How far is Columbia, MD from Catonsville, MD?

The driving distance from Columbia, MD to Catonsville, MD is about 10.5 miles (16.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 16m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 6.2 miles (9.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 33m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
10.47 mi
00h 16m
Flight
6.15 mi
9.9 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Columbia.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
6.15 mi
Kilometers
9.9 km
Flight Time

Driving Distance

Road route
10.47 mi
Kilometers
16.85 km
Drive Time
00h 16m

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 16m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Catonsville
Thu, Oct 15, 11:05 PM EDT
Return by in Columbia
Thu, Oct 15, 11:22 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Columbia
2026-10-15T22:49
Arrive Catonsville
Thu, Oct 15, 11:05 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 16m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:17 AM to 7:17 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:56 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Columbia
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Ellicott City
MD

Unincorporated community in Howard County, Maryland, United States

From Columbia
5 mi
00h 08m
To Catonsville
5.5 mi
00h 08m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
This Afternoon

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 1:00 PM EDT
Wind
5 mph E
Destination
64°F
This Afternoon

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 1:00 PM EDT
Wind
5 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Columbia and Catonsville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Columbia and Catonsville.

  1. 1

    Start on MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Search, Harper's Choice

    123 m · 10 sec

  2. 2

    Turn straight onto Clarksville Pike

    1031 ft · 19 sec · Clarksville Pike

  3. 3

    Continue on Clarksville Pike

    2328 ft · 56 sec · Clarksville Pike

  4. 4

    Take the ramp straight toward US 29 North: Baltimore

    1475 ft · 36 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Columbia Pike

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Columbia Pike

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward US 40 East: Ellicott City

    1354 ft · 33 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on US 40 East: Ellicott City

    2614 ft · 1 min

  8. 8

    Turn straight onto Baltimore National Pike

    4.4 mi · 7 min · Baltimore National Pike

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Winters Lane

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Winters Lane

  10. 10

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Frederick Road

    907 ft · 35 sec · Frederick Road

  11. 11

    Turn left

    11 m · 3 sec

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Columbia and Catonsville.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

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.

Directions
12 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
114.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Baltimore National Pike
4.37 mi · 42%
Columbia Pike
2.51 mi · 24%
Winters Lane
1.1 mi · 11%
US 40 East
0.75 mi · 7%
Clarksville Pike
0.64 mi · 6%
US 29 North
0.28 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Baltimore National Pike

Turn straight onto Baltimore National Pike

4.37 mi · 00h 07m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
00h 16m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.3 mi
6.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ellicott City
00h 08m from Columbia
Leave By
7:56 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Columbia and Chance Rain Showers near Catonsville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Columbia to Catonsville?

The road trip is about 10.5 miles (16.9 km) and usually takes 00h 16m 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?

Ellicott City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 5 miles from Columbia and 5.5 miles from Catonsville.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 6.2 miles (9.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.3 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 7:56 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.57 one way or $3.14 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 3.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Columbia and Chance Rain Showers near Catonsville.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Columbia and Catonsville. Straight-line distance: 6.15 mi (9.9 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Columbia

Columbia is a place in Maryland, United States.

Population0
Coordinates39.2403800, -76.8394200
Altitude124
CountryUnited States
Catonsville

#2 Catonsville

A city in Baltimore County, Maryland.

Population41,567
Coordinates39.2720500, -76.7319200
Altitude146
CountryUnited States
Start: (-76.839402, 39.240355)
End: (-76.731988, 39.272037)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 17 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 15m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 08m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 07m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.37 gal
1.4 L · about $1.57
Round trip
$3.14
0.74 gal · 2.8 L
Estimated CO2
3.3 kg one way
Round trip: 6.6 kg / 15 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.24 $1.57 $3.14
Mid-grade $4.84 $1.79 $3.58
Premium $5.15 $1.90 $3.81
Diesel $6.36 $2.35 $4.71

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 · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Columbia and Catonsville. The current time is 22:49:12.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.