How far is Hillcrest Heights, MD from Columbia, MD?

The driving distance from Hillcrest Heights, MD to Columbia, MD is about 43.1 miles (69.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 28.9 miles (46.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 46m 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
43.09 mi
00h 53m
Flight
28.88 mi
46.48 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Hillcrest Heights.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
28.88 mi
Kilometers
46.48 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
43.09 mi
Kilometers
69.34 km
Drive Time
00h 53m

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 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Columbia
Tue, May 12, 9:25 PM EDT
Return by in Hillcrest Heights
Tue, May 12, 10:18 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Hillcrest Heights
2026-05-12T20:32
Arrive Columbia
Tue, May 12, 9:25 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:53 AM to 10:53 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:44 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Hillcrest Heights
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
South Laurel
MD

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

From Hillcrest Heights
19.3 mi
00h 26m
To Columbia
23.8 mi
00h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 12:00 PM EDT
Wind
2 to 7 mph SW
Destination
68°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hillcrest Heights and Columbia.

  1. 1

    Start on 23rd Parkway

    31 m · 8 sec · 23rd Parkway

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Iverson Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · Iverson Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Branch Avenue

    1679 ft · 54 sec · Branch Avenue

  4. 4

    Keep slight right to continue on Branch Avenue

    1.5 km · 2 min · Branch Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Southern Avenue Southeast

    1.4 km · 2 min · Southern Avenue Southeast

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast

    2003 ft · 1 min · Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Fort Davis Drive Southeast

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Fort Davis Drive Southeast

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Ridge Road Southeast

    1.2 km · 1 min · Ridge Road Southeast

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Minnesota Avenue Northeast

    1 mi · 2 min · Minnesota Avenue Northeast

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue Northeast

    111 m · 22 sec · Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue Northeast

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Kenilworth Avenue Northeast

    877 ft · 18 sec · Kenilworth Avenue Northeast

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Kenilworth Avenue Freeway

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Kenilworth Avenue Freeway

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Baltimore

    2038 ft · 25 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Baltimore-Washington Parkway

    20.8 mi · 29 min · Baltimore-Washington Parkway

  15. 15

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

    1622 ft · 40 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway

    7.9 mi · 11 min · Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on US 29 South: Washington

    3071 ft · 48 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight right onto Columbia Pike

    2504 ft · 31 sec · Columbia Pike

  19. 19

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

    2076 ft · 51 sec

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
4 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
46.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Baltimore-Washington Parkway
20.8 mi · 48%
Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway
7.94 mi · 18%
Branch Avenue
1.26 mi · 3%
Fort Davis Drive Southeast
1.22 mi · 3%
Kenilworth Avenue Freeway
1.11 mi · 3%
Minnesota Avenue Northeast
1.03 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Baltimore-Washington Parkway

Merge slight left onto Baltimore-Washington Parkway

20.8 mi · 00h 29m

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 53m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+14.2 mi
28.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
South Laurel
00h 26m from Hillcrest Heights
Leave By
4:44 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Hillcrest Heights and Sunny near Columbia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Hillcrest Heights to Columbia?

The road trip is about 43.1 miles (69.3 km) and usually takes 00h 53m 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?

South Laurel is a useful midpoint, sitting about 19.3 miles from Hillcrest Heights and 23.8 miles from Columbia.

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

The direct path is about 28.9 miles (46.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 14.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:44 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.21 one way or $12.42 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 13.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Hillcrest Heights and Sunny near Columbia.

Stop Ideas Near South 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 South Laurel and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Practical stop 13.9 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 10 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 7.1 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 South Laurel.

RAIL

New Carrollton station

13 mi away
4300 Garden City Drive
RAIL

BWI Rail Station

19 mi away
7 Amtrak Way
RAIL

Washington Union Station

23 mi away
50 Massachusetts Ave NE
RAIL

Rockville station

26 mi away
251 Hungerford Drive at Park Rd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Hillcrest Heights and Columbia. Straight-line distance: 28.88 mi (46.48 km).

Hillcrest Heights

#1 Hillcrest Heights

City in Polk County, Florida, United States of America

Population16,469
Coordinates38.8328900, -76.9594200
Altitude84
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Columbia

Columbia is a place in Maryland, United States.

Population0
Coordinates39.2403800, -76.8394200
Altitude124
CountryUnited States
Start: 23rd Parkway (-76.959514, 38.832813)
End: (-76.839402, 39.240355)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 69 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 36m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 32m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.52 gal
5.76 L · about $6.21
Round trip
$12.42
3.04 gal · 11.52 L
Estimated CO2
13.5 kg one way
Round trip: 27 kg / 60 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $6.21 $12.42
Mid-grade $4.60 $6.99 $13.98
Premium $4.95 $7.53 $15.06
Diesel $5.98 $9.09 $18.18

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 · May 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Hillcrest Heights and Columbia. The current time is 20:32:16.

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.