How far is Glen Burnie, MD from Columbia, MD?

The driving distance from Glen Burnie, MD to Columbia, MD is about 16.9 miles (27.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 12.7 miles (20.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 42m 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
16.91 mi
00h 21m
Flight
12.69 mi
20.42 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Glen Burnie.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
12.69 mi
Kilometers
20.42 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
16.91 mi
Kilometers
27.21 km
Drive Time
00h 21m

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 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Columbia
Thu, Apr 16, 3:30 AM EDT
Return by in Glen Burnie
Thu, Apr 16, 3:51 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Glen Burnie
2026-04-16T03:09
Arrive Columbia
Thu, Apr 16, 3:30 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:21 AM to 7:21 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:48 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Glen Burnie
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
West Elkridge
MD

City in Howard County, Maryland, United States of America

From Glen Burnie
8 mi
00h 10m
To Columbia
8.9 mi
00h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
92°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 14 mph SW
Destination
91°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 14 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Glen Burnie and Columbia.

  1. 1

    Start on 1st Avenue Southeast

    124 m · 16 sec · 1st Avenue Southeast

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Crain Highway South

    119 m · 18 sec · Crain Highway South

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Central Avenue

    3005 ft · 2 min · Central Avenue

  4. 4

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

    4.6 mi · 8 min · Dorsey Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Arundel Mills Boulevard

    538 ft · 9 sec · Arundel Mills Boulevard

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward MD 100 West: Ellicott City

    1707 ft · 42 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway

    8.6 mi · 12 min · Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on US 29 South: Washington

    3071 ft · 48 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight right onto Columbia Pike

    2504 ft · 31 sec · Columbia Pike

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward MD 108 West: Clarksville, Dorsey's Search, Harper's Choice

    2076 ft · 51 sec

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
11 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
65.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway
8.65 mi · 51%
Dorsey Road
4.65 mi · 27%
US 29 South
0.58 mi · 3%
Central Avenue
0.57 mi · 3%
Columbia Pike
0.47 mi · 3%
MD 108 West
0.39 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway

Merge slight left onto Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway

8.65 mi · 00h 12m

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 21m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.2 mi
12.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
West Elkridge
00h 10m from Glen Burnie
Leave By
7:48 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Glen Burnie and Partly Sunny near Columbia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Glen Burnie to Columbia?

The road trip is about 16.9 miles (27.2 km) and usually takes 00h 21m 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 Elkridge is a useful midpoint, sitting about 8 miles from Glen Burnie and 8.9 miles from Columbia.

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

The direct path is about 12.7 miles (20.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.2 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 7:48 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.45 one way or $4.90 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Glen Burnie and Partly Sunny near Columbia.

Stop Ideas Near West Elkridge

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 Elkridge and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 12.4 mi away

City of Bowie

Bowie , MD
8614 Chestnut Ave, Bowie, MD 20715
Museum
Baltimore City Hall
Meeting point 10.4 mi away

Baltimore City Hall

Baltimore , MD
100 Holliday St, Baltimore, MD 21202
Rating 4.0/5 63 reviews City government office
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 3.7 mi away

Relay Town Hall

Halethorpe , MD
1710 Arlington Ave, Halethorpe, MD 21227
Event venue

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to West Elkridge.

RAIL

BWI Rail Station

3 mi away
7 Amtrak Way
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

15 mi away
1515 North Charles Street
RAIL

New Carrollton station

31 mi away
4300 Garden City Drive
RAIL

Rockville station

39 mi away
251 Hungerford Drive at Park Rd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Glen Burnie and Columbia. Straight-line distance: 12.69 mi (20.42 km).

Glen Burnie

#1 Glen Burnie

Census designated place in Maryland

Population67,639
Coordinates39.1626100, -76.6246900
Altitude17
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Columbia

Columbia is a place in Maryland, United States.

Population0
Coordinates39.2403800, -76.8394200
Altitude124
CountryUnited States
Start: 1st Avenue Southeast (-76.624796, 39.162426)
End: (-76.839402, 39.240355)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 27 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.6 gal
2.26 L · about $2.45
Round trip
$4.90
1.2 gal · 4.52 L
Estimated CO2
5.3 kg one way
Round trip: 10.7 kg / 24 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $2.45 $4.90
Mid-grade $4.60 $2.76 $5.52
Premium $4.95 $2.97 $5.94
Diesel $5.98 $3.59 $7.18

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Glen Burnie and Columbia. The current time is 03:09:14.

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.