How far is Chester, CT from Meriden, CT?

The driving distance from Chester, CT to Meriden, CT is about 31.6 miles (50.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 34m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 20.7 miles (33.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 09m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
31.65 mi
00h 34m
Flight
20.66 mi
33.25 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Chester.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
20.66 mi
Kilometers
33.25 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
31.65 mi
Kilometers
50.93 km
Drive Time
00h 34m

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 34m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Meriden
Wed, Apr 22, 11:26 PM EDT
Return by in Chester
Thu, Apr 23, 12:01 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chester
2026-04-22T22:52
Arrive Meriden
Wed, Apr 22, 11:26 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 34m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:35 AM to 7:35 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:20 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Chester
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

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
Middletown
CT

A city in Middlesex County, Connecticut.

From Chester
12.9 mi
00h 17m
To Meriden
18.8 mi
00h 17m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Chester Weather
CT
Live fallback forecast
52°F
Wednesday
Using East Haddam as the closest live forecast in the Middlesex County weather hub.

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph SE
Destination
56°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Chester and Meriden.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chester and Meriden.

  1. 1

    Start on Water Street

    1 m · 2 sec · Water Street

  2. 2

    Continue on West Main Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · West Main Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp right toward CT 9 North

    2501 ft · 1 min

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    14.5 mi · 18 min

  5. 5

    Turn left onto CT 66 West: Middletown

    46 m · 4 sec

  6. 6

    Continue on Washington Street

    2.6 mi · 6 min · Washington Street

  7. 7

    Continue on Meriden Road

    4.2 mi · 6 min · Meriden Road

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward Meriden

    819 ft · 23 sec

  10. 10

    Turn straight onto State Street

    650 ft · 18 sec · State Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Camp Street

    726 ft · 28 sec · Camp Street

  12. 12

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

    2118 ft · 49 sec · Colony Street

  13. 13

    Turn right onto West Main Street

    1196 ft · 24 sec · West Main Street

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Chester and Meriden.

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
14 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
44.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
CT 9 North
15 mi · 47%
Meriden Road
6.05 mi · 19%
Washington Street
2.63 mi · 8%
West Main Street
1.46 mi · 5%
Colony Street
0.4 mi · 1%
Camp Street
0.14 mi
Longest Stretch

CT 9 North

Merge slight left

14.5 mi · 00h 18m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 34m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+10.9 mi
20.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Middletown
00h 17m from Chester
Leave By
7:20 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Chester and Chance Rain Showers near Meriden.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Chester to Meriden?

The road trip is about 31.6 miles (50.9 km) and usually takes 00h 34m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Middletown is a useful midpoint, sitting about 12.9 miles from Chester and 18.8 miles from Meriden.

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

The direct path is about 20.7 miles (33.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.9 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:20 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.42 one way or $8.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Chester and Chance Rain Showers near Meriden.

Stop Ideas Near Middletown

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

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

RAIL

Berlin

13 mi away
51 Depot Road
RAIL

Meriden Transit Center

13 mi away
60 State Street
RAIL

Wallingford station

19 mi away
37 Hall Avenue
RAIL

Hartford Union Station

23 mi away
One Union Place

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chester and Meriden. Straight-line distance: 20.66 mi (33.25 km).

Chester

#1 Chester

Town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States

Population4,175
Coordinates41.4031500, -72.4509200
Altitude5
CountryUnited States
Meriden

#2 Meriden

The most populous city in New Haven County, Connecticut.

Population58,981
Coordinates41.5381500, -72.8070400
Altitude54
CountryUnited States
Start: West Main Street (-72.450918, 41.403128)
End: West Main Street (-72.80704, 41.538164)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 51 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 47m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 37m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 31m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.12 gal
4.23 L · about $4.42
Round trip
$8.84
2.24 gal · 8.46 L
Estimated CO2
10 kg one way
Round trip: 19.9 kg / 44 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $4.42 $8.84
Mid-grade $4.46 $4.99 $9.98
Premium $4.86 $5.44 $10.88
Diesel $6.00 $6.72 $13.43

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Chester and Meriden. The current time is 22:52:00.

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.