Origin
Gwynn Oak, MD
Morning in Gwynn Oak on Tuesday
Local time
6:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gwynn Oak, MD to Riverside, MD
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
28m
Distance
18.4 mi
30 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gwynn Oak, MD
Iqbal farooz
Riverside, MD
Sjuan Dogjani
Trip Overview
This short 18.4-mile drive from Gwynn Oak to Riverside, Maryland, is easily manageable in about 28 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route primarily utilizes Columbia Pike, I 70 Extension, and West Forest Park Avenue. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $3, this trip is budget-friendly. It's a straightforward journey within the Northeast region of Maryland, ideal for a quick excursion without needing an overnight stay. Plan for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia Pike | 8.9 mi | 10m |
| I 70 Extension | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| West Forest Park Avenue | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Hillsdale Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Rivers Edge Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Ingleside Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Rivers View Court | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Haddon Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Columbia Pike
— 8.9 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gwynn Oak, MD and Riverside, 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
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Columbia Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto Rivers Edge Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Rivers Edge Road
11
Turn left onto Rivers View Court
390 ft
·
17 sec
·
Rivers View Court
12
Arrive at destination
Rivers View Court
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 18.4 — 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.
4
18.4 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
Rivers View Court
Turn left onto Rivers View Court
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.05 one way
$6.10 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.34 | $6.68 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.57 | $7.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.06 | $8.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.93 | $0.88 |
| Efficient EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.61 | $0.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.58 | $1.18 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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 Tuesday
Local time
6:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°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
12 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
28m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a highway share of 29%. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.9 miles along Columbia Pike. This drive is characterized by frequent turns and changes in road type, blending local streets with brief highway segments. It's not a monotonous interstate cruise, but rather a route that requires your attention as you navigate through various local roads.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.9 mi on Columbia Pike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 7 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
5/10
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 18.4 miles you will encounter 7 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 Riverside, 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 28m. Total distance: 18.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (29%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.9 miles on Columbia Pike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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. 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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