6h 40m
by car · 200 km
6h 40m
9h 30m
7h 30m
Colombo to Ella is 200 km by road and takes about 6h 40m in a car. The train covers the same ground in about 9h 30m. By bus, allow 7h 30m.
Check another leg
Pre-filled with this route. Change either end to compare.
Connecting legs
Other legs from Colombo
-
Colombo to Kandy
3h 10m -
Colombo to Galle
1h 45m -
Colombo to Sigiriya
4h 15m -
Colombo to Anuradhapura
4h 30m -
Colombo to Trincomalee
5h 30m
Other ways to reach Ella
-
Kandy to Ella
4h 00m -
Nuwara Eliya to Ella
1h 45m
Common questions
How long does it take to get from Colombo to Ella?
By road it takes about 6h 40m to cover the 200 km. That is real driving time including towns and traffic, not a map estimate.
Is there a train from Colombo to Ella?
Yes. The train takes about 9h 30m. On the popular hill country services, reserved seats open 30 days ahead and sell out the same morning.
Can I take a bus from Colombo to Ella?
Yes. Allow about 7h 30m. Buses are the cheapest option by a wide margin, and they leave when full rather than to a strict timetable.
How far is Colombo from Ella?
About 200 km by road, or roughly 124 miles. That works out at an average of 30 km/h once you account for the roads here, which is why the drive takes longer than the distance suggests.
What is the fastest way from Colombo to Ella?
The car or taxi, at about 6h 40m. Fastest is not always best here — on the scenic legs the train is slower and still the better choice.
Part of a surveyed matrix — 26 of 91 possible pairs measured so far. Times are what we recorded ourselves, not map estimates.