How far is Meriden, CT from Columbia, CT?

The driving distance from Meriden, CT to Columbia, CT is about 40.1 miles (64.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 28.5 miles (45.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 40m 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
40.1 mi
00h 50m
Flight
28.48 mi
45.83 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Meriden.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
28.48 mi
Kilometers
45.83 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
40.1 mi
Kilometers
64.53 km
Drive Time
00h 50m

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 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Columbia
Tue, May 12, 8:11 PM EDT
Return by in Meriden
Tue, May 12, 9:01 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Meriden
2026-05-12T19:21
Arrive Columbia
Tue, May 12, 8:11 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:50 AM to 10:50 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:50 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Meriden
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
Glastonbury
CT

Town in Connecticut, USA

From Meriden
20 mi
00h 25m
To Columbia
20.1 mi
00h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph NW
Destination
Columbia Weather
CT
Live fallback forecast
65°F
Tuesday
Using Lebanon as the closest live forecast in the Connecticut weather hub.

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West Main Street

    602 ft · 16 sec · West Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Lewis Avenue

    3147 ft · 1 min · Lewis Avenue

  3. 3

    Take the ramp right toward I 691 East: Middletown

    1541 ft · 38 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    2 mi · 2 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight left toward I 91 North: Hartford, Springfield

    132 m · 15 sec

  6. 6

    Continue on I 91 North: Hartford, Springfield

    1998 ft · 55 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    13 mi · 15 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward CT 3 North: Glastonbury, Old Wethersfield

    952 ft · 23 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on CT 3 North: Glastonbury

    1515 ft · 37 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    1.9 mi · 3 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on CT 2 East: Norwich

    1622 ft · 34 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    2125 ft · 33 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight right

    10.2 mi · 12 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward CT 66: Willimantic, Middletown

    1259 ft · 36 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on CT 66 East: Hebron, Willimantic

    54 m · 12 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto East Hampton Road

    158 m · 7 sec · East Hampton Road

  17. 17

    Continue on Hebron Road

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Hebron Road

  18. 18

    Continue on West Main Street

    3 mi · 3 min · West Main Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Main Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Main Street

  20. 20

    Continue on Middletown Road

    3.3 mi · 4 min · Middletown Road

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Middletown Road

Car Route Details

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

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
21 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
4 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
52.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 91 North
13.5 mi · 34%
CT 2 East
10.9 mi · 27%
Middletown Road
3.27 mi · 8%
West Main Street
3.12 mi · 8%
CT 3 North
2.37 mi · 6%
I 691 East
2.28 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

I 91 North

Merge slight left

13 mi · 00h 15m

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 50m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+11.6 mi
28.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Glastonbury
00h 25m from Meriden
Leave By
4:50 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Meriden and Sunny near Columbia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 40.1 miles (64.5 km) and usually takes 00h 50m 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?

Glastonbury is a useful midpoint, sitting about 20 miles from Meriden and 20.1 miles from Columbia.

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

The direct path is about 28.5 miles (45.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 11.6 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 4:50 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.60 one way or $11.20 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Glastonbury

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

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

RAIL

Hartford Union Station

9 mi away
One Union Place
RAIL

Berlin

16 mi away
51 Depot Road
RAIL

Windsor station

16 mi away
41 Central St.
RAIL

Windsor Locks

22 mi away
South Main St at Stanton Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Meriden and Columbia. Straight-line distance: 28.48 mi (45.83 km).

Meriden

#1 Meriden

The most populous city in New Haven County, Connecticut.

Population58,981
Coordinates41.5381500, -72.8070400
Altitude54
CountryUnited States
Columbia

#2 Columbia

Town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States

Population5,355
Coordinates41.7020400, -72.3011900
Altitude161
CountryUnited States
Start: Meriden (-72.80704, 41.53815)
End: Columbia (-72.30119, 41.70204)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 65 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.42 gal
5.36 L · about $5.60
Round trip
$11.20
2.84 gal · 10.72 L
Estimated CO2
12.6 kg one way
Round trip: 25.2 kg / 56 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.95 $5.60 $11.20
Mid-grade $4.46 $6.33 $12.66
Premium $4.86 $6.90 $13.80
Diesel $6.00 $8.52 $17.03

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 · May 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Meriden and Columbia. The current time is 19:21:05.

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.