The drive from Columbia, MD to Long Beach, MD covers 69.3 miles and takes about 1h 49m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North West Crain Highway, Southern Maryland Boulevard, North Solomons Island Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 10.4 miles on North West Crain Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.49 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.
Midpoint
34.6 miles from Columbia, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 69.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 49m drive with frequent turns across 69.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North West Crain Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 10.4 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 around 11.5 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.3 miles you will encounter 24 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
11.5 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the exit toward MD 170: Linthicum, Odenton
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 11
Toward MD 170: Linthicum, Odenton
9
11.8 mi into trip|~17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 170 South: Telegraph Road, Odenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward MD 170 South: Telegraph Road, Odenton
6
15.3 mi into trip|~24m in
Turn left toward MD 32 East: Annapolis
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward MD 32 East: Annapolis
8
17.1 mi into trip|~26m in
Take the exit toward Burns Crossing Road, Gambrills, Odenton
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 3
Toward Burns Crossing Road, Gambrills, Odenton
6
37.3 mi into trip|~59m in
Take the ramp toward MD 4 South
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward MD 4 South
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 Long Beach, MD, road signs point toward Odenton and Gambrills.
Odenton
11.5 mi in|~17m
Gambrills
17.1 mi in|~26m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North West Crain Highway
10.4 mi
15m
Southern Maryland Boulevard
10.2 mi
14m
North Solomons Island Road
9 mi
13m
MD 100
8.6 mi
11m
Robert Crain Highway
5.6 mi
8m
South Solomons Island Road
5.3 mi
7m
Telegraph Road
3.3 mi
5m
Stephanie Roper Highway
3.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
North West Crain Highway
— 10.4 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MD and Long Beach, MD.
The midpoint is around 34.6 miles from Columbia, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Long Beach, MD
The final approach into Long Beach, MD usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Harriet Tubman was a deeply spiritual woman who lived her ideals and dedicated her life to freedom. She is the Underground Railroad’s best known conductor and before the Civil War repeatedly risked he...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 69.3
Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potoma...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.49 one way
$22.98 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$12.58
$25.17
premium
$4.93
$13.44
$26.88
diesel
$5.61
$15.30
$30.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.8
0
$7.28
$3.33
Efficient EV
17.3
0
$6.06
$2.77
EV Truck/SUV
27.7
0
$9.70
$4.44
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Columbia, MD
Evening
in Columbia on Thursday
Local time
5:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Long Beach, MD
Evening
in Long Beach on Thursday
Local time
5:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°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
15 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 49m 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 Long Beach, MD covers 69.3 miles and takes about 1h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North West Crain Highway, Southern Maryland Boulevard, North Solomons Island Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 34.6 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 $11.49 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.3 miles you will encounter 24 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Between Columbia, MD and Long Beach, MD, road signs point toward Odenton and Gambrills.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park and Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
