How far is Columbia, CT from Bristol, CT?

The driving distance from Columbia, CT to Bristol, CT is about 42.1 miles (67.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 33.5 miles (53.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 42m 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
42.06 mi
00h 51m
Flight
33.5 mi
53.92 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Columbia.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
33.5 mi
Kilometers
53.92 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
42.06 mi
Kilometers
67.69 km
Drive Time
00h 51m

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 00h 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bristol
Thu, Oct 15, 1:55 PM EDT
Return by in Columbia
Thu, Oct 15, 2:46 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Columbia
2026-10-15T13:04
Arrive Bristol
Thu, Oct 15, 1:55 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:51 AM to 10:51 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:48 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Columbia
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
East Hartford
CT

Town of the United States

From Columbia
21.1 mi
00h 25m
To Bristol
21 mi
00h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Columbia Weather
CT
Live fallback forecast
64°F
Thursday
Using Lebanon as the closest live forecast in the Connecticut weather hub.

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 7 mph N
Destination
Bristol Weather
CT
Live fallback forecast
63°F
Today
Using Wolcott as the closest live forecast in the Connecticut weather hub.

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 11:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Columbia and Bristol.

  1. 1

    Start on Middletown Road

    59 m · 8 sec · Middletown Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Jonathan Trumbull Highway

    3.3 mi · 6 min · Jonathan Trumbull Highway

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Jonathan Trumbull Highway

    4.1 mi · 6 min · Jonathan Trumbull Highway

  4. 4

    Continue on Willimantic Turnpike

    3044 ft · 39 sec · Willimantic Turnpike

  5. 5

    Continue on Hop River Road

    2 mi · 3 min · Hop River Road

  6. 6

    Turn slight right onto Grand Army of the Republic Highway

    1.1 km · 1 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    8.5 mi · 10 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Grand Army of the Republic Highway

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Yankee Expressway

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Yankee Expressway

  10. 10

    Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway

    13.3 mi · 17 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway

  11. 11

    Keep slight right

    4.4 mi · 6 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward Riverside Avenue

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Riverside Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Main Street

    84 m · 9 sec · Main Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto School Street

    1910 ft · 36 sec · School Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto West Street

    22 m · 1 sec · West Street

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
16 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
38 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
28.6 mi · 68%
Jonathan Trumbull Highway
7.44 mi · 18%
Hop River Road
1.97 mi · 5%
Yankee Expressway
1.84 mi · 4%
Riverside Avenue
1.35 mi · 3%
Willimantic Turnpike
0.58 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Grand Army of the Republic Highway

Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway

13.3 mi · 00h 17m

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
00h 51m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.6 mi
33.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
East Hartford
00h 25m from Columbia
Leave By
4:48 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Columbia and Sunny near Bristol.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Columbia to Bristol?

The road trip is about 42.1 miles (67.7 km) and usually takes 00h 51m 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?

East Hartford is a useful midpoint, sitting about 21.1 miles from Columbia and 21 miles from Bristol.

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

The direct path is about 33.5 miles (53.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.6 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 4:48 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.51 one way or $13.02 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 13.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Columbia and Sunny near Bristol.

Stop Ideas Near East Hartford

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around East Hartford, 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 East Hartford.

RAIL

Hartford Union Station

6 mi away
One Union Place
RAIL

Windsor station

8 mi away
41 Central St.
RAIL

Windsor Locks

15 mi away
South Main St at Stanton Road
RAIL

Berlin

21 mi away
51 Depot Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Columbia and Bristol. Straight-line distance: 33.5 mi (53.92 km).

Columbia

#1 Columbia

Town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States

Population5,355
Coordinates41.7020400, -72.3011900
Altitude161
CountryUnited States
Bristol

#2 Bristol

The most populous city in Hartford County, Connecticut.

Population59,734
Coordinates41.6717600, -72.9492700
Altitude93
CountryUnited States
Start: Middletown Road (-72.301431, 41.702278)
End: School Street (-72.949282, 41.67182)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 68 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 03m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 50m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 42m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 36m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 31m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.48 gal
5.62 L · about $6.51
Round trip
$13.02
2.96 gal · 11.24 L
Estimated CO2
13.2 kg one way
Round trip: 26.3 kg / 58 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.40 $6.51 $13.02
Mid-grade $5.02 $7.43 $14.86
Premium $5.45 $8.06 $16.12
Diesel $6.45 $9.55 $19.10

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 · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Columbia and Bristol. The current time is 13:04:05.

Distance to Other Cities

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