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Trip from Aberdeen, MD to Bowie, MD

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 18m

Distance

58.1 mi

93 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 12m ★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Harford County, Maryland, United States

Aberdeen, MD

Wikimedia Commons

city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States

Bowie, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 58.1-mile drive from Aberdeen, MD, to Bowie, MD, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 18 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stops. You'll be navigating primarily on the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway and MD 3, with a portion on I-97. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $10, making it an affordable option. Given that both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, you won't be crossing any major regional boundaries, keeping the drive focused.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway 16.1 mi 18m
MD 3 10.8 mi 16m
I 97 8.9 mi 10m
Express Toll Lanes 7.7 mi 9m
Harbor Tunnel Thruway 6 mi 8m
Harbor Tunnel Throughway 2.2 mi 3m
Baltimore Harbor Tunnel 1.4 mi 2m
West Bel Air Avenue 1.4 mi 2m
Longest stretch: John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway — 16.1 mi, about 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Aberdeen, MD and Bowie, MD.

1

Start on MD 132

1.4 mi · 2 min · West Bel Air Avenue
2

Turn right onto Beards Hill Road

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Beards Hill Road
3

Turn left onto MD 22

0.5 mi · 42 sec · Aberdeen Thruway
Use the left lane.
4

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 2 min
Toward I 95 South: Baltimore
5

Merge onto I 95

16 mi · 18 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes

6.5 mi · 7 min · Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes

1.2 mi · 1 min · Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
8

Merge onto I 895

3.8 mi · 5 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
9

Continue on I 895

1.4 mi · 2 min · Baltimore Harbor Tunnel
10

Continue on I 895

2.2 mi · 3 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on I 895

0.5 mi · 39 sec · Harbor Tunnel Throughway
12

Keep slight right at fork onto Harbor Tunnel Throughway

1.7 mi · 2 min · Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Exit 6 Toward Annapolis, Glen Burnie Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork

1.1 mi · 1 min
Toward I 97 South: Annapolis Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Continue on I 97

8.9 mi · 10 min · I 97
Use the straight lane.
15

Keep slight right at fork onto MD 3

11 mi · 16 min · MD 3
Toward MD 32 West, MD 3 South: Bowie, Crofton Use the left lane.
16

Turn right onto MD 197

0.7 mi · 1 min · Collington Road
Use the left lane.
17

Turn left onto Evergreen Parkway

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Evergreen Parkway
18

Turn right

259 ft · 20 sec
19

Turn left

110 ft · 8 sec
20

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

census-designated place in Maryland, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dundalk, MD

29 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Bel Air, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dundalk, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 29 miles from Aberdeen, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 19.1 and 46.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
19.1 mi into trip | ~24m in | Express Toll Lanes

Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane.
6
25.6 mi into trip | ~32m in | Express Toll Lanes

Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane.
9
34.7 mi into trip | ~45m in | Harbor Tunnel Throughway

Keep slight right at fork onto Harbor Tunnel Throughway toward Annapolis, Glen Burnie

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 6 Toward Annapolis, Glen Burnie
7
36.4 mi into trip | ~47m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 97 South: Annapolis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 97 South: Annapolis
8
46.3 mi into trip | ~59m in | MD 3

Keep slight right at fork onto MD 3 toward MD 32 West, MD 3 South: Bowie, Crofton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward MD 32 West, MD 3 South: Bowie, Crofton

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.63 one way

$19.26 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 20 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $10.55 $21.10
premium $4.93 $11.27 $22.54
diesel $5.61 $12.83 $25.66

Estimated Tolls: $0.42

Harbor Tunnel Thruway (6 mi) $0.42

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Tolls

$0

Total

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 17.4 0 $6.10 $2.79
Efficient EV 14.5 0 $5.08 $2.32
EV Truck/SUV 23.2 0 $8.13 $3.72

Gas CO2

20 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (65% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Aberdeen, MD

Late night in Aberdeen on Sunday

Local time

12:34 AM

EDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bowie, MD

Late night in Bowie on Sunday

Local time

12:34 AM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

20 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 18m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 34% of it being highway. The journey begins with a significant 16.1-mile stretch on the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, offering a taste of faster travel. As you progress, the roads transition, incorporating MD 3 and I-97, which may present a different driving dynamic. This blend means you'll experience both open highway cruising and potentially more varied road conditions as you get closer to your destination.

34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.1 mi on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.1 miles in near Express Toll Lanes.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.1 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 19.1 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.6 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.7 miles (Harbor Tunnel Throughway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Aberdeen, MD and Bowie, MD, road signs point toward Annapolis, Glen Burnie and Crofton.

Annapolis

34.7 mi in | ~45m | via Harbor Tunnel Throughway

Glen Burnie

34.7 mi in | ~45m | via Harbor Tunnel Throughway

Crofton

46.3 mi in | ~59m | via MD 3

About the Cities

Starting in Aberdeen, MD

Full guide →

Aberdeen is in Maryland.

Arriving in Bowie, MD

Full guide →

Bowie is a suburban bedroom community of Washington, D.C. in Prince George's County, Maryland.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 58.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (34%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 16.1 miles on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.42 in tolls one way, starting with Harbor Tunnel Thruway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Bowie, MD before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 19.1 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.6 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.7 miles (Harbor Tunnel Throughway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bowie, MD before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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