How far is Columbia, MD from Riverdale Park, MD?

The driving distance from Columbia, MD to Riverdale Park, MD is about 27.1 miles (43.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 39m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 19.8 miles (31.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 18m 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
27.1 mi
00h 39m
Flight
19.77 mi
31.81 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Columbia.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
19.77 mi
Kilometers
31.81 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
27.1 mi
Kilometers
43.62 km
Drive Time
00h 39m

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 39m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Riverdale Park
Sun, Apr 19, 12:40 PM EDT
Return by in Columbia
Sun, Apr 19, 1:19 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Columbia
2026-04-19T12:01
Arrive Riverdale Park
Sun, Apr 19, 12:40 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 39m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:39 AM to 7:39 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:12 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Columbia
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
West Laurel
MD

Census designated place

From Columbia
13.5 mi
00h 19m
To Riverdale Park
13.5 mi
00h 19m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
61°F
Sunday

Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
12 to 18 mph NW
Destination
64°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 13 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Columbia and Riverdale Park.

  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

    14.5 mi · 17 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward MD 201: Greenbelt, Bladensburg

    1921 ft · 47 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on MD 201 South: Kenilworth Avenue, Bladensburg

    79 m · 6 sec

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto Kenilworth Avenue

    3 mi · 5 min · Kenilworth Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn right onto East-West Highway

    1 km · 1 min · East-West Highway

  15. 15

    Turn right onto 49th Avenue

    82 m · 16 sec · 49th Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Ravenswood Road

    72 m · 10 sec · Ravenswood Road

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Ravenswood Road

Car Route Details

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

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
17 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
62.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 95 South
15.1 mi · 56%
Columbia Pike
4.2 mi · 16%
Kenilworth Avenue
3.04 mi · 11%
Patuxent Freeway
2.38 mi · 9%
East-West Highway
0.62 mi · 2%
US 29 South
0.4 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 95 South

Merge slight left

14.5 mi · 00h 17m

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 39m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.3 mi
19.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
West Laurel
00h 19m from Columbia
Leave By
7:12 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Rain Showers leaving Columbia and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Riverdale Park.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Columbia to Riverdale Park?

The road trip is about 27.1 miles (43.6 km) and usually takes 00h 39m 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?

West Laurel is a useful midpoint, sitting about 13.5 miles from Columbia and 13.5 miles from Riverdale Park.

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

The direct path is about 19.8 miles (31.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.3 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 7:12 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.92 one way or $7.85 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 8.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers around Columbia and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Riverdale Park.

Stop Ideas Near West Laurel

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 West Laurel and the surrounding midpoint area.
City of Rockville City Hall
Scenic stop 14 mi away

City of Rockville City Hall

Rockville , MD
111 Maryland Ave, Rockville, MD 20850, United States
Rating 4.5/5 4 reviews Park
Stop photo coming soon
Practical stop 14.4 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
City of Bowie
Meeting point 13.7 mi away

City of Bowie

Bowie , MD
15901 Excalibur Rd, Bowie, MD 20716
Rating 4.6/5 13 reviews City Hall,City government office
Town Hall Liquor And Bar
Nearby stop 7.7 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 West Laurel.

RAIL

New Carrollton station

17 mi away
4300 Garden City Drive
RAIL

BWI Rail Station

20 mi away
7 Amtrak Way
RAIL

Rockville station

21 mi away
251 Hungerford Drive at Park Rd.
RAIL

Washington Union Station

24 mi away
50 Massachusetts Ave NE

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Columbia and Riverdale Park. Straight-line distance: 19.77 mi (31.81 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Columbia

Columbia is a place in Maryland, United States.

Population0
Coordinates39.2403800, -76.8394200
Altitude124
CountryUnited States
Riverdale Park

#2 Riverdale Park

Town of the United States in Prince George's County, Maryland

Population7,192
Coordinates38.9634400, -76.9316400
Altitude12
CountryUnited States
Start: Columbia (-76.83942, 39.24038)
End: Riverdale Park (-76.93164, 38.96344)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 44 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 54m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 27m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.96 gal
3.62 L · about $3.92
Round trip
$7.85
1.92 gal · 7.24 L
Estimated CO2
8.5 kg one way
Round trip: 17.1 kg / 38 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $3.92 $7.85
Mid-grade $4.60 $4.42 $8.83
Premium $4.95 $4.76 $9.51
Diesel $5.98 $5.74 $11.48

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Columbia and Riverdale Park. The current time is 12:01:40.

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.