How far is Bristol, CT from New Canaan, CT?

The driving distance from Bristol, CT to New Canaan, CT is about 56.2 miles (90.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 18m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 46 miles (74 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 36m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
56.2 mi
01h 18m
Flight
45.99 mi
74.01 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bristol.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
45.99 mi
Kilometers
74.01 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
56.2 mi
Kilometers
90.45 km
Drive Time
01h 18m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 18m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in New Canaan
Thu, Apr 16, 7:39 AM EDT
Return by in Bristol
Thu, Apr 16, 8:57 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bristol
2026-04-16T06:20
Arrive New Canaan
Thu, Apr 16, 7:39 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 18m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:18 AM to 11:18 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:54 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bristol
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Derby
CT

City in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States

From Bristol
28.1 mi
00h 39m
To New Canaan
28.1 mi
00h 39m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Bristol Weather
CT
Live fallback forecast
84°F
Thursday
Using Weatogue as the closest live forecast in the Hartford County weather hub.

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph SW
Destination
83°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bristol and New Canaan.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bristol and New Canaan.

  1. 1

    Start on West Street

    1624 ft · 30 sec · West Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Wolcott Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Wolcott Street

  3. 3

    Turn straight onto Wolcott Road

    6.8 mi · 10 min · Wolcott Road

  4. 4

    Continue on Wolcott Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · Wolcott Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Stillson Road

    3245 ft · 59 sec · Stillson Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Woodtick Road

    2003 ft · 38 sec · Woodtick Road

  7. 7

    Continue on Meriden Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · Meriden Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Silver Street Expressway

    2419 ft · 44 sec · Silver Street Expressway

  9. 9

    Continue on Washington Street

    1 km · 1 min · Washington Street

  10. 10

    At the end of the road, turn left onto South Main Street

    2.1 mi · 3 min · South Main Street

  11. 11

    Continue on Waterbury Road

    1561 ft · 27 sec · Waterbury Road

  12. 12

    Take the ramp straight toward CT 8 South: Bridgeport

    928 ft · 23 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    20.6 mi · 26 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward CT 15 South: Merritt Parkway, New York City

    1.3 km · 1 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Merritt Parkway

    18 mi · 24 min · Merritt Parkway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward CT 123: New Canaan Avenue

    546 ft · 20 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto New Canaan Avenue

    115 m · 7 sec · New Canaan Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on New Norwalk Road

    1.6 mi · 3 min · New Norwalk Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto East Avenue

    2925 ft · 1 min · East Avenue

  20. 20

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Main Street

    74 m · 7 sec · Main Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Elm Street

    728 ft · 20 sec · Elm Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Elm Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bristol and New Canaan.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
22 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
39.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
CT 8 South
20.8 mi · 37%
Merritt Parkway
18 mi · 32%
Wolcott Road
6.79 mi · 12%
South Main Street
2.15 mi · 4%
Wolcott Street
1.8 mi · 3%
New Norwalk Road
1.61 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

CT 8 South

Merge slight left

20.6 mi · 00h 26m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 18m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+10.2 mi
46 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Derby
00h 39m from Bristol
Leave By
3:54 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Bristol and Partly Sunny near New Canaan.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bristol to New Canaan?

The road trip is about 56.2 miles (90.4 km) and usually takes 01h 18m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Derby is a useful midpoint, sitting about 28.1 miles from Bristol and 28.1 miles from New Canaan.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 46 miles (74 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:54 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.81 one way or $15.62 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 17.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers around Bristol and Partly Sunny near New Canaan.

Stop Ideas Near Derby

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Derby, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Derby.

RAIL

Union Station

14 mi away
50 Union Avenue
RAIL

Bridgeport

18 mi away
525 Water St.
RAIL

Wallingford station

27 mi away
37 Hall Avenue
RAIL

Meriden Transit Center

34 mi away
60 State Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bristol and New Canaan. Straight-line distance: 45.99 mi (74.01 km).

Bristol

#1 Bristol

The most populous city in Hartford County, Connecticut.

Population59,734
Coordinates41.6717600, -72.9492700
Altitude93
CountryUnited States
New Canaan

#2 New Canaan

Town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States

Population20,115
Coordinates41.1467600, -73.4948400
Altitude97
CountryUnited States
Start: Bristol (-72.94927, 41.67176)
End: New Canaan (-73.49484, 41.14676)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 90 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 56m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 42m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.98 gal
7.51 L · about $7.81
Round trip
$15.62
3.96 gal · 15.02 L
Estimated CO2
17.6 kg one way
Round trip: 35.2 kg / 78 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $7.81 $15.62
Mid-grade $4.46 $8.82 $17.65
Premium $4.86 $9.62 $19.24
Diesel $6.00 $11.87 $23.75

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Connecticut · Apr 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Bristol and New Canaan. The current time is 06:20:48.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.