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Trip from Columbia, MD to Lansdowne, MD

Data updated 23 minutes ago

Drive Time

23m

Distance

14.8 mi

24 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 6 min
4 AM
0h 21m ★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 25m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m

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 Lansdowne, MD, MD

Lansdowne, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This quick 14.8-mile trip from Columbia to Lansdowne, Maryland, is easily manageable within a single day, taking approximately 23 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate via I-95 and MD 100, with a portion on Old Annapolis Road, offering a mixed driving experience. With a projected fuel cost of around $2, this drive is very budget-friendly for a short excursion. Given its brevity, no overnight stay is necessary, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. This route stays within the Northeast region, making it a straightforward local journey.

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

7.4 miles from Columbia, MD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 11m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a drive that's about 60% highway, featuring a significant 5.7-mile stretch on I-95 where you can maintain steady speeds. The character of the drive shifts, beginning with interstate travel and transitioning to more local road conditions as you approach your destination. This mixed profile means you'll experience both faster-paced highway sections and potentially slower, more varied driving on Old Annapolis Road. Overall, it’s a straightforward journey without overly complex or winding sections, suitable for a relaxed commute.

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 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

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 14.8 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: 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 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...
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.

On the drive from Columbia, MD to Lansdowne, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Maryland Food Bank along the way.

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
Baltimore Beltway 0.9 mi 1m
Clarksville Pike 0.6 mi 1m
Hammonds Ferry Road 0.5 mi 1m
Hollins Ferry Road 0.4 mi 1m
Clyde Avenue 0.2 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 Lansdowne, 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

0.4 mi · 1 min · Hollins Ferry Road
13

Turn sharp left onto Hammonds Ferry Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Hammonds Ferry Road
14

Turn right onto Clyde Avenue

0.2 mi · 42 sec · Clyde Avenue
15

Arrive at destination

Clyde Avenue

Trip Plan

For this short 23-minute drive, timing your departure can help you avoid the worst of any local traffic, especially if you're traveling during typical rush hours. Since the total distance is only 14.8 miles, you won't need to plan for extensive stops; the longest uninterrupted stretch is just 5.7 miles on I-95. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, though the estimated cost is low at $2, it's always wise to start with a sufficient amount. The flexibility of a short trip like this means you can depart whenever it suits you best, making it ideal for errands or quick visits.

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 7.4 miles from Columbia, MD, or about 11m 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 14.8 miles or 23m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 7.4 miles or 11m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lansdowne, MD than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Columbia, 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 Columbia, MD

This is one driving day of about 14.8 miles and 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Columbia, 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 5.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 7.4 mi from Columbia, MD · 11m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

7 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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 7.4 miles from Columbia, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lansdowne, MD

The final approach into Lansdowne, 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 Lansdowne, 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

$2.45 one way

$4.91 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 5 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $2.69 $5.37
premium $4.93 $2.87 $5.74
diesel $5.61 $3.27 $6.54

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 5.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 4.4 0 $1.55 $0.71
Efficient EV 3.7 0 $1.30 $0.59
EV Truck/SUV 5.9 0 $2.07 $0.95

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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Columbia, MD

Late night in Columbia on Wednesday

Local time

1:32 AM

EDT

Current temp

86°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lansdowne, MD

Late night in Lansdowne on Wednesday

Local time

1:32 AM

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

23m 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 Lansdowne, MD covers 14.8 miles and takes about 23m 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 7.4 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 $2.45 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 14.8 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: 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.
On the drive from Columbia, MD to Lansdowne, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Maryland Food Bank along the way.

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