Origin
Columbia, MD
Late night in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
2:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, MD to Brunswick, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
53.6 mi
86 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbia, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Brunswick, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Columbia to Brunswick, you can expect a manageable 53.6-mile trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 4 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. Budgeting around $9 for fuel should comfortably cover your travel costs for the drive. Since both cities are located within the Northeast region of Maryland, you will stay within familiar territory for the duration of your journey. It is a straightforward trip that offers plenty of flexibility if you want to explore Brunswick at your own pace before heading back.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 34.5 mi | 37m |
| Jefferson National Pike | 8 mi | 9m |
| Columbia Pike | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| Petersville Road | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Jefferson Pike | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Clarksville Pike | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| I 70 Exit 5A | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 34.5 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MD and Brunswick, MD.
1
Start on this road
404 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
Exit 21B
Toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Search, Harper's Choice
2
Turn straight onto MD 108
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Clarksville Pike
3
Continue on MD 108
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Clarksville Pike
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 29 North: Baltimore
5
Merge onto US 29
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Columbia Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 25B
Toward I 70 West: Frederick
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 70
10 mi
·
10 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 70; US 40
12 mi
·
12 min
·
I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 70; US 40
13 mi
·
13 min
·
I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto I 70 Exit 5A
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
I 70 Exit 5A
Exit 52
Toward US 340 West, US 15 South: Charles Town, Leesburg
Use the right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 15 South, US 340 West: Charles Town, Leesburg
Use the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto US 15; US 340
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Jefferson National Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 340
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Jefferson National Pike
Toward US 340 West: Charles Town
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward MD 180: Petersville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
176 ft
·
5 sec
16
Turn left onto MD 180
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Jefferson Pike
17
Turn left onto MD 79
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Petersville Road
18
Enter roundabout onto MD 17
182 ft
·
6 sec
·
Petersville Road
19
Continue on MD 17
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
Petersville Road
20
Enter roundabout onto Petersville Road
192 ft
·
3 sec
·
Petersville Road
21
Continue on Petersville Road
90 ft
·
10 sec
·
Petersville Road
22
Continue on Petersville Road
72 ft
·
2 sec
·
Petersville Road
23
Arrive at destination
Petersville Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.8 miles from Columbia, 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 5.3 and 48.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
5.3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Frederick
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 25B
Toward I 70 West: Frederick
8
40.2 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
I 70 Exit 5A
Take the exit onto I 70 Exit 5A toward US 340 West, US 15 South: Charles Town, Leesburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 52
Toward US 340 West, US 15 South: Charles Town,...
8
40.5 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 15 South, US 340 West: Charles Town, Leesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 15 South, US 340 West: Charles Town,...
7
44.7 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
US 340 / Jefferson National Pike
Keep slight right at fork onto US 340 / Jefferson National Pike toward US 340 West: Charles Town
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 340 West: Charles Town
6
48.9 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward MD 180: Petersville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward MD 180: Petersville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.89 one way
$17.77 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.73 | $19.46 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.40 | $20.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.83 | $23.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.63 | $2.57 |
| Efficient EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.69 | $2.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.50 | $3.43 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Brunswick, MD
Late night in Brunswick on Sunday
Local time
2:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Mount Airy, MD
27 mi in
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
7 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
1h 4m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route maintains a 0% highway share. You will navigate via MD 108 West, Clarksville Pike, and US 29 North, keeping your focus on local navigation throughout the 53.6-mile span. Because there are no long, uninterrupted highway stretches, you should anticipate a more engaging and attentive experience behind the wheel. The road's personality is defined by its localized nature, requiring you to stay alert through various turns. Expect a consistent, steady pace that prioritizes regional road travel over the monotony of major expressways.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.5 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Jefferson National Pike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.6 miles you will encounter 17 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 5.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.2 miles (I 70 Exit 5A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Columbia, MD to Brunswick, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Leesburg along the way.
Leesburg
40.2 mi in
|
~45m
|
via I 70 Exit 5A
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 53.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.5 miles on I 70. 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 Brunswick, 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 5.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.2 miles (I 70 Exit 5A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Monocacy National Battlefield, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and Antietam National Battlefield (5 total within detour distance). 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 Brunswick, 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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