Origin
Columbia, MD
Late night in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, MD to Four Corners, MD
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
28m
Distance
18.9 mi
30 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbia, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Four Corners, MD
Gabriel Ramos
Trip Overview
Columbia, MD to Four Corners, MD is 18.9 miles and takes about 28 minutes via Columbia Pike, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Maryland's Northeast region. Expect a local drive with numerous turns, making it more of a local commute than a scenic journey. Given its brevity, this route is ideal for a quick errand or as a short segment connecting to other nearby destinations. Consider this an easy, straightforward drive with minimal time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia Pike | 17.1 mi | 24m |
| Colesville Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Clarksville Pike | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| University Boulevard East | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Pierce Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Timberwood Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Lexington Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| University Boulevard West | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Columbia Pike
— 17.1 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MD and Four Corners, 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
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Colesville Road
7
Take the exit
112 ft
·
6 sec
8
Turn left onto Timberwood Avenue
323 ft
·
15 sec
·
Timberwood Avenue
9
Turn right onto Pierce Drive
455 ft
·
20 sec
·
Pierce Drive
10
Turn right onto Lexington Drive
233 ft
·
14 sec
·
Lexington Drive
11
Turn right onto MD 193
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
University Boulevard East
12
Arrive at destination
MD 193
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 18.8 — 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...
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward US 29 South: Columbia, Town Center
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 29 South: Columbia, Town Center
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.
4
18.6 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
Timberwood Avenue
Turn left onto Timberwood Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
18.8 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
MD 193 / University Boulevard East
Turn right onto MD 193 / University Boulevard East
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.13 one way
$6.27 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.43 | $6.86 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.67 | $7.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.17 | $8.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.98 | $0.91 |
| Efficient EV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.65 | $0.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.65 | $1.21 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Four Corners, MD
Late night in Four Corners on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 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
12 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
28m 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 is a turn-heavy local drive with a 0% highway share, meaning you'll be navigating surface streets for the entire 18.9 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 17.1 miles along Columbia Pike. As you transition to Colesville Road and then Clarksville Pike, be prepared for frequent intersections and changes in speed limits. The route demands your attention due to its numerous turns, making it feel more like a series of connected neighborhoods rather than a continuous road.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 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?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 28m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.4 miles: 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.
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Starbucks
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
29min in
0 mi from route
Silver Spring, MD
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Fr 05:30-20:30; Sa,Su 06:00-20:30
Visit websiteStarbucks
Cafe
Later in the drive, right off the route
23min in
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
Silver Spring, MD
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteStarbucks
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
29min in
0.9 mi from route
~2 min detour
Silver Spring, MD
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Fr 05:30-20:00; Sa-Su 06:00-20:00
Visit websiteStarbucks
Cafe
Near the end, short detour
26min in
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
Silver Spring, MD
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteMad City Coffee
Cafe
Early in the drive, short detour
6min in
1.6 mi from route
~4 min detour
Cuisine: breakfast;coffee_shop;sandwich
Hours: Mo-Sa 07:00-19:00; Su 08:00-19:00
Visit websiteRiverside Roastery & Espresso
Cafe
Near the start, short detour
1.6 mi from route
~4 min detour
Fresh Greek Grill
Restaurant
Near the end, right off the route
29min in
0 mi from route
Silver Spring, MD
Cuisine: greek
Visit websiteSantucci's Deli
Restaurant
Near the end, right off the route
29min in
0 mi from route
Silver Spring, MD
Cuisine: sandwich;pizza;italian
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-20:00
Visit websiteMcDonald's
Fast_food
Near the end, right off the route
29min in
0.1 mi from route
Silver Spring, MD
Cuisine: burger
Hours: Mo-Th 06:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 06:00-23:00; Su...
Visit websiteChipotle
Fast_food
Near the end, right off the route
29min in
0.1 mi from route
Silver Spring, MD
Cuisine: mexican
Hours: Mo-Su 10:45-23:00
Visit websiteDunkin' Baskin Robbins
Fast_food
Near the end, right off the route
29min in
0.1 mi from route
Silver Spring, MD
Cuisine: donut;coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Th 04:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 04:00-23:00; Su...
Visit websiteBurger King
Fast_food
Around the midpoint, right off the route
16min in
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
Burtonsville, MD
Cuisine: burger
Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-24:00; Sa 06:00-00:30; Su 06...
Visit websiteEdgewood Park
Park
Later in the drive, right off the route
19min in
0.5 mi from route
~1 min detour
Meadowood Park
Park
Near the end, short detour
26min in
1.6 mi from route
~4 min detour
Sewells Orchard Park
Park
Near the start, short detour
3min in
1.8 mi from route
~5 min detour
Quebec Terrace Park
Park
Near the end, short detour
29min in
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
West Laurel Park
Park
Around the midpoint, short detour
16min in
2.1 mi from route
~5 min detour
Long Reach Park
Park
Near the start, short detour
3min in
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
"Family" Statue
Artwork
Near the start, short detour
3min in
1.3 mi from route
~3 min detour
Columbia Art Center
Artwork
Near the start, short detour
3min in
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Visit website
North Corner Boundary Marker of the Original District of Columbia
Boundary_stone
Near the end, short detour
29min in
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Acorn
Artwork
Near the end, short detour
29min in
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Minerva
Artwork
Near the end, short detour
29min in
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Justice
Artwork
Near the end, short detour
29min in
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Cottage On 16th
Hotel
Near the end, short detour
29min in
3.2 mi from route
~8 min detour
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 18.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
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.
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 0.4 miles: 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.
Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. 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 Four Corners, 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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