Origin
Colesville, MD
Late night in Colesville on Sunday
Local time
3:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colesville, MD to Gwynn Oak, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
44m
Distance
29.9 mi
48 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Colesville, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Gwynn Oak, MD
Iqbal farooz
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick transition between Colesville and Gwynn Oak, expect a straightforward 29.9-mile journey that typically takes about 44 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as the distance is short enough that you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. You can easily budget approximately $5 for fuel, making this an incredibly cost-effective commute or visit. By utilizing a combination of Columbia Pike, I-70, and the Intercounty Connector, you will navigate through the heart of the Northeast region. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that prioritizes efficiency over scenic wandering, ideal for those who prefer to reach their destination without unnecessary delays.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia Pike | 16.5 mi | 21m |
| I 70 | 6 mi | 7m |
| Intercounty Connector | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| North Forest Park Avenue | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Hillsdale Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| New Hampshire Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Security Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Haddon Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Columbia Pike
— 16.5 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colesville, MD and Gwynn Oak, MD.
1
Start on East Randolph Road
15 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Randolph Road
2
Turn left onto MD 650
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
New Hampshire Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward MD 200 Toll East
4
Merge onto MD 200 Toll
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Intercounty Connector
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 16A-B
Toward US 29: Silver Spring, Columbia
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 16B
Toward US 29 North: Columbia
7
Merge onto US 29
17 mi
·
21 min
·
Columbia Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 25A
Toward I 70 East: Baltimore
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 70
6.0 mi
·
7 min
·
I 70
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 94
Toward Security Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto MD 122
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Security Boulevard
Use the right lane.
12
Turn right onto North Forest Park Avenue
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
North Forest Park Avenue
13
Turn slight left onto Hillsdale Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Hillsdale Road
14
Turn right onto Haddon Avenue
178 ft
·
11 sec
·
Haddon Avenue
15
Turn left
60 ft
·
4 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 3.2 and 27.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
3.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward US 29: Silver Spring, Columbia
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 16A-B
Toward US 29: Silver Spring, Columbia
6
3.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 29 North: Columbia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 16B
Toward US 29 North: Columbia
5
3.9 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 29 / Columbia Pike
Merge onto US 29 / Columbia Pike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
20.4 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward I 70 East: Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 25A
Toward I 70 East: Baltimore
7
27.1 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward Security Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 94
Toward Security Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.96 one way
$9.91 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.43 | $10.86 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.80 | $11.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.60 | $13.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.5 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 | 9 | 0 | $3.14 | $1.44 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.62 | $1.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12 | 0 | $4.19 | $1.91 |
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
Gwynn Oak, MD
Late night in Gwynn Oak on Sunday
Local time
3:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
1 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
44m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. While you will spend about 20% of your time on highways, the route transitions frequently between local roads and larger thoroughfares. You will face a longest stretch of 16.5 miles on Columbia Pike, which serves as the primary backbone of your trip. The character of the road is technical rather than monotonous, requiring you to navigate various turns as you move between the two Maryland points. Be prepared for a mix of speeds as you transition off the highway segments and back onto more localized infrastructure.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.5 mi on Columbia Pike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 3.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 29.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 44m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 3.9 miles (US 29 / Columbia Pike): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Colesville, MD to Gwynn Oak, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Columbia along the way.
Columbia
3.2 mi in
|
~4m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 44m. Total distance: 29.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.5 miles on Columbia Pike. 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 Gwynn Oak, 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 3.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 3.9 miles (US 29 / Columbia Pike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Monocacy National Battlefield. 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 Gwynn Oak, 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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