Origin
Columbia, MD
Late night in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
12:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, MD to Mellwood, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53m
Distance
39.2 mi
63 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbia, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Mellwood, MD
Jason Morrison
Trip Overview
Columbia, MD to Mellwood, MD is 39.2 miles and takes about 53 minutes via I-95 and Columbia Pike, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip primarily within the Northeast region, connecting two points in Maryland. Given its short duration, this route is ideal for a quick drive with minimal planning. You'll spend most of your time on major roads, making it an efficient way to travel between these locations without significant detours or overnight stays.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 27.1 mi | 34m |
| Columbia Pike | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Patuxent Freeway | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Clarksville Pike | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Woodyard Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Marlboro Pike | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 27.1 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MD and Mellwood, 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
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Columbia Pike
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 16A
Toward MD 32 East: Fort Meade
Use the right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward Shaker Drive, Eden Brook Drive
8
Merge onto MD 32
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Patuxent Freeway
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 13B
Toward I 95 South: Washington
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 95
27 mi
·
34 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 11A
Toward MD 4 South/East: Pennsylvania Avenue, Upper Marlboro
Use the right lane.
12
Merge onto MD 4
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward MD 223: Woodyard Road, Westphalia, Clinton
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn right onto MD 223
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Woodyard Road
15
Turn left onto Marlboro Pike
128 ft
·
5 sec
·
Marlboro Pike
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
Marlboro Pike
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.6 miles from Columbia, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 5 and 38.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward MD 32 East: Fort Meade
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 16A
Toward MD 32 East: Fort Meade
6
5.4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Shaker Drive, Eden Brook Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Shaker Drive, Eden Brook Drive
7
7.8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 13B
Toward I 95 South: Washington
8
35.5 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward MD 4 South/East: Pennsylvania Avenue, Upper Marlboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 11A
Toward MD 4 South/East: Pennsylvania Avenue, Up...
7
38.8 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward MD 223: Woodyard Road, Westphalia, Clinton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MD 223: Woodyard Road, Westphalia, Clint...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.50 one way
$13.00 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.12 | $14.24 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.60 | $15.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.65 | $17.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.12 | $1.88 |
| Efficient EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.43 | $1.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.49 | $2.51 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Mellwood, MD
Late night in Mellwood on Sunday
Local time
12:23 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
53m 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 drive is heavily highway-focused, with 75% of the route utilizing major interstates and parkways. Expect to spend a significant portion of your 53-minute journey on I-95, including a continuous stretch of 27.1 miles. The profile is best described as a highway-focused drive, meaning you'll likely experience consistent speeds and traffic patterns typical of interstate travel. While there are segments on Columbia Pike and Pennsylvania Avenue, the overall character remains that of a swift, direct connection rather than a winding scenic tour.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.1 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Columbia Pike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 14 decision points packed into just 39.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Mellwood, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Upper Marlboro along the way.
Upper Marlboro
35.5 mi in
|
~47m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 39.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.1 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 Mellwood, 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: at 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.8 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 Mellwood, 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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