Origin
Urbana, MD
Morning in Urbana on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Urbana, MD to Columbia, 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
46m
Distance
36.7 mi
59 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Urbana, MD
Jonathan Borba
Columbia, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Urbana, MD to Columbia, MD is 36.7 miles and takes about 46m via I 70 and Fingerboard Road, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Maryland's Northeast region, offering a straightforward drive between two developed areas. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, making it a practical choice for a quick transit or a connection to other nearby destinations. Plan for a simple, efficient drive with minimal complexity.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 23.9 mi | 25m |
| Fingerboard Road | 4.6 mi | 7m |
| Columbia Pike | 3.5 mi | 3m |
| Green Valley Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Baldwin Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Urbana Pike | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 23.9 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Urbana, MD and Columbia, MD.
1
Start on MD 355 Business
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Urbana Pike
2
Turn left onto MD 80
4.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Fingerboard Road
3
Turn sharp left onto MD 75
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Green Valley Road
4
Turn right onto MD 75
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Baldwin Road
5
Turn left onto MD 75
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Green Valley Road
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 70 East
7
Merge onto I 70; US 40
13 mi
·
13 min
·
I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 70; US 40
6.5 mi
·
6 min
·
I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
I 70
Toward Baltimore
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 87A
Toward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto US 29
3.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Columbia Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 21B
Toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Search, Harper's Choice
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Arrive at destination
Exit 21B
Toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Search, Harper's Choice
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.3 miles from Urbana, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 36.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.8 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
MD 75 / Green Valley Road
Turn sharp left onto MD 75 / Green Valley Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
8.2 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 70; US 40
Merge onto I 70; US 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
27.5 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
I 70
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 toward Baltimore
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Baltimore
8
32.1 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington
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 87A
Toward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington
8
36.3 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Search, Harper's Choice
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 21B
Toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Searc...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.08 one way
$12.17 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.66 | $13.33 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.12 | $14.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.10 | $16.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11 | 0 | $3.85 | $1.76 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.21 | $1.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.14 | $2.35 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Columbia, MD
Morning in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
Mount Airy, MD
18 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
17 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
46m 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 is mostly highway, with 65% of the drive on major roads like I 70. You'll experience a longest stretch of 23.9 miles on I 70 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a steady pace with frequent exits as you approach Columbia. The initial segment on I 70 will feel like typical interstate cruising.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.9 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Fingerboard Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in near MD 75 / Green Valley Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 36.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.8 miles (MD 75 / Green Valley Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 8.2 miles (I 70; US 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.5 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Urbana, MD and Columbia, MD, road signs point toward Baltimore and Washington.
Baltimore
27.5 mi in
|
~35m
|
via I 70
Washington
32.1 mi in
|
~40m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 36.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.9 miles on I 70. 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 Columbia, 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: at 4.8 miles (MD 75 / Green Valley Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 8.2 miles (I 70; US 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.5 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Columbia, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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