How far is Arlington, MD from Columbia, MD?
The driving distance from Arlington, MD to Columbia, MD is about 16.2 miles (26.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 23m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 11.2 miles (18 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 47m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 00h 23m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Census designated place
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Partly Cloudy
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Arlington and Columbia.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington and Columbia.
-
1
Start on Cuthbert Avenue
128 m · 16 sec · Cuthbert Avenue
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2
Turn right onto Hayward Avenue
2640 ft · 2 min · Hayward Avenue
-
3
Turn sharp left onto Eldorado Avenue
2861 ft · 2 min · Eldorado Avenue
-
4
Turn right onto Oakford Avenue
654 ft · 24 sec · Oakford Avenue
-
5
Continue on Hillsdale Road
1.1 mi · 4 min · Hillsdale Road
-
6
Turn slight right onto West Forest Park Avenue
1.4 mi · 4 min · West Forest Park Avenue
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7
Continue on Ingleside Avenue
944 ft · 31 sec · Ingleside Avenue
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8
Take the ramp slight right toward I 70 West
1812 ft · 44 sec
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9
Merge slight left
5.4 mi · 6 min
-
10
Take the exit slight left toward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington, Ellicott City
1.3 km · 2 min
-
11
Merge slight right onto Columbia Pike
3.5 mi · 4 min · Columbia Pike
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12
Take the exit slight right toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Search, Harper's Choice
2076 ft · 51 sec
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13
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Arlington and Columbia.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
I 70 West
Merge slight left
5.39 mi · 00h 06m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Mostly Sunny leaving Arlington and Partly Cloudy near Columbia.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Arlington to Columbia?
The road trip is about 16.2 miles (26.1 km) and usually takes 00h 23m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Milford Mill is a useful midpoint, sitting about 7.2 miles from Arlington and 9 miles from Columbia.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 11.2 miles (18 km), while the road route adds roughly 5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:42 PM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.33 one way or $4.66 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Arlington and Partly Cloudy near Columbia.
Stop Ideas Near Milford Mill
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Milford Mill.
Pennsylvania Station
BWI Rail Station
Rockville station
New Carrollton station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Arlington and Columbia. Straight-line distance: 11.21 mi (18.04 km).
#1 Arlington
Arlington is a place in Maryland, United States.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 39.3485700, -76.6832400 |
| Altitude | 134 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Columbia
Columbia is a place in Maryland, United States.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 39.2403800, -76.8394200 |
| Altitude | 124 |
| Country | United States |
End: (-76.839402, 39.240355)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 26 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 32m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 24m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 19m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 16m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 13m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 12m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.09 | $2.33 | $4.66 |
| Mid-grade | $4.60 | $2.62 | $5.24 |
| Premium | $4.95 | $2.82 | $5.65 |
| Diesel | $5.98 | $3.41 | $6.82 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Maryland · Apr 15, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.