 12.7 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 1.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 11 decision points packed into just 26 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 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
On the drive from Windsor, CT to Bristol, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Waterbury along the way.
Waterbury
6.5 mi in
|
~10m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 26 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 (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.7 miles on I 84. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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