Origin
Columbia, MD
Morning in Columbia on Saturday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, MD to Arbutus, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
21m
Distance
12.9 mi
21 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 21m
8 AM
0h 25m
10 AM
0h 23m
12 PM
0h 22m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 20m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbia, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Arbutus, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Columbia, MD to Arbutus, MD covers 12.9 miles and takes about 21m 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, Old Annapolis Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 3.6 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.14 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 21m. Total distance: 12.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Columbia, MD to Arbutus, MD covers 12.9 miles and takes about 21m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 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 3.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 12.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 21m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Depart toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Search, Harper's Choice
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 21B
Toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Searc...
7
6.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5B
Toward I 95 North: Baltimore
8
10.1 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward I 195 East, MD 166: BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, Catonsville
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 47A-B
Toward I 195 East, MD 166: BWI Thurgood Marshal...
8
10.4 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 166: Catonsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 47B
Toward MD 166: Catonsville
6
11.2 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward UMBC Campus
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward UMBC Campus
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Columbia, MD and Arbutus, MD, road signs point toward Catonsville and Umbc Campus.
Catonsville
10.1 mi in
|
~14m
Umbc Campus
11.2 mi in
|
~16m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| MD 100 | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Old Annapolis Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Clarksville Pike | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Hilltop Circle | 0.5 mi | 2m |
| Metropolitan Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| UMBC Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Poplar Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 3.6 mi, about 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MD and Arbutus, MD.
1
Start on this road
404 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
Exit 21B
Toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Search, Harper's Choice
2
Turn straight onto MD 108
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Clarksville Pike
3
Continue on MD 108
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Clarksville Pike
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Turn straight onto MD 108
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Annapolis Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward MD 100 East
6
Merge onto MD 100
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
MD 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 5B
Toward I 95 North: Baltimore
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 95
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
I 95
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 47A-B
Toward I 195 East, MD 166: BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, Catonsville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 47B
Toward MD 166: Catonsville
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto MD 166
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
·
Metropolitan Boulevard
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
Toward UMBC Campus
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto UMBC Boulevard
384 ft
·
13 sec
·
UMBC Boulevard
14
Enter roundabout onto UMBC Boulevard
190 ft
·
5 sec
·
UMBC Boulevard
15
Continue on UMBC Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
UMBC Boulevard
16
Enter roundabout onto Hilltop Circle
116 ft
·
3 sec
·
Hilltop Circle
17
Continue on Hilltop Circle
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Hilltop Circle
18
Turn right onto Poplar Avenue
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Poplar Avenue
19
Turn left onto Shelbourne Road
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Shelbourne Road
20
Arrive at destination
Shelbourne Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.14 one way
$4.28 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.34 | $4.68 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.50 | $5.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.85 | $5.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.35 | $0.62 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.13 | $0.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.81 | $0.83 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Arbutus, MD
Morning in Arbutus on Saturday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°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.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
21m 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 Columbia, MD to Arbutus, MD covers 12.9 miles and takes about 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, MD 100, Old Annapolis Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.4 miles from Columbia, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.14 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 short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 12.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 21m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Columbia, MD and Arbutus, MD, road signs point toward Catonsville and Umbc Campus.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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