Origin
Columbia, MD
Late night in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
3:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, MD to Gambrills, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
29m
Distance
18.4 mi
30 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 35m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbia, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Gambrills, MD
Joachim Hoholm
Trip Overview
This quick 18.4-mile drive from Columbia to Gambrills, Maryland, is easily manageable within a single day, taking about 29 minutes. You'll primarily navigate MD 100, Telegraph Road, and Old Annapolis Road, with a significant portion on highway driving. The estimated fuel cost for this short trip is around $3, making it an economical option. Given its brevity, this route is perfect for a quick excursion or as part of a larger regional exploration within the Northeast, Maryland area, without the need for an overnight stay. It offers a straightforward transition between two points in the same state.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MD 100 | 8.6 mi | 11m |
| Telegraph Road | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Old Annapolis Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Patuxent Freeway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Clarksville Pike | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Burns Crossing Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Annapolis Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Maple Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MD 100
— 8.6 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MD and Gambrills, 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
8.6 mi
·
11 min
·
MD 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 11
Toward MD 170: Linthicum, Odenton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward MD 170 South: Telegraph Road, Odenton
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto MD 170
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Telegraph Road
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward MD 32 East: Annapolis
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Merge onto MD 32
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Patuxent Freeway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 3
Toward Burns Crossing Road, Gambrills, Odenton
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto Burns Crossing Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Burns Crossing Road
14
At end of road, turn left onto MD 175
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Annapolis Road
15
Turn left onto Gambrills Road
475 ft
·
15 sec
·
Gambrills Road
16
Turn right onto Maple Road
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Maple Road
17
Arrive at destination
Maple Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 17.1 — 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...
8
11.5 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward MD 170: Linthicum, Odenton
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 11
Toward MD 170: Linthicum, Odenton
9
11.8 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 170 South: Telegraph Road, Odenton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward MD 170 South: Telegraph Road, Odenton
6
15.3 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Turn left toward MD 32 East: Annapolis
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward MD 32 East: Annapolis
8
17.1 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward Burns Crossing Road, Gambrills, Odenton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 3
Toward Burns Crossing Road, Gambrills, Odenton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.05 one way
$6.10 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.34 | $6.68 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.57 | $7.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.06 | $8.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.93 | $0.88 |
| Efficient EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.61 | $0.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.58 | $1.18 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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
Gambrills, MD
Late night in Gambrills on Sunday
Local time
3:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°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
2 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
29m 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 mixed drive on this route, with 55% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.6 miles along MD 100. This means you'll experience a blend of quicker, higher-speed travel interspersed with segments on more local roads like Telegraph Road and Old Annapolis Road. The road character will likely shift from a more suburban highway feel to potentially more rural or residential settings as you approach your destination.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.6 mi on MD 100.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 13 decision points packed into just 18.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 29m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.8 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 Gambrills, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Odenton along the way.
Odenton
11.5 mi in
|
~17m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 29m. Total distance: 18.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.6 miles on MD 100. 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 Gambrills, 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 11.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Gambrills, 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
More trips to Gambrills, MD
Explore more options from Columbia, MD or browse trips ending in Gambrills, MD.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips.