After fitting out, Arthur L. Bristol proceeded to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, where she carried out shakedown training from 13 July 1945 to 7 August 1945.

Arthur L. Bristol operated in the Florida Keys and in Cuban waters as a training ship for student officers for the rest of her active career.

Assigned to the 163rd Transport Division, 18th Transport Squadron, Sub-Group 4, Florida Group, 16th Fleet—the future Atlantic Reserve Fleet—on 1 December 1945, Arthur L. Bristol was berthed at Green Cove Springs, Florida, in the St. Johns River berthing area.

Never returning to active service, she was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 June 1964 and sold for scrapping in the summer of 1965.

She was transferred to her purchaser, the Boston Metals Corporation of Baltimore, Maryland, on 4 August 1965 and removed from U.S. Navy custody that day.