Origin
Gwynn Oak, MD
Late night in Gwynn Oak on Sunday
Local time
3:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gwynn Oak, MD to Four Corners, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
31.3 mi
50 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gwynn Oak, MD
Iqbal farooz
Four Corners, MD
Gabriel Ramos
Trip Overview
Gwynn Oak, MD to Four Corners, MD is 31.3 miles and takes about 47 minutes via Columbia Pike, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maryland, traversing the Northeast region. Expect a route with frequent turns, making it more of a local drive than a high-speed transit. With a duration under an hour and minimal stops recommended, this is an easy same-day excursion. It's a straightforward option if you're looking for a quick hop between these two Maryland locales.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia Pike | 21.2 mi | 28m |
| I 70 Extension | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| West Forest Park Avenue | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Hillsdale Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Colesville Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Ingleside Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| University Boulevard East | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Pierce Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Columbia Pike
— 21.2 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gwynn Oak, MD and Four Corners, MD.
1
Start on this road
60 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Haddon Avenue
178 ft
·
11 sec
·
Haddon Avenue
3
Turn left onto Hillsdale Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Hillsdale Road
4
Turn slight right onto West Forest Park Avenue
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West Forest Park Avenue
5
Continue on Ingleside Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Ingleside Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 70 West
7
Merge onto I 70 Extension
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
I 70 Extension
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 87A
Toward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington, Ellicott City
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto US 29
21 mi
·
28 min
·
Columbia Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on US 29
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Colesville Road
11
Take the exit
112 ft
·
6 sec
12
Turn left onto Timberwood Avenue
323 ft
·
15 sec
·
Timberwood Avenue
13
Turn right onto Pierce Drive
455 ft
·
20 sec
·
Pierce Drive
14
Turn right onto Lexington Drive
233 ft
·
14 sec
·
Lexington Drive
15
Turn right onto MD 193
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
University Boulevard East
16
Arrive at destination
MD 193
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.7 miles from Gwynn Oak, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 31.2 — 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
|
Haddon Avenue
Turn right onto Haddon Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Hillsdale Road
Turn left onto Hillsdale Road
Navigation decision point
8
8.3 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington, Ellicott City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 87A
Toward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington, Ellic...
5
9.1 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
US 29 / Columbia Pike
Merge onto US 29 / Columbia Pike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
31.2 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
MD 193 / University Boulevard East
Turn right onto MD 193 / University Boulevard East
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.19 one way
$10.38 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.68 | $11.37 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.07 | $12.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.91 | $13.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.29 | $1.50 |
| Efficient EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.74 | $1.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.38 | $2.00 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Four Corners, MD
Late night in Four Corners on Sunday
Local time
3:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Columbia, MD
16 mi in
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
47m 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 characterized by its turn-heavy nature, meaning you'll be navigating local roads more than open highway. With only 17% of the route on highways, most of your time will be spent on Columbia Pike and West Forest Park Avenue. The longest stretch without a significant turn is 21.2 miles along Columbia Pike. This profile suggests a dynamic driving experience, potentially involving traffic lights and intersections, rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Be prepared for a pace that requires more attention to navigation and surroundings.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.2 mi on Columbia Pike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Haddon Avenue.
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 31.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 (Haddon Avenue): Navigation decision point; near the start (Hillsdale Road): Navigation decision point; at 8.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Between Gwynn Oak, MD and Four Corners, MD, road signs point toward Washington and Ellicott City.
Washington
8.3 mi in
|
~14m
Ellicott City
8.3 mi in
|
~14m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 31.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m 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 21.2 miles on Columbia Pike. 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 Four Corners, 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 (Haddon Avenue): Navigation decision point; near the start (Hillsdale Road): Navigation decision point; at 8.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. 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 Four Corners, 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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