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Trip from Columbia, MD to Chevy Chase, MD

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

38m

Distance

24.1 mi

39 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 35m ★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 41m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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planned community in Howard County, Maryland, United States

Columbia, MD

Wikimedia Commons

group of communities in Montgomery County, Maryland that straddles the northwest border of Washington, D.C., United States

Chevy Chase, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Stretching just 24.1 miles between Columbia and Chevy Chase, this quick commute is an ideal day trip that keeps you comfortably within Maryland. You can expect to spend about 38 minutes on the road, making it a highly efficient connection between these two Northeast hubs. Since the trip is short and straightforward, there is no need to worry about overnight lodging or complex itineraries. With a fuel budget of approximately $4, it is a very economical drive for a single afternoon or morning outing. You will navigate primarily via Columbia Pike, the Capital Beltway, and Colesville Road, keeping the journey focused and simple.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Columbia Pike 17.1 mi 24m
Capital Beltway 3 mi 4m
Colesville Road 1 mi 2m
Connecticut Avenue 0.5 mi <1m
Jones Bridge Road 0.3 mi 1m
Clarksville Pike 0.3 mi <1m
Stewart Driveway 0.1 mi <1m
Kensington Parkway 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Columbia Pike — 17.1 mi, about 24m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MD and Chevy Chase, 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

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Clarksville Pike
Use the left / straight lanes.
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 51 sec
Toward US 29 South: Columbia, Town Center
5

Merge onto US 29

17 mi · 24 min · Columbia Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Continue on US 29

1.0 mi · 2 min · Colesville Road
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 46 sec
Toward I 495 West: Bethesda, Northern Virginia Use the slight right lane.
8

Merge onto I 495

3.0 mi · 4 min · Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 54 sec
Exit 33 Toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork

246 ft · 8 sec
Toward MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South, Chevy Chase Use the left lane.
11

Turn left onto MD 185

0.5 mi · 50 sec · Connecticut Avenue
Use the right lane.
12

Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Jones Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
13

Continue on Jones Bridge Road

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Jones Bridge Road
Use the left lane.
14

Turn left onto Kensington Parkway

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Kensington Parkway
15

Turn right onto Montrose Driveway

520 ft · 27 sec · Montrose Driveway
16

Turn left onto Stewart Driveway

0.1 mi · 27 sec · Stewart Driveway
17

Continue on Montgomery Avenue

444 ft · 19 sec · Montgomery Avenue
18

Continue on Kenilworth Driveway

363 ft · 21 sec · Kenilworth Driveway
19

Turn left onto Clifford Avenue

450 ft · 23 sec · Clifford Avenue
20

Turn right onto Hutch Place

133 ft · 5 sec · Hutch Place
21

Arrive at destination

Hutch Place

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 23.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Depart toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Search, Harper's Choice

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 21B Toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Searc...
7
18.9 mi into trip | ~28m in

Take the exit toward I 495 West: Bethesda, Northern Virginia

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 495 West: Bethesda, Northern Virginia
8
22.2 mi into trip | ~33m in

Take the exit toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase

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 33 Toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase
8
22.6 mi into trip | ~34m in

Keep slight left at fork toward MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South, Chevy Chase

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South,...
6
23.1 mi into trip | ~35m in | Jones Bridge Road

Turn right onto Jones Bridge Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.00 one way

$7.99 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 8 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $4.38 $8.75
premium $4.93 $4.67 $9.35
diesel $5.61 $5.32 $10.64

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$4

Estimated CO2 emission: 8.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7.2 0 $2.53 $1.16
Efficient EV 6 0 $2.11 $0.96
EV Truck/SUV 9.6 0 $3.37 $1.54

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.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Columbia, MD

Morning in Columbia on Tuesday

Local time

6:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Chevy Chase, MD

Morning in Chevy Chase on Tuesday

Local time

6:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

65°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

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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will spend the bulk of your time navigating local roads, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 17.1 miles on Columbia Pike. Because the route relies on regional arterials rather than open highways, you should prepare for a more tactile driving experience with frequent intersections and turns. It is a practical, functional transit rather than a scenic getaway, requiring your full attention as you transition between the two Maryland towns.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.1 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 early in the drive.

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 16 decision points packed into just 24.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 38m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.

On the drive from Columbia, MD to Chevy Chase, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Northern Virginia along the way.

Northern Virginia

18.9 mi in | ~28m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 38m. Total distance: 24.1 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.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 17.1 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 Chevy Chase, 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: near the start: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Chevy Chase, 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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