How far is Columbia, MD from Clinton, MD?

The driving distance from Columbia, MD to Clinton, MD is about 41.9 miles (67.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 33 miles (53.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 59m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
41.94 mi
00h 59m
Flight
32.99 mi
53.09 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Columbia.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
32.99 mi
Kilometers
53.09 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
41.94 mi
Kilometers
67.5 km
Drive Time
00h 59m

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 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clinton
Tue, Apr 21, 3:57 PM EDT
Return by in Columbia
Tue, Apr 21, 4:56 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Columbia
2026-04-21T14:57
Arrive Clinton
Tue, Apr 21, 3:57 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:30 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Columbia
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Beltsville
MD

Census designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States

From Columbia
21 mi
00h 29m
To Clinton
20.9 mi
00h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Apr 21 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 7 mph W
Destination
61°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Apr 21 2:00 PM EDT
Wind
10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    565 ft · 26 sec · Clarksville Pike

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right toward US 29 South: Columbia, Town Center

    2112 ft · 51 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Columbia Pike

    4.2 mi · 6 min · Columbia Pike

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward MD 32 East: Fort Meade

    1957 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Shaker Drive, Eden Brook Drive

    551 ft · 14 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Patuxent Freeway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Patuxent Freeway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South: Washington

    3124 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    28.1 mi · 36 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward MD 337: Andrews Air Force Base Main Gate, Morningside

    1256 ft · 34 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Forestville Road

    130 m · 12 sec · Forestville Road

  13. 13

    Turn slight right onto MD 337 South

    2.2 mi · 5 min

  14. 14

    Turn left onto MD 5 South: Waldorf

    2410 ft · 40 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Branch Avenue

    1.1 km · 46 sec · Branch Avenue

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward Old Branch Avenue, Kirby Road

    952 ft · 25 sec

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto Old Branch Avenue

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Old Branch Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Piscataway Road

    21 m · 7 sec · Piscataway Road

  19. 19

    Turn left

    13 m · 3 sec

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
20 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
47.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 95 South
28.7 mi · 68%
Columbia Pike
4.2 mi · 10%
Patuxent Freeway
2.38 mi · 6%
MD 337 South
2.21 mi · 5%
Old Branch Avenue
1.71 mi · 4%
Branch Avenue
0.71 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 95 South

Merge slight left

28.1 mi · 00h 36m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 59m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.9 mi
33 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Beltsville
00h 29m from Columbia
Leave By
4:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Columbia and Sunny near Clinton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 41.9 miles (67.5 km) and usually takes 00h 59m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Beltsville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 21 miles from Columbia and 20.9 miles from Clinton.

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

The direct path is about 33 miles (53.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.9 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:30 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.05 one way or $12.09 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 13.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Columbia and Sunny near Clinton.

Stop Ideas Near Beltsville

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Beltsville and the surrounding midpoint area.
United States Capitol
Scenic stop 9.9 mi away

United States Capitol

Washington , DC
First St SE, Washington, DC 20004, United States
Rating 4.6/5 4,243 reviews Tourist attraction,Historical place,Historical landmark,Landmark,Federal government office
Stop photo coming soon
Practical stop 8.6 mi away

D C Government

Washington , DC
77 P St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews City government office,Telephone answering service
THEARC: Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus
Meeting point 12.4 mi away

THEARC: Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus

Washington , DC
1901 Mississippi Ave SE, Washington, DC 20020
Rating 4.7/5 64 reviews Recreation center,City Hall
Town Hall Liquor And Bar
Nearby stop 1.9 mi away

Town Hall Liquor And Bar

College Park , MD
8135 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740
Rating 4.3/5 319 reviews Liquor store,Bar

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Beltsville.

RAIL

New Carrollton station

10 mi away
4300 Garden City Drive
RAIL

Washington Union Station

18 mi away
50 Massachusetts Ave NE
RAIL

Rockville station

21 mi away
251 Hungerford Drive at Park Rd.
RAIL

BWI Rail Station

25 mi away
7 Amtrak Way

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Columbia and Clinton. Straight-line distance: 32.99 mi (53.09 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Columbia

Columbia is a place in Maryland, United States.

Population0
Coordinates39.2403800, -76.8394200
Altitude124
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Clinton

Clinton is a place in Maryland, United States.

Population0
Coordinates38.7651100, -76.8983100
Altitude76
CountryUnited States
Start: Columbia (-76.83942, 39.24038)
End: Clinton (-76.89831, 38.76511)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 68 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 50m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 31m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.48 gal
5.6 L · about $6.05
Round trip
$12.09
2.96 gal · 11.2 L
Estimated CO2
13.2 kg one way
Round trip: 26.3 kg / 58 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $6.05 $12.09
Mid-grade $4.60 $6.81 $13.61
Premium $4.95 $7.33 $14.66
Diesel $5.98 $8.85 $17.70

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 21, 2026

There is no time difference between Columbia and Clinton. The current time is 14:57:28.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

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