Origin
Columbia, MD
Late night in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
2:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, MD to Dundalk, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34m
Distance
22.9 mi
37 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbia, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Dundalk, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Columbia to Dundalk, you are looking at a quick, 22.9-mile journey that typically takes about 34 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as the short duration makes an overnight stay unnecessary. You will primarily navigate via I-95, MD-100, and Old Annapolis Road, keeping your travel time efficient. With an estimated fuel cost of only $4, it is an economical drive for commuters or casual travelers alike. Both locations are situated within the Northeast region of Maryland, ensuring a familiar landscape throughout your transit. Whether you are heading out for work or visiting friends, the simplicity of this trip allows for maximum flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 13.3 mi | 16m |
| MD 100 | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Old Annapolis Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Broening Highway | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Keith Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Clarksville Pike | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Dundalk Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Belclare Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 13.3 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MD and Dundalk, 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
Turn straight onto MD 108
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Annapolis Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward MD 100 East
6
Merge onto MD 100
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
MD 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 5B
Toward I 95 North: Baltimore
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 95
11 mi
·
14 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 95
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto Keith Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Keith Avenue
12
Keep slight right at fork onto Keith Avenue
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Keith Avenue
13
Turn straight onto Broening Highway
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Broening Highway
14
Turn left onto Belclare Road
490 ft
·
20 sec
·
Belclare Road
15
Turn right onto Dundalk Avenue
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Dundalk Avenue
16
Continue on Dundalk Avenue
285 ft
·
12 sec
·
Dundalk Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
1 ft
·
Dundalk Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 17.7 — 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
2.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
MD 100
Merge onto MD 100
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
6.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5B
Toward I 95 North: Baltimore
5
6.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
17.7 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 95
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.80 one way
$7.59 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.16 | $8.32 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.44 | $8.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.06 | $10.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.40 | $1.10 |
| Efficient EV | 5.7 | 0 | $2.00 | $0.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.21 | $1.47 |
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.
Destination
Dundalk, MD
Late night in Dundalk on Sunday
Local time
2:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°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
34m 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 highway-focused experience, as roughly 72% of this 22.9-mile trek is spent on high-speed roads. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel involves a 13.3-mile stretch on I-95, which serves as the backbone of your journey. While the transition from the suburban feel of Columbia to the more industrial surroundings of Dundalk is relatively swift, the road quality remains consistent. You won't find many technical turns or winding backroads here, as the route prioritizes speed and directness over scenery. It is a straightforward, functional drive that gets you to your destination with minimal fuss.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.3 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and MD 100. 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
9/10
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 11 decision points packed into just 22.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 34m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.9 miles (MD 100): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 34m. Total distance: 22.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.3 miles on I 95. 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 Dundalk, 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 2.9 miles (MD 100): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Dundalk, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Dundalk, MD
More trips to Dundalk, MD
Explore more options from Columbia, MD or browse trips ending in Dundalk, MD.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips.