Origin
College Park, MD
Evening in College Park on Sunday
Local time
6:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from College Park, MD to Columbia, MD
Drive Time
38m
Distance
27.1 mi
44 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
College Park, MD
Styves Exantus
Columbia, MD
RDNE Stock project
Trip Overview
The drive from College Park, MD to Columbia, MD covers 27.1 miles and takes about 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, MD 100, Baltimore Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16.3 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.48 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
13.6 miles from College Park, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 38m highway drive covering 27.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 95 and MD 100. The longest continuous stretch is about 16.3 miles on I 95.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 16.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and MD 100. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 27.1 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.8 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2.8 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Silver Spring
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Silv...
7
3.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 95
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95 toward I-95 North: Baltimore
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
Toward I-95 North: Baltimore
7
20.1 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit toward MD 100 West: Ellicott City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 43B
Toward MD 100 West: Ellicott City
7
25.7 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 29 South: Washington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 29 South: Washington
8
26.7 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Search, Harper's Choice
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 21B
Toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Searc...
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from College Park, MD to Columbia, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Silver Spring along the way.
Silver Spring
2.8 mi in
|
~7m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 16.3 mi | 19m |
| MD 100 | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| Baltimore Avenue | 2.7 mi | 7m |
| Capital Beltway | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| Columbia Pike | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Knox Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 16.3 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between College Park, MD and Columbia, MD.
1
Start on Knox Road
272 ft
·
15 sec
·
Knox Road
2
Turn right onto US 1
2.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Baltimore Avenue
Use the none lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Silver Spring
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 95; I 495
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
·
Capital Beltway
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
16 mi
·
19 min
·
I 95
Toward I-95 North: Baltimore
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 43B
Toward MD 100 West: Ellicott City
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto MD 100
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
MD 100
Use the none lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
Toward US 29 South: Washington
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto US 29
0.5 mi
·
30 sec
·
Columbia Pike
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 21B
Toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Search, Harper's Choice
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Arrive at destination
Exit 21B
Toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Search, Harper's Choice
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 13.6 miles from College Park, MD, or about 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.3 miles.
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 27.1 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13.6 miles or 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 32m
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 College Park, 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 College Park, MD
This is one driving day of about 27.1 miles and 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from College Park, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 16.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13.6 mi from College Park, MD · 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
14 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 27.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 13.6 miles from College Park, 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
$4.48 one way
$8.97 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $4.91 | $9.81 |
| premium | $4.92 | $5.25 | $10.50 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.02 | $12.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.85 | $1.30 |
| Efficient EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.37 | $1.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.79 | $1.73 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (67% 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
Columbia, MD
Evening in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
6:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°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
2 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
38m 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 College Park, MD to Columbia, MD covers 27.1 miles and takes about 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, MD 100, Baltimore Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.6 miles from College Park, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.48 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 27.1 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.8 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from College Park, MD to Columbia, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Silver Spring along the way.
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