Origin
Columbia, MD
Late night in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
12:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, MD to Derwood, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
40m
Distance
28.8 mi
46 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbia, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Derwood, MD
Jonathan Borba
Trip Overview
Columbia, MD to Derwood, MD is 28.8 miles and takes about 40m via Intercounty Connector, Columbia Pike, and Metro Access Road, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a single-day trip primarily within Maryland's Northeast region. Expect a local drive with frequent turns rather than a high-speed highway experience. Given its short distance and manageable duration, this route is ideal for a quick transit or a segment of a larger journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Intercounty Connector | 12.7 mi | 15m |
| Columbia Pike | 12.3 mi | 16m |
| Metro Access Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Clarksville Pike | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Chieftain Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Redland Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Yellowstone Way | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Derwood Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Intercounty Connector
— 12.7 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MD and Derwood, 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
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Columbia Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward MD 200 Toll
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward MD 200 Toll West
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto MD 200 Toll
6.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Intercounty Connector
9
Continue on MD 200 Toll
5.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Intercounty Connector
Exit 8A
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 3
Toward Shady Grove Road, Metro Station
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on Metro Access Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Metro Access Road
12
Continue on Metro Access Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Metro Access Road
Toward Shady Grove Station, Park and Ride Lot 2, Garage
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
At end of road, turn right onto Redland Road
409 ft
·
15 sec
·
Redland Road
14
Turn left onto Yellowstone Way
348 ft
·
17 sec
·
Yellowstone Way
15
Turn right onto Chieftain Avenue
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Chieftain Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Derwood Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 26.5 — 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...
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m 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.
6
13.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward MD 200 Toll
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MD 200 Toll
7
13.2 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 200 Toll West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MD 200 Toll West
8
26.5 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward Shady Grove Road, Metro Station
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 3
Toward Shady Grove Road, Metro Station
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.77 one way
$9.55 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.23 | $10.46 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.59 | $11.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.36 | $12.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.1 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 | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
| Efficient EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.52 | $1.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.03 | $1.84 |
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
Derwood, MD
Late night in Derwood on Sunday
Local time
12:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°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
40m 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 drive is characterized by its "turn-heavy local drive" profile, with 0% highway travel. You'll navigate a series of local roads, including the Intercounty Connector, Columbia Pike, and Metro Access Road. The longest continuous stretch you'll experience is 12.7 miles along the Intercounty Connector. The road will likely feel more urban or suburban, requiring your attention for frequent adjustments and turns as you make your way through the area.
Only 0% 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: 12.7 mi on Intercounty Connector.
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 12 decision points packed into just 28.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.8 miles (US 29 / Columbia Pike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Columbia, MD to Derwood, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Station along the way.
Station
26.5 mi in
|
~35m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 40m. Total distance: 28.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m 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 12.7 miles on Intercounty Connector. 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 Derwood, 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 0.8 miles (US 29 / Columbia Pike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Derwood, 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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