How far is Mays Chapel, MD from Columbia, MD?

The driving distance from Mays Chapel, MD to Columbia, MD is about 21.7 miles (35 km), with a travel time of about 00h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 16.8 miles (27 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 51m 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
21.77 mi
00h 25m
Flight
16.75 mi
26.95 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Mays Chapel.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
16.75 mi
Kilometers
26.95 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
21.77 mi
Kilometers
35.04 km
Drive Time
00h 25m

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 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Columbia
Sun, Apr 19, 7:24 AM EDT
Return by in Mays Chapel
Sun, Apr 19, 7:50 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Mays Chapel
2026-04-19T06:58
Arrive Columbia
Sun, Apr 19, 7:24 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:26 AM to 7:26 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:38 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Mays Chapel
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
Lochearn
MD

Census designated place

From Mays Chapel
10.9 mi
00h 12m
To Columbia
10.9 mi
00h 12m

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
8 to 14 mph W
Destination
61°F
Sunday

Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
12 to 18 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mays Chapel and Columbia.

  1. 1

    Start on Marburg Manor Drive

    79 m · 12 sec · Marburg Manor Drive

  2. 2

    Continue on Marburg Manor Drive

    2322 ft · 2 min · Marburg Manor Drive

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Thornton Road

    764 ft · 27 sec · Thornton Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West Seminary Avenue

    1.3 mi · 3 min · West Seminary Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Falls Road

    2880 ft · 1 min · Falls Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Jones Falls Expressway

    2304 ft · 36 sec · Jones Falls Expressway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 695 West: Pikesville

    2320 ft · 49 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Baltimore Beltway

    9.3 mi · 13 min · Baltimore Beltway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 70 East, I 70 West: Local Traffic, Frederick

    829 ft · 17 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 70 West: Frederick

    2891 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    3.7 mi · 4 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight left toward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington, Ellicott City

    1.3 km · 2 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight right onto Columbia Pike

    3.5 mi · 4 min · Columbia Pike

  14. 14

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

    2076 ft · 51 sec

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Mays Chapel 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
15 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
68.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Baltimore Beltway
9.35 mi · 43%
I 70 West
4.21 mi · 19%
Columbia Pike
3.49 mi · 16%
West Seminary Avenue
1.27 mi · 6%
US 29 South
0.84 mi · 4%
Falls Road
0.55 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Baltimore Beltway

Merge slight left onto Baltimore Beltway

9.35 mi · 00h 13m

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 25m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.9 mi
16.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lochearn
00h 12m from Mays Chapel
Leave By
7:38 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Rain Showers leaving Mays Chapel and Rain Showers near Columbia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Mays Chapel to Columbia?

The road trip is about 21.7 miles (35 km) and usually takes 00h 25m 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?

Lochearn is a useful midpoint, sitting about 10.9 miles from Mays Chapel and 10.9 miles from Columbia.

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

The direct path is about 16.8 miles (27 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.9 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:38 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.15 one way or $6.29 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers around Mays Chapel and Rain Showers near Columbia.

Stop Ideas Near Lochearn

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Lochearn, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

10 mi away
1515 North Charles Street
RAIL

BWI Rail Station

17 mi away
7 Amtrak Way
RAIL

New Carrollton station

45 mi away
4300 Garden City Drive
RAIL

Rockville station

46 mi away
251 Hungerford Drive at Park Rd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Mays Chapel and Columbia. Straight-line distance: 16.75 mi (26.95 km).

Mays Chapel

#1 Mays Chapel

Census designated place

Population11,420
Coordinates39.4331600, -76.6494100
Altitude140
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Columbia

Columbia is a place in Maryland, United States.

Population0
Coordinates39.2403800, -76.8394200
Altitude124
CountryUnited States
Start: Marburg Manor Drive (-76.649439, 39.432619)
End: (-76.839402, 39.240355)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 35 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.77 gal
2.91 L · about $3.15
Round trip
$6.29
1.54 gal · 5.82 L
Estimated CO2
6.8 kg one way
Round trip: 13.7 kg / 30 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $3.15 $6.29
Mid-grade $4.60 $3.54 $7.08
Premium $4.95 $3.81 $7.63
Diesel $5.98 $4.60 $9.21

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 Mays Chapel and Columbia. The current time is 06:58:15.

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.