Towson, MD Road Trips

With 5 routes heading out and 1 heading in, Towson, MD works well as a modest departure point in the Northeast. Most drives stay under 30 miles, making this area well-suited for day trips and weekend getaways. Most routes from Towson, MD head west, giving the route network a clear directional lean.

suburb of Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Trip Routes

6

Longest Drive

53 mi

Frederick, MD

Quickest Drive

21m

Baltimore, MD

Plan Around Towson, MD

Popular Incoming Routes

Useful if Towson, MD is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.

South Bel Air, MD to Towson, MD 25.5 mi · 39m

Continue From Towson, MD

Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.

Towson, MD to Frederick, MD 53 mi · 1h 5m Towson, MD to Silver Spring, MD 43.9 mi · 1h 4m Towson, MD to Columbia, MD 23.4 mi · 33m Towson, MD to Catonsville, MD 17.7 mi · 26m

Trips from Towson, MD

Towson, MD to Frederick, MD

53 mi 1h 5m

Towson, MD to Silver Spring, MD

43.9 mi 1h 4m

Towson, MD to Columbia, MD

23.4 mi 33m

Towson, MD to Catonsville, MD

17.7 mi 26m

Towson, MD to Baltimore, MD

10.9 mi 21m

Driving from Towson, MD

Expect an average of 30 miles and about 42m behind the wheel when leaving Towson, MD. The majority of routes are short drives — quick enough to finish before lunch and be back for dinner. The longest mapped route runs 53 miles (1h 5m), while the shortest is just 11 miles.

Popular Destinations

The most popular drives from Towson, MD include Frederick, MD (53 mi, 1h 5m), Silver Spring, MD (43.9 mi, 1h 4m), Columbia, MD (23.4 mi, 33m), Catonsville, MD (17.7 mi, 26m), and Baltimore, MD (10.9 mi, 21m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.

Planning & Costs

Regular gas in MD currently averages around $4.09 per gallon. For the typical 30-mile trip from Towson, MD, budget about $5 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.

Most routes head west — leaving in the morning keeps the sun behind you for a more comfortable drive. With an average drive under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility — leave whenever it suits you.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are 5 mapped routes leaving Towson, MD and 1 routes heading into Towson, MD, covering 6 total connections. Distances range from 11 to 53 miles.

The longest mapped route from Towson, MD covers 53 miles and takes approximately 1h 5m. Shorter options start at just 11 miles.

The average route from Towson, MD runs about 30 miles with a drive time of roughly 42m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.

At current gas prices (about $4.09/gallon for regular), the average 30-mile trip from Towson, MD costs roughly $5 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.

The most popular road trip destinations from Towson, MD include Frederick, MD, Silver Spring, MD, Columbia, MD and Catonsville, MD. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.

Towson, MD by the Numbers

Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Population

57,683

Median Income

$100,481

Median Home Value

$445,100

Median Age

33.2

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.

Traveler Guide to Towson, MD

Towson is an unincorporated city in Central Maryland. It is located directly north of Baltimore City and is the county seat of Baltimore County.

1 Hampton National Historic Site, 535 Hampton Ln (Bus #11 to nearby Goucher College), ☏ +1 410 823-1309, fax: +1 410 823-8394. 9AM-5PM every day. At the time of its completion in 1790, this was the largest private home in the nascent United States. The grounds are open for tours, including the slave quarters, main house, and gardens. Free. 2 Towson University, 8000 York Rd, ☏ +1 410 704-2000. Maryland's second largest university does not have much by way of attractions, but does see a steady stream of visiting prospective students. 3 Goucher College, 1021 Dulaney Valley Rd, ☏ +1 410-337-6000. This is also a hub for prospective students. (updated May 2025)

Towson Town Center offers a great variety of stores to accommodate all price ranges. There is also a substantial food court and restaurant section which attracts tourists. 1 Boordy Vineyards, 12820 Long Green Pike, Hydes (10 miles (16 km) northeast of Towson), ☏ +1 410-592-5015. Tasting: M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM. Tours: 2PM and 3:30PM daily. Boordy was founded in 1945 by Philip Wagner, the editor of the Baltimore Sun. It is Maryland's oldest operating vineyard. There are special events on weekends in the summer, with live music on Saturday nights. Tasting costs $5 to sample 6 wines or $15 for 8 wines in the Landmark Series. Tours included in tasting fee.

1 Kathmandu Kitchen, 22 W Allegheny Ave, ☏ +1 410 847-9595. Nepalese and Indian food. Lunch buffet and large menu. Very good food and quick service. BYOB or wine -- no corkage fee! (updated Apr 2023)

Most of the bars are located on York Rd just south of the traffic circle. All of them are within walking distance of each other and it is common for locals to spend the night bar hopping in this area. The crowd in each bar varies depending on the season and the night. During the school year the bars are filled with Towson University students. 1 The Rec Room, 512 York Rd (just south of the Towson traffic circle), ☏ +1 410 337-7178. 10AM-2AM. A comfortable little bar attached to the famous Recher Theatre. It serves standard bar fare (burgers, fries, etc.). Most of the patrons are out back at the outdoor patio/bar during the warmer months. 2 Charles Village Pub, 19 W Pennsylvania Ave (Just south of the Towson traffic circle), ☏ +1 410 821-8155. 10AM-2PM. 3 Barley's Backyard Uptown, 408 York Rd (Just south of the Towson traffic circle), ☏ +1 410 825-3980. Daily 11AM-2PM. 4 The Kent, 506 York Rd (just south of the Towson traffic circle), ☏ +1 410 825-2650. M-F 11AM-2AM, Sa Su 5PM-2AM. Low key, relatively quiet bar with an Irish theme and friendly staff.

1 Comfort Inn Towson/Baltimore, 8801 Loch Raven Blvd, ☏ +1 410 882-0900, fax: +1 410 882-4176. Minutes from Towson University. 2 Holiday Inn Express Towson Baltimore North, 1100 Cromwell Bridge Rd, ☏ +1 410 823-4410.

Just north of the City of Baltimore, Towson is easy to reach by car. Towson is inside the Baltimore Beltway, I-695, and the principal exits for the city are at exit 25 for Charles St, and 27A for York Rd. Coming up from the city, the main freeway is the I-83 Jones Falls Expy, which connects to the Beltway. (Alternatively, you can get off at exit 10A and take the Northern Pkwy to Charles St or York Rd, then turn left to get into Towson. Or, take Charles St or York Rd up through North Baltimore. MTA operates several bus routes in the Towson area: Route 3 begins at Sheppard Pratt Hospital (across from Towson University campus), then operates along Osler Drive, Stevenson Lane, York Road to Towson Town Center, then past Goucher College, then along Joppa Road to Loch Raven Boulevard. Buses marked "Inner Harbor." Great for reaching Penn Station. Hourly service at most times. Route 8 is the main bus route in Towson, operating along York Road, with deviation on Dulaney Valley Road and Fairmount Avenue to serve Towson Town Center. Northbound buses reach Lutherville Light Rail Station, and are marked "Lutherville." Southbound buses go to Downtown Baltimore, and are marked "University of Maryland Transit Center." Operates every 10-15 minutes most times. Not the fastest way to get downtown; it is recommended to take Routes 11 or 48, or 8 north to Light Rail.

Towson sprawls. It's best to travel by car, although it is possible to get around the major commercial corridors (meaning mostly just York Rd) and Towson University by riding bus #8, or by walking.

Travel tips adapted from Towson on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.

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destinations from Towson, MD.

Trips to Towson, MD

South Bel Air, MD to Towson, MD

25.5 mi 39m

Nearby Hubs

Other cities within driving distance of Towson, MD that also have route pages.

Baltimore, MD 10.9 mi · 21m Catonsville, MD 17.7 mi · 26m Columbia, MD 23.4 mi · 33m Silver Spring, MD 43.9 mi · 1h 4m Frederick, MD 53 mi · 1h 5m

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Where to go from Towson, MD?

Curated day trips, weekend getaways, and overnight routes — grouped by how much time you have and the kind of trip you want.

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