Origin
Columbia, MD
Late night in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, MD to Highland, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
14m
Distance
8.5 mi
14 km
Drive Score
4/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 13m
★
6 AM
0h 14m
8 AM
0h 17m
10 AM
0h 15m
12 PM
0h 15m
3 PM
0h 15m
5 PM
0h 16m
8 PM
0h 13m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbia, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Highland, MD
Rámon van Raaij
Trip Overview
This short 8.5-mile drive from Columbia, MD to Highland, MD is easily manageable in about 14 minutes, making it perfect for a quick local trip. With no highway driving involved, you'll primarily navigate via Clarksville Pike and Scaggsville Road, offering a straightforward, turn-heavy experience. Given its brevity, this route is ideal as a single-day excursion rather than requiring an overnight stay. Expect a minimal fuel cost of around $1 for this journey. Both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, so you won't be crossing any major geographic boundaries. This drive is best suited for those who prefer local roads over interstates.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Clarksville Pike | 8.4 mi | 13m |
| Scaggsville Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Clarksville Pike
— 8.4 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MD and Highland, 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
8.4 mi
·
13 min
·
Clarksville Pike
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left onto MD 216
70 ft
·
1 sec
·
Scaggsville Road
4
Arrive at destination
MD 216
Heads-up: tricky spots
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 8.5 — 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...
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MD 108 / Clarksville Pike
Turn straight onto MD 108 / Clarksville Pike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
3
8.5 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
MD 216 / Scaggsville Road
Turn left onto MD 216 / Scaggsville Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.41 one way
$2.82 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $1.54 | $3.09 |
| premium | $4.93 | $1.65 | $3.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.88 | $3.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.89 | $0.41 |
| Efficient EV | 2.1 | 0 | $0.74 | $0.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.19 | $0.54 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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
Highland, MD
Late night in Highland on Sunday
Local time
12:17 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
14m 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 on this route. The entire 8.5 miles are on local roads, with a 0% highway share, meaning you'll be navigating through communities rather than open expressways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.4 miles along Clarksville Pike, offering a consistent local road experience for most of the journey. This profile suggests a drive with frequent intersections and potentially lower speed limits as you pass through various neighborhoods and local business areas. The road character remains primarily local and community-focused throughout.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
4 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.4 mi on Clarksville Pike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Columbia, MD to Highland, MD is easy. At 14m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.1 miles (MD 108 / Clarksville Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.5 miles (MD 216 / Scaggsville Road): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 14m. Total distance: 8.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
14m 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 8.4 miles on Clarksville 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 0.1 miles (MD 108 / Clarksville Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.5 miles (MD 216 / Scaggsville Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park 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 Highland, 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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