Origin
Columbia, MD
Morning in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
6:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, MD to Riverside, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
44.8 mi
72 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbia, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Riverside, MD
Sjuan Dogjani
Trip Overview
Columbia, MD to Riverside, MD is 44.8 miles and takes about 1 hour via Harbor Tunnel Thruway, John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, and Express Toll Lanes, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Northeast region, making it a convenient local drive. You'll encounter a more turn-heavy experience than a pure highway cruise. Given its short duration, it's an ideal choice for a quick errand or a simple point-to-point journey without needing to plan for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Harbor Tunnel Thruway | 11.6 mi | 15m |
| John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway | 11 mi | 12m |
| Express Toll Lanes | 8.5 mi | 9m |
| MD 100 | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| I 95 | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Old Annapolis Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Baltimore Harbor Tunnel | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Harbor Tunnel Throughway | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
— 11.6 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MD and Riverside, 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
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
MD 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 5B
Toward I 95 North: Baltimore
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 95
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
I 95
9
Take the exit onto I 895
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Exit 46
Toward I 895 North: Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on I 895
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Harbor Tunnel Throughway
11
Continue on I 895
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 895
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Baltimore Harbor Tunnel
13
Continue on I 895
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 895
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
297 ft
·
3 sec
16
Merge onto I 95
11 mi
·
12 min
·
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Exit 80
Toward MD 543: Belcamp
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn right onto MD 543
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Riverside Parkway
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto Church Creek Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Church Creek Road
20
Turn right onto Allison Court
290 ft
·
14 sec
·
Allison Court
21
Turn right onto Collier Lane
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Collier Lane
22
Continue on Collier Lane
102 ft
·
4 sec
·
Collier Lane
23
Arrive at destination
Collier Lane
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.4 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 42.9 — 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...
7
6.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5B
Toward I 95 North: Baltimore
7
9.3 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
I 895 / Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Take the exit onto I 895 / Harbor Tunnel Thruway toward I 895 North: Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46
Toward I 895 North: Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thr...
6
23.3 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
I 895 / Express Toll Lanes
Keep slight left at fork onto I 895 / Express Toll Lanes
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
7
42.9 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward MD 543: Belcamp
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 80
Toward MD 543: Belcamp
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.43 one way
$14.85 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.13 | $16.27 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.69 | $17.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.89 | $19.78 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.81
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
(11.6 mi)
$0.81
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.70 | $2.15 |
| Efficient EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.92 | $1.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.27 | $2.87 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Riverside, MD
Morning in Riverside on Sunday
Local time
6:12 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
1h 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 offers a mix of highway and local driving, with 16% of the journey on main roads. You'll experience a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll navigate several intersections and traffic lights. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 11.6 miles on the Harbor Tunnel Thruway. Expect the road to transition between faster-paced highway sections and more stop-and-go local segments as you approach your destination.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.6 mi on Harbor Tunnel Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 44.8 miles you will encounter 15 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 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.3 miles (I 895 / Harbor Tunnel Thruway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 44.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.6 miles on Harbor Tunnel Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.81 in tolls one way, starting with Harbor Tunnel Thruway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Riverside, 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 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.3 miles (I 895 / Harbor Tunnel Thruway): 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 Riverside, 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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