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Trip from Columbia, MD to Solomons, MD

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 3m

Distance

79.7 mi

128 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 55m ★
6 AM
2h 3m
8 AM
2h 21m
10 AM
2h 10m
12 PM
2h 8m
3 PM
2h 10m
5 PM
2h 20m
8 PM
1h 58m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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planned community in Howard County, Maryland, United States

Columbia, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Solomons, MD, MD

Solomons, MD

Efrem Efre

Trip Overview

The drive from Columbia, MD to Solomons, MD covers 79.7 miles and takes about 2h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Solomons Island Road, North West Crain Highway, Southern Maryland Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.9 miles on South Solomons Island Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.32 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

39.8 miles from Columbia, MD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Solomons Island Road 17.9 mi 27m
North West Crain Highway 10.4 mi 15m
Southern Maryland Boulevard 10.2 mi 14m
North Solomons Island Road 9 mi 13m
MD 100 8.6 mi 11m
Robert Crain Highway 5.6 mi 8m
Telegraph Road 3.3 mi 5m
Stephanie Roper Highway 3.1 mi 4m
Longest stretch: South Solomons Island Road — 17.9 mi, about 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MD and Solomons, 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

1.3 mi · 2 min · Annapolis Road
15

Turn right onto MD 3

5.6 mi · 8 min · Robert Crain Highway
Use the right lane.
16

Continue on MD 3; MD 450

10 mi · 15 min · North West Crain Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
17

Turn left onto Village Drive West

229 ft · 10 sec · Village Drive West
18

Turn right onto Old Crain Highway

1.1 mi · 2 min · Old Crain Highway
19

Continue on Marlboro Pike

0.8 mi · 1 min · Marlboro Pike
20

Turn right onto Green Landing Road

0.3 mi · 37 sec · Green Landing Road
21

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward MD 4 South
22

Merge onto MD 4

3.1 mi · 4 min · Stephanie Roper Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Continue on MD 4

10 mi · 14 min · Southern Maryland Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
24

Continue on MD 2; MD 4

9.0 mi · 13 min · North Solomons Island Road
Use the straight lane.
25

Continue on MD 2; MD 4

17 mi · 23 min · South Solomons Island Road
Use the left lane.
26

Take the exit

493 ft · 14 sec
27

Turn left onto MD 765

1.4 mi · 2 min · H.G. Trueman Road
28

Continue on South Solomons Island Road

0.9 mi · 3 min · South Solomons Island Road
29

Turn slight right onto Patuxent Avenue

0.3 mi · 1 min · Patuxent Avenue
30

Turn right

67 ft · 4 sec
31

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.8 miles from Columbia, MD, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.9 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 18 miles or 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 39.8 miles or 1h 2m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 42m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Solomons, MD than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Columbia, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Columbia, MD

This is one driving day of about 79.7 miles and 2h 3m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Columbia, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South Solomons Island Road for about 17.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Oakland, MD, MD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Oakland, MD

40 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

Jessup, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Oakland, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.8 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · home stretch

The Lighthouse Restaurant and Dockbar

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Solomons, Maryland

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 0min to go 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30

Hours: 11:30 am–9 pm

+14102312256

Visit website

The Pier Restaurant (Solomons Island, MD)

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Solomons, Maryland

0.3 mi

La Vela Italian Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Solomons, Maryland

0.8 mi

Best coffee break · final third

Lobby Coffee Bar & Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Huntingtown, Maryland

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Final third · 44min to go 0.2 mi from route $10 to $20

Hours: 8 am–3 pm

+14102575662

Visit website

Elkridge Deli Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Elkridge, Maryland

2.3 mi

The Lighthouse Restaurant and Dockbar

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30

Solomons, Maryland

Hours: 11:30 am–9 pm

+14102312256

Visit website

The Pier Restaurant (Solomons Island, MD)

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30

Solomons, Maryland

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14104498406

Visit website

La Vela Italian Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Solomons, Maryland

Hours: 12–9 pm

+14103264817

Visit website

Royal Taj Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour Moderately

Columbia, Maryland

Hours: 11:30 am–9:15 pm

+14103811111

Visit website

Lobby Coffee Bar & Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Final third 0.2 mi from route $10 to $20

Huntingtown, Maryland

Hours: 8 am–3 pm

+14102575662

Visit website

Elkridge Deli Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Elkridge, Maryland

Hours: 6 am–2:30 pm

+14107961095

Visit website

Old Mill Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Ellicott City, Maryland

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+14104652253

Visit website

Irina's Crepes Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

First break 4 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20

Glen Burnie, Maryland

Hours: 8 am–3 pm

+14105530955

Visit website

Puerto Rican Café

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

Home stretch 4 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20

Lexington Park, Maryland

Hours: 9:30 am–7 pm

+13016905594

Visit website

Italia's Corner Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~12 min detour

First break 4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20

Glen Burnie, Maryland

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+14106843817

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Gambrills, Maryland

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Dunkirk, Maryland

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Hanover, Maryland

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Columbia, Maryland

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

3.3 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Hanover, Maryland

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour

Hanover, Maryland

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

Columbia, Maryland

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

SWTCH Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Hanover, Maryland

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Holiday Inn Express Prince Frederick, an IHG Hotel

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Prince Frederick, Maryland

+14105356800

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 11.5 and 37.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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
6
37.3 mi into trip | ~59m in

Take the ramp toward MD 4 South

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Toward MD 4 South

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.32 one way

$26.63 round trip

$4.24/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.67 $14.66 $29.31
premium $5.01 $15.73 $31.45
diesel $5.60 $17.57 $35.14

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.9 0 $8.37 $3.83
Efficient EV 19.9 0 $6.97 $3.19
EV Truck/SUV 31.9 0 $11.16 $5.10

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (68% 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.

Forecast as of Sep 1, 2026

Origin

Columbia, MD

Late night in Columbia on Wednesday

Local time

2:11 AM

EDT

Current temp

72°F

Mostly Cloudy

SW 2 mph 14% chance Live forecast

Destination

Solomons, MD

Late night in Solomons on Wednesday

Local time

2:11 AM

EDT

Current temp

77°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy

S 5 mph 15% chance Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

5 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

2h 3m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

79.7 mi in 2h 3m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.9 mi on South Solomons Island Road.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

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 around 11.5 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 79.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: 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; at 15.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

407 ft 12 ft

Total Climb

323 ft

Total Descent

718 ft

Highest Point

407 ft

Elevation Range

395 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Columbia, MD and Solomons, MD, road signs point toward Odenton and Gambrills.

Odenton

11.5 mi in | ~17m

Gambrills

17.1 mi in | ~26m

About the Cities

Starting in Columbia, MD

Full guide →

Founded 1967

Columbia is a planned city in Howard County, Central Maryland. It differs strongly from most notions of what constitutes a "city," as the planner divided the densely populated, but decidedly suburban in character, city into ten "villages," each of which are divided into several neighborhoods, leaving the city with a less obvious center.

Arriving in Solomons, MD

Full guide →

For the island chain in the South Pacific, see Solomon Islands. Solomons (Solomons Island) is a resort area in Southern Maryland, near the Patuxent Naval Air Station. Solomons within a two-hour drive of Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Annapolis. Solomons is also close to the Calvert Cliffs State Park, which is fun for fossil hunting. Located where the Patuxent River meets the Chesapeake Bay, it is a popular destination for fishing and boating. Solomons also has a nice, short boardwalk at the tip of the peninsula and a lively restaurant scene.

Top landmarks

  • • William B. Tennison — Chesapeake Bay bugeye built in 1899 and converted to an oyster buy-boat in 1906-...

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 79.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 17.9 miles on South Solomons Island Road. 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 Solomons, MD before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: 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; at 15.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Solomons, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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