Origin
Columbia, MD
Morning in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
8:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, MD to Lake Shore, 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
35m
Distance
24.3 mi
39 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbia, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Lake Shore, MD
Jiri Ikonomidis
Trip Overview
Columbia, MD to Lake Shore, MD is 24.3 miles and takes about 35m via MD 100, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, specifically within Maryland, making it a straightforward local journey. The drive is primarily highway-focused, suggesting a route designed for efficient travel rather than leisurely sightseeing. With only one day recommended, this is a perfect option for a short excursion or an easy commute. Consider this route if you need a quick and direct path between these two Maryland locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MD 100 | 15.5 mi | 21m |
| Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway | 4 mi | 5m |
| Old Annapolis Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Mountain Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Clarksville Pike | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Arundel Expressway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MD 100
— 15.5 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MD and Lake Shore, 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
16 mi
·
21 min
·
MD 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto MD 10; MD 100
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Arundel Expressway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto MD 100
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway
Toward MD 100 East: Gibson Island
Use the slight left lane.
9
Turn straight onto MD 177
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Mountain Road
10
Arrive at destination
MD 177
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 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
2.7 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward MD 100 East
Navigation decision point
Toward MD 100 East
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.
3
18.5 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
MD 10; MD 100 / Arundel Expressway
Merge onto MD 10; MD 100 / Arundel Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining
7
18.8 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
MD 100 / Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto MD 100 / Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway toward MD 100 East: Gibson Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward MD 100 East: Gibson Island
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.03 one way
$8.06 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.41 | $8.82 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.71 | $9.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.37 | $10.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.55 | $1.17 |
| Efficient EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.13 | $0.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.40 | $1.56 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Lake Shore, MD
Morning in Lake Shore on Tuesday
Local time
8:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
35m 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 route is largely a highway-focused drive, with about 65% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 15.5 miles on MD 100, which likely offers consistent speeds and fewer interruptions. The Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway and Old Annapolis Road will also play a role, potentially offering a slight change of pace as you near your destination. Expect a driving experience that prioritizes getting you there efficiently, rather than a winding, scenic exploration.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.5 mi on MD 100.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MD 100 and Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway. You will hit about 5 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 24.3 miles you will encounter 5 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (MD 100): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 35m. Total distance: 24.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.5 miles on MD 100. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Lake Shore, 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 2.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (MD 100): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Lake Shore, 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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