Origin
University Park, MD
Afternoon in University Park on Thursday
Local time
12:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from University Park, MD to Columbia, MD
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
38m
Distance
27.9 mi
45 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
University Park, MD
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
Columbia, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from University Park, MD to Columbia, MD covers 27.9 miles and takes about 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Baltimore Avenue, I 95 North, Capital Beltway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.63 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 38m. Total distance: 27.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 38m drive with frequent turns across 27.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Baltimore Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from University Park, MD to Columbia, MD is easy. At 38m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from University Park, MD to Columbia, MD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Avenue | — | — |
| I 95 North | — | — |
| Capital Beltway | — | — |
| I-95 North | — | — |
| MD 100 West | — | — |
| US 29 South | — | — |
| Columbia Pike | — | — |
| MD 108 West | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Baltimore Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between University Park, MD and Columbia, MD.
1
Start on Queens Chapel Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Queens Chapel Road
2
Turn left onto Baltimore Avenue
3.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Baltimore Avenue
3
Take the ramp slight right toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Silver Spring
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Silver Spring
4
Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
·
Capital Beltway
5
Keep slight right to continue on I-95 North: Baltimore
16 mi
·
19 min
·
I-95 North: Baltimore
6
Take the exit slight right toward MD 100 West: Ellicott City
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
MD 100 West: Ellicott City
7
Merge slight left
5.2 mi
·
7 min
8
Keep slight left to continue on US 29 South: Washington
0.6 mi
·
48 sec
·
US 29 South: Washington
9
Merge slight right onto Columbia Pike
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
·
Columbia Pike
10
Take the exit slight right toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Search, Harper's Choice
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Search, Harper's Choice
11
Arrive at your destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.63 one way
$9.25 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.07 | $10.13 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.41 | $10.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.16 | $12.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.93 | $1.34 |
| Efficient EV | 7 | 0 | $2.44 | $1.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.91 | $1.79 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Afternoon in Columbia on Thursday
Local time
12:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°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
14 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
38m 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 University Park, MD to Columbia, MD covers 27.9 miles and takes about 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Baltimore Avenue, I 95 North, Capital Beltway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14 miles from University Park, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.63 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.
The drive from University Park, MD to Columbia, MD is easy. At 38m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from University Park, MD to Columbia, MD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from University Park, MD to Columbia, MD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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