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
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,734 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,344
Quietest
2 AM
~214 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 102 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
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 87AToward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington, Ellicott CityUse 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.
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 11
5 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
$5.47 one way
$10.93 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg11 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$5.99
$11.97
premium
$5.20
$6.40
$12.81
diesel
$6.18
$7.61
$15.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
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.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Gwynn Oak, MD
Late night
in Gwynn Oak on Wednesday
Local time
2:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
N 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 18 at 9:56PM EDT until October 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 18 at 9:56PM EDT until October 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Four Corners, MD
Late night
in Four Corners on Wednesday
Local time
2:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Clear
N 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 18 at 9:56PM EDT until October 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 18 at 9:56PM EDT until October 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
65°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
3 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
47m 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.
More Details
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 Effort6/10
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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
466 ft306 ft
Total Climb
370 ft
Total Descent
458 ft
Highest Point
466 ft
~22.4 mi in
Elevation Range
160 ft
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.
For the Four Corners in Canada, see Four Corners (Canada). For the greater "Four Corners Region", see Navajo Nation.
Four Corners Monument and Tribal Park is the quadripoint for the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. The monument is managed by the Navajo Nation and is a waypoint along the Trails of the Ancients National Scenic Byway.
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.
