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Trip from Columbia, MD to Davidsonville, MD

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

50m

Distance

36 mi

58 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 46m ★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m

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

Downtown Davidsonville, MD, MD

Davidsonville, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Columbia, MD to Davidsonville, MD covers 36 miles and takes about 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 97, MD 100, John Hanson Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 13 miles on I 97. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.97 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 36 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

50m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 50m highway drive covering 36 miles, with most of the trip on I 97 and MD 100. The longest continuous stretch is about 13 miles on I 97.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 97 is the longest continuous segment at about 13 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 97 and MD 100. 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 10/10

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 10 decision points packed into just 36 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These 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...
8
13.9 mi into trip | ~20m in

Take the exit toward I 97: Annapolis, Baltimore

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 13A-B Toward I 97: Annapolis, Baltimore
9
14.1 mi into trip | ~21m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay Bridge

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 13A Toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
8
27.6 mi into trip | ~37m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 50 West, US 301 South: Richmond, Washington

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 50 West, US 301 South: Richmond, Wash...
8
32 mi into trip | ~42m in

Take the exit toward MD 424: Davidsonville Road, Crofton, Davidsonville

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 16 Toward MD 424: Davidsonville Road, Crofton, Dav...

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 Davidsonville, MD, road signs point toward Baltimore, Washington and Crofton.

Baltimore

13.9 mi in | ~20m

Washington

27.6 mi in | ~37m

Crofton

32 mi in | ~42m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 97 13 mi 14m
MD 100 10.9 mi 14m
John Hanson Highway 3.9 mi 4m
Davidsonville Road 3.4 mi 6m
Old Annapolis Road 2 mi 3m
Clarksville Pike 0.6 mi 1m
Birdsville Road

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: I 97 — 13 mi, about 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MD and Davidsonville, 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

11 mi · 14 min · MD 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Exit 13A-B Toward I 97: Annapolis, Baltimore Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 13A Toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay Bridge Use the slight right lane.
9

Merge onto I 97

5.2 mi · 5 min · I 97
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 97

7.8 mi · 8 min · I 97
Toward Bay Bridge
11

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Toward US 50 West, US 301 South: Richmond, Washington Use the slight right lane.
12

Merge onto US 50; US 301

3.9 mi · 4 min · John Hanson Highway
13

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 16 Toward MD 424: Davidsonville Road, Crofton, Davidsonville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Turn left onto MD 424

3.4 mi · 6 min · Davidsonville Road
15

Arrive at destination

Birdsville Road

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 18 mi from Columbia, MD · 26m into the drive

census designated place in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Glen Burnie, MD

18 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

Crofton, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kensington, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18 miles from Columbia, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Davidsonville, MD

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Davidsonville, 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

$5.97 one way

$11.94 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $6.54 $13.07
premium $4.93 $6.98 $13.96
diesel $5.61 $7.95 $15.90

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 12.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 10.8 0 $3.78 $1.73
Efficient EV 9 0 $3.15 $1.44
EV Truck/SUV 14.4 0 $5.04 $2.30

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% 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 as of Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Columbia, MD

Morning in Columbia on Friday

Local time

7:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Davidsonville, MD

Morning in Davidsonville on Friday

Local time

7:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

73°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

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

50m 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 Davidsonville, MD covers 36 miles and takes about 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 97, MD 100, John Hanson Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 18 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 $5.97 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 10 decision points packed into just 36 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.

The main spots that need attention: near the start: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Between Columbia, MD and Davidsonville, MD, road signs point toward Baltimore, Washington and Crofton.

How this page is built

Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.

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