5h 30m
by car · 260 km
5h 30m
8h 00m
6h 30m
Colombo to Trincomalee is 260 km by road and takes about 5h 30m in a car. The train covers the same ground in about 8h 00m. By bus, allow 6h 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 Ella
6h 40m -
Colombo to Sigiriya
4h 15m -
Colombo to Anuradhapura
4h 30m
Other ways to reach Trincomalee
-
Sigiriya to Trincomalee
2h 30m
Common questions
How long does it take to get from Colombo to Trincomalee?
By road it takes about 5h 30m to cover the 260 km. That is real driving time including towns and traffic, not a map estimate.
Is there a train from Colombo to Trincomalee?
Yes. The train takes about 8h 00m. 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 Trincomalee?
Yes. Allow about 6h 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 Trincomalee?
About 260 km by road, or roughly 162 miles. That works out at an average of 47 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 Trincomalee?
The car or taxi, at about 5h 30m. 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.