Origin
Dundalk, MD
Evening in Dundalk on Sunday
Local time
7:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dundalk, MD to Columbia, MD
Drive Time
33m
Distance
23 mi
37 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 35m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 39m
8 PM
0h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dundalk, MD
Jonathan Borba
Columbia, MD
RDNE Stock project
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Dundalk to Columbia, you are looking at a quick 23-mile journey that typically takes about 33 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as it is short enough to handle in one go without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $4 on fuel for the trip, making it a highly economical commute within Maryland. You will primarily utilize I-95 and MD-100 to navigate between these two Northeast locations. Because the drive is so efficient, it offers great flexibility for your schedule, whether you are heading out for business or personal errands.
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
11.5 miles from Dundalk, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
This 23-mile drive is heavily focused on highway travel, with 77% of your time spent on major routes. You will experience a significant 12.9-mile stretch on I-95, which serves as the backbone of your journey. The transition from the local streets of Dundalk onto the highway creates a fast-paced environment that contrasts with the initial departure via Broening Highway. Expect a straightforward, interstate-heavy experience rather than a winding backroad excursion. Navigating this path feels functional and direct, providing a consistent flow as you move across the region.
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 12.9 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
509 ft
0 ft
Total Climb
696 ft
Total Descent
309 ft
Highest Point
509 ft
~22.7 mi in
Elevation Range
509 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and MD 100. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 23 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: at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
2.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 Toll South: Washington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 95 Toll South: Washington
5
3.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
16 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward MD 100 West: Ellicott City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 43B
Toward MD 100 West: Ellicott City
7
21.5 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 29 South: Washington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 29 South: Washington
8
22.6 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Search, Harper's Choice
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 21B
Toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Searc...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 12.9 mi | 16m |
| MD 100 | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| Broening Highway | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Keith Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Columbia Pike | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Dunhill Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Dundalk Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 12.9 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dundalk, MD and Columbia, MD.
1
Start on Dundalk Avenue
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Dundalk Avenue
2
Turn left onto Dunhill Road
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Dunhill Road
3
Continue on Dunhill Road
181 ft
·
9 sec
·
Dunhill Road
4
Turn right onto Broening Highway
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Broening Highway
5
Turn slight right
201 ft
·
7 sec
6
Continue on Keith Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Keith Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 95
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 95 Toll South: Washington
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 95
13 mi
·
16 min
·
I 95
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 43B
Toward MD 100 West: Ellicott City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto MD 100
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
MD 100
Use the none lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
Toward US 29 South: Washington
Use the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto US 29
0.5 mi
·
30 sec
·
Columbia Pike
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 21B
Toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Search, Harper's Choice
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
Exit 21B
Toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Search, Harper's Choice
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 33-minute drive, you have the advantage of scheduling your departure around peak traffic times to ensure the smoothest transit possible. You won't need to plan for any formal stops along the way, as the route is concise enough to complete in one uninterrupted stretch. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving, though your total costs should remain around $4. A smart tip for this specific route is to monitor real-time traffic reports for I-95, as this highway segment is the longest portion of your trip and is most susceptible to congestion. Use the flexibility of this short travel time to your advantage by choosing a departure window that avoids the heaviest commuter rushes.
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 11.5 miles from Dundalk, MD, or about 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.9 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 23 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 11.5 miles or 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dundalk, 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 Dundalk, MD
This is one driving day of about 23 miles and 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Dundalk, 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 12.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 11.5 mi from Dundalk, MD · 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
12 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 11.5 miles from Dundalk, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Columbia, MD
The final approach into Columbia, 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 Columbia, 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
$3.81 one way
$7.61 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $4.16 | $8.33 |
| premium | $4.92 | $4.46 | $8.91 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.11 | $10.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.41 | $1.10 |
| Efficient EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.01 | $0.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.22 | $1.47 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Columbia, MD
Evening in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
7:59 PM
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
24 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
33m 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 Dundalk, MD to Columbia, MD covers 23 miles and takes about 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, MD 100, Broening 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 11.5 miles from Dundalk, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.81 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 11 significant decision points across 23 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: at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Dundalk, MD to Columbia, MD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 0 ft to 509 ft elevation with about 696 ft of total climbing.
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