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Trip from Algonquin, MD to Columbia, MD

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 40m

Distance

84 mi

135 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 33m ★
6 AM
1h 41m
8 AM
1h 56m
10 AM
1h 46m
12 PM
1h 44m
3 PM
1h 47m
5 PM
1h 55m
8 PM
1h 36m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

planned community in Howard County, Maryland, United States

Columbia, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Algonquin, MD to Columbia, MD covers 84 miles and takes about 1h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Sandy Hill Road, Glasgow Street, High Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.93 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

42 miles from Algonquin, MD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 1h 40m drive with frequent turns across 84 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Sandy Hill Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Algonquin, MD to Columbia, MD is easy. At 1h 40m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Algonquin, MD to Columbia, MD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Sandy Hill Road Unavailable Refreshing
Glasgow Street Unavailable Refreshing
High Street Unavailable Refreshing
Spring Street Unavailable Refreshing
Academy Street Unavailable Refreshing
Market Street Unavailable Refreshing
Maryland Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
Sunburst Highway Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Sandy Hill Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Algonquin, MD and Columbia, MD.

1

Start on Shawnee Road

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Shawnee Road
2

Turn right onto Sandy Hill Road

0.6 mi · 2 min · Sandy Hill Road
3

Continue on Glasgow Street

1.1 mi · 4 min · Glasgow Street
4

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

0.1 mi · 24 sec · High Street
5

Turn right onto Spring Street

407 ft · 13 sec · Spring Street
6

Continue on Academy Street

433 ft · 21 sec · Academy Street
7

Turn left onto Market Street

315 ft · 9 sec · Market Street
8

Continue on Maryland Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Maryland Avenue
9

Turn left onto Sunburst Highway

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Sunburst Highway
10

Continue on Senator Malkus Junior Bridge

1.6 mi · 2 min · Senator Malkus Junior Bridge
11

Continue on Ocean Gateway

51 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Ocean Gateway
12

Take the exit slight right toward MD 2 North: Ritchie Highway, Severna Park

0.4 mi · 50 sec · MD 2 North: Ritchie Highway, Severna Park
13

Merge slight left onto Governor Ritchie Highway

8.0 mi · 12 min · Governor Ritchie Highway
14

Take the exit slight right toward MD 10 North, I 695: Baltimore

0.1 mi · 18 sec · MD 10 North, I 695: Baltimore
15

Merge slight left onto Arundel Expressway

1.2 mi · 1 min · Arundel Expressway
16

Keep slight left to continue on Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway

18 mi · 23 min · Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway
17

Keep slight left to continue on US 29 South: Washington

0.6 mi · 48 sec · US 29 South: Washington
18

Merge slight right onto Columbia Pike

0.5 mi · 31 sec · Columbia Pike
19

Take the exit slight right toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Search, Harper's Choice

0.4 mi · 51 sec · MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Search, Harper's Choice
20

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42 miles from Algonquin, MD, or about 50m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles or 1h 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 42 miles or 50m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 25m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia, MD than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Algonquin, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Algonquin, MD

This is one driving day of about 84 miles and 1h 40m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Algonquin, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 42 mi from Algonquin, MD · 50m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

42 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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 42 miles from Algonquin, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Columbia, MD

The final approach into Columbia, MD usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Columbia, MD.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.93 one way

$27.85 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $15.25 $30.50
premium $4.93 $16.29 $32.58
diesel $5.61 $18.55 $37.09

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 29.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.2 0 $8.82 $4.03
Efficient EV 21 0 $7.35 $3.36
EV Truck/SUV 33.6 0 $11.76 $5.38

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (66% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Algonquin, MD

Afternoon in Algonquin on Wednesday

Local time

1:42 PM

EDT

Current temp

84°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Columbia, MD

Afternoon in Columbia on Wednesday

Local time

1:42 PM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

18 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 40m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Algonquin, MD to Columbia, MD covers 84 miles and takes about 1h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Sandy Hill Road, Glasgow Street, High Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42 miles from Algonquin, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.93 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Algonquin, MD to Columbia, MD is easy. At 1h 40m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Algonquin, MD to Columbia, MD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Algonquin, MD to Columbia, MD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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