Origin
Columbia, MD
Night in Columbia on Friday
Local time
9:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, MD to Hampton, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
25.1 mi
40 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbia, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Hampton, MD
RDNE Stock project
Trip Overview
This relatively short drive from Columbia, MD to Hampton, MD covers 25.1 miles and should take about 36 minutes. It's an easy, one-day trip with a modest fuel cost of around $4. You'll primarily navigate via the Baltimore Beltway and Columbia Pike, with a small portion on I-70. The route is characterized by frequent turns, making it more of a local navigation challenge than a long-haul journey. Given its brevity, no overnight stay is necessary, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 25.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for the majority of this 25.1-mile trip. While only 15% of the route involves highway driving, you'll experience a 13.4-mile stretch on the Baltimore Beltway which offers a brief period of faster travel. The road character shifts as you move from the more open highway segments to Columbia Pike and then to the local roads leading into Hampton, requiring your attention for frequent turns and potential traffic. This drive is less about scenic vistas and more about efficient navigation through varied road types.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Baltimore Beltway is the longest continuous segment at about 13.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 12 decision points packed into just 25.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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...
7
4.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward I 70 East: Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 25A
Toward I 70 East: Baltimore
8
9.3 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward I 695 North, I 695 South: New York, Towson, Baltimore, Glen Burnie
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 91B-A
Toward I 695 North, I 695 South: New York, Tows...
9
9.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 695 North: New York, Towson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 91B
Toward I 695 North: New York, Towson
7
23.7 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward MD 146 North: Dulaney Valley Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 27B
Toward MD 146 North: Dulaney Valley Road
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 Hampton, MD, road signs point toward Towson, Baltimore and Glen Burnie.
Towson
9.3 mi in
|
~12m
Baltimore
9.3 mi in
|
~12m
Glen Burnie
9.3 mi in
|
~12m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Beltway | 13.4 mi | 18m |
| Columbia Pike | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| I 70 | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Saint Francis Road | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Clarksville Pike | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Dulaney Valley Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Baltimore Beltway
— 13.4 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MD and Hampton, 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
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 29 North: Baltimore
5
Merge onto US 29
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Columbia Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 25A
Toward I 70 East: Baltimore
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 70
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
I 70
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 91B-A
Toward I 695 North, I 695 South: New York, Towson, Baltimore, Glen Burnie
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 91B
Toward I 695 North: New York, Towson
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 695
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 27B
Toward MD 146 North: Dulaney Valley Road
Use the right lane.
12
Turn straight onto MD 146
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
Dulaney Valley Road
Use the left / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto Saint Francis Road
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Saint Francis Road
14
Keep slight right at fork onto Saint Francis Road
93 ft
·
3 sec
·
Saint Francis Road
15
Arrive at destination
Saint Francis Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.16 one way
$8.32 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.56 | $9.12 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.87 | $9.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.54 | $11.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.64 | $1.20 |
| Efficient EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.20 | $1.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10 | 0 | $3.51 | $1.61 |
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
Hampton, MD
Night in Hampton on Friday
Local time
9:36 PM
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
36m 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 Hampton, MD covers 25.1 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Baltimore Beltway, Columbia Pike, I 70. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.6 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 $4.16 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 25.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Columbia, MD and Hampton, MD, road signs point toward Towson, Baltimore and Glen Burnie.
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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