Origin
Columbia, CT
Late night in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Trip from Columbia, CT to Meriden, CT
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
40.4 mi
65 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbia, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Meriden, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Columbia, CT to Meriden, CT is 40.4 miles and takes about 50 minutes via I 91 and CT 2, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip primarily navigating Connecticut's Northeast region. Expect a drive that leans heavily on interstate highways, making it a quick connection between these two points. It's a practical option for a short hop, offering a direct path with minimal fuss. Consider this route if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently within the state.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 91 | 12.8 mi | 14m |
| CT 2 | 11 mi | 12m |
| Middletown Road | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| West Main Street | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| CT 3 | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Hebron Road | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| I 691 | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 1.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 91
— 12.8 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, CT and Meriden, CT.
1
Start on CT 66
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Middletown Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Continue on CT 66
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on CT 66
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
West Main Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on CT 66
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Hebron Road
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward CT 2 West: Hartford
6
Merge onto CT 2
11 mi
·
12 min
·
CT 2
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 4
Toward CT 3 South: Wethersfield
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
this road
Exit 5D
Toward CT 3 South: Wethersfield
9
Continue on CT 3
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
CT 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 91 South: New Haven
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Merge onto I 91
13 mi
·
14 min
·
I 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 18
Toward I 691 West: Meriden, Waterbury
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 691
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 691
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 2B
Toward Meriden
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn straight onto State Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
State Street
16
Turn right onto Camp Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Camp Street
17
At end of road, turn left onto Colony Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Colony Street
18
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
West Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.2 miles from Columbia, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 10.1 and 39.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
10.1 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
CT 2
Merge onto CT 2
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
21.1 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward CT 3 South: Wethersfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4
Toward CT 3 South: Wethersfield
6
24.1 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward I 91 South: New Haven
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 91 South: New Haven
8
37.5 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward I 691 West: Meriden, Waterbury
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18
Toward I 691 West: Meriden, Waterbury
7
39.3 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward Meriden
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2B
Toward Meriden
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.50 one way
$13.01 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $7.16 | $14.31 |
| premium | $4.86 | $7.74 | $15.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.92 | $17.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.24 | $1.94 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.53 | $1.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.66 | $2.59 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Meriden, CT
Late night in Meriden on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Road read
50m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 68% of the journey utilizing major roadways like I 91 and CT 2. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 12.8 miles on I 91, offering a consistent pace. While Middletown Road provides a brief change of scenery, the overall character is that of efficient travel. The route feels like a typical interstate commute, designed for direct travel rather than leisurely sightseeing. Be prepared for highway speeds for the majority of your travel time.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.8 mi on I 91.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 91 and CT 2. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.1 miles in near CT 2.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 40.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.1 miles (CT 2): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Columbia, CT to Meriden, CT, road signs begin pointing toward Waterbury along the way.
Waterbury
37.5 mi in
|
~45m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 40.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.8 miles on I 91. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Meriden, CT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.1 miles (CT 2): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Meriden, CT before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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