Origin
Columbia, MD
Afternoon in Columbia on Wednesday
Local time
4:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, MD to Baltimore Highlands, MD
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
27m
Distance
16.6 mi
27 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbia, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Baltimore Highlands, MD
Styves Exantus
Trip Overview
The drive from Columbia, MD to Baltimore Highlands, MD covers 16.6 miles and takes about 27m 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 5.7 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.75 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
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
8.3 miles from Columbia, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Columbia, MD to Baltimore Highlands, MD covers 16.6 miles and takes about 27m, 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 17 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 5.7 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.
Route Complexity
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 16.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 27m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.9 miles (MD 100): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 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...
5
2.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
MD 100
Merge onto MD 100
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
12.1 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward I 695 East: Glen Burnie, Key Bridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 49A
Toward I 695 East: Glen Burnie, Key Bridge
8
13.6 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward Lansdowne, Maryland Food Bank
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 9
Toward Lansdowne, Maryland Food Bank
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 Baltimore Highlands, MD, road signs point toward Lansdowne and Maryland Food Bank.
Lansdowne
13.6 mi in
|
~19m
Maryland Food Bank
13.6 mi in
|
~19m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| MD 100 | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Old Annapolis Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Hollins Ferry Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Baltimore Beltway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Annapolis Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Clarksville Pike | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Daisy Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 5.7 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MD and Baltimore Highlands, 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
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 49A
Toward I 695 East: Glen Burnie, Key Bridge
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 695
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Baltimore Beltway
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 9
Toward Lansdowne, Maryland Food Bank
Use the right lane.
12
Turn right onto Hollins Ferry Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Hollins Ferry Road
13
Turn right onto Daisy Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Daisy Avenue
14
At end of road, turn right onto MD 648
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Annapolis Road
15
Turn left onto Virginia Avenue
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Virginia Avenue
16
Turn right onto Washington Street
121 ft
·
4 sec
·
Washington Street
17
Arrive at destination
Washington Street
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 8.3 miles from Columbia, MD, or about 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5.7 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 16.6 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.3 miles or 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Baltimore Highlands, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Columbia, MD.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Columbia, MD
This is one driving day of about 16.6 miles and 27m.
At 16.6 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 5.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.3 mi from Columbia, MD · 12m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8.3 miles from Columbia, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Baltimore Highlands, MD
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Baltimore Highlands, MD if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.75 one way
$5.50 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.01 | $6.03 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.22 | $6.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.67 | $7.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5 | 0 | $1.74 | $0.80 |
| Efficient EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.45 | $0.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.32 | $1.06 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Baltimore Highlands, MD
Afternoon in Baltimore Highlands on Wednesday
Local time
4:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°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
15 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
27m 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 Baltimore Highlands, MD covers 16.6 miles and takes about 27m 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 8.3 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 $2.75 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 12 decision points packed into just 16.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 27m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.9 miles (MD 100): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Columbia, MD and Baltimore Highlands, MD, road signs point toward Lansdowne and Maryland Food Bank.
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