How far is Rising Sun, MD from Columbia, MD?

The driving distance from Rising Sun, MD to Columbia, MD is about 47.9 miles (77.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 35.9 miles (57.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 54m 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
47.9 mi
00h 57m
Flight
35.91 mi
57.79 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rising Sun.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
35.91 mi
Kilometers
57.79 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
47.9 mi
Kilometers
77.09 km
Drive Time
00h 57m

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 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Columbia
Thu, Apr 23, 5:02 AM EDT
Return by in Rising Sun
Thu, Apr 23, 5:59 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rising Sun
2026-04-23T04:05
Arrive Columbia
Thu, Apr 23, 5:02 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:57 AM to 10:57 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:36 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Rising Sun
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
Reisterstown
MD

Census designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States

From Rising Sun
24.1 mi
00h 28m
To Columbia
23.7 mi
00h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 mph N
Destination
77°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rising Sun and Columbia.

  1. 1

    Start on Baptist Road

    3076 ft · 2 min · Baptist Road

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Taneytown Pike

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Taneytown Pike

  3. 3

    Continue on West Baltimore Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · West Baltimore Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Trevanion Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · Trevanion Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Antrim Boulevard

    1.1 km · 1 min · Antrim Boulevard

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Taneytown Pike

    39 m · 4 sec · Taneytown Pike

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout onto Taneytown Pike

    9.3 mi · 13 min · Taneytown Pike

  8. 8

    Continue on College View Boulevard

    1.1 km · 57 sec · College View Boulevard

  9. 9

    Continue on Baltimore Boulevard

    10 mi · 15 min · Baltimore Boulevard

  10. 10

    Continue on Westminster Pike

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Westminster Pike

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Northwest Expressway

    9.2 mi · 12 min · Northwest Expressway

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 695 South: Glen Burnie

    1.1 km · 2 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Baltimore Beltway

    3.6 mi · 5 min · Baltimore Beltway

  14. 14

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

    829 ft · 17 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on I 70 West: Frederick

    2891 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    3.7 mi · 4 min

  17. 17

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

    1.3 km · 2 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight right onto Columbia Pike

    3.5 mi · 4 min · 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 Rising Sun 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
20 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
41.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Taneytown Pike
10.5 mi · 22%
Baltimore Boulevard
10 mi · 21%
Northwest Expressway
9.23 mi · 19%
I 70 West
4.21 mi · 9%
Baltimore Beltway
3.62 mi · 8%
Columbia Pike
3.49 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

Baltimore Boulevard

Continue on Baltimore Boulevard

10 mi · 00h 15m

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 57m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12 mi
35.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Reisterstown
00h 28m from Rising Sun
Leave By
4:36 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Rising Sun and Sunny near Columbia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Rising Sun to Columbia?

The road trip is about 47.9 miles (77.1 km) and usually takes 00h 57m 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?

Reisterstown is a useful midpoint, sitting about 24.1 miles from Rising Sun and 23.7 miles from Columbia.

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

The direct path is about 35.9 miles (57.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 12 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 4:36 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.91 one way or $13.81 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 15 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Rising Sun and Sunny near Columbia.

Stop Ideas Near Reisterstown

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Reisterstown, 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 Reisterstown.

RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

26 mi away
1515 North Charles Street
RAIL

BWI Rail Station

33 mi away
7 Amtrak Way
BUS

Frederick Airport, MD

48 mi away
1341 Hughes Ford Road
RAIL

Frederick, MD

50 mi away
100 South East Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rising Sun and Columbia. Straight-line distance: 35.91 mi (57.79 km).

Rising Sun

#1 Rising Sun

Town of the United States

Population2,784
Coordinates39.6773200, -77.2038700
Altitude157
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Columbia

Columbia is a place in Maryland, United States.

Population0
Coordinates39.2403800, -76.8394200
Altitude124
CountryUnited States
Start: Baptist Road (-77.204089, 39.677192)
End: (-76.839402, 39.240355)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 77 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 11m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 41m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 35m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.69 gal
6.4 L · about $6.91
Round trip
$13.81
3.38 gal · 12.8 L
Estimated CO2
15 kg one way
Round trip: 30 kg / 66 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $6.91 $13.81
Mid-grade $4.60 $7.77 $15.54
Premium $4.95 $8.37 $16.74
Diesel $5.98 $10.11 $20.21

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Rising Sun and Columbia. The current time is 04:05:16.

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.