Origin
Annapolis, MD
Morning in Annapolis on Tuesday
Local time
6:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Annapolis, MD to Columbia, MD
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
33.9 mi
55 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Annapolis, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Columbia, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition between Annapolis and Columbia, this 33.9-mile trip is an efficient way to navigate Maryland’s Northeast corridor. Expect to spend about 45 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a stress-free day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily utilize I-97, the Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway, and the John Hanson Highway to complete the transit. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $6, the route is as economical as it is straightforward. Since both cities are located within the same state, the journey maintains a consistent regional feel throughout. It is an ideal option if you need to move between these two hubs without the hassle of a long-distance haul.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 97 | 13 mi | 14m |
| Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway | 12.9 mi | 17m |
| John Hanson Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Roscoe Rowe Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Columbia Pike | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Bladen Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| College Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| School Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 97
— 13 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Annapolis, MD and Columbia, MD.
1
Start on School Street
137 ft
·
6 sec
·
School Street
2
Enter roundabout onto MD 450
77 ft
·
1 sec
·
College Avenue
3
Continue on MD 450
343 ft
·
7 sec
·
College Avenue
4
Turn left onto MD 70
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Bladen Street
5
Continue on MD 70
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Roscoe Rowe Boulevard
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
7
Continue on US 50; US 301; MD 2
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
John Hanson Highway
8
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 21
Toward I 97 North: Baltimore
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 97 North: Baltimore
10
Continue on I 97
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
I 97
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 97
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
I 97
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 14A-B
Toward MD 100: Ellicott City, Gibson Island
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 14B
Toward MD 100 West: Ellicott City
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto MD 100
13 mi
·
17 min
·
Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
Toward US 29 South: Washington
Use the slight left lane.
16
Merge onto US 29
0.5 mi
·
30 sec
·
Columbia Pike
17
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.
18
Arrive at destination
Exit 21B
Toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Search, Harper's Choice
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17 miles from Annapolis, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 4 and 33.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 97 North: Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 21
Toward I 97 North: Baltimore
8
18.5 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward MD 100: Ellicott City, Gibson Island
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 14A-B
Toward MD 100: Ellicott City, Gibson Island
8
18.8 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 100 West: Ellicott City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 14B
Toward MD 100 West: Ellicott City
7
32.5 mi into trip
|
~43m 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
33.5 mi into trip
|
~44m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.62 one way
$11.24 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.16 | $12.31 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.57 | $13.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.48 | $14.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.56 | $1.63 |
| Efficient EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.75 | $2.17 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Columbia, MD
Morning in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
6:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
3 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
45m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This 33.9-mile journey offers a mixed drive profile, blending fast-paced highway segments with more localized road transitions. About 38% of your time will be spent on highways, providing a steady rhythm as you navigate through the Maryland landscape. You should anticipate a longest uninterrupted stretch of 13 miles while cruising along I-97, which allows for a brief period of consistent highway speed. As the route progresses, the transition between these major arteries keeps the experience from feeling like a monotonous interstate grind. Expect a functional, direct drive that favors utility and speed over winding backroads or technical terrain.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13 mi on I 97.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 around 4 miles in.
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 33.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Annapolis, MD to Columbia, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Gibson Island along the way.
Gibson Island
18.5 mi in
|
~23m
About the Cities
Starting in Annapolis, MD
Full guide →Annapolis is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland. Annapolis was a thriving, wealthy town in the 1600s and 1700s. Many of the houses and other buildings from the 1800s remain, leaving a thriving, vibrant historic district with shops and restaurants along the waterfront. Brick-lined streets and quaint shops add to the feel. You could easily spend a day walking around the town's downtown harbor area shopping and eating. There is also a lively nighttime scene.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 33.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13 miles on I 97. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Columbia, MD before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Columbia, MD before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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