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
52.5 mi
85 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chesapeake Beach, MD
Carly Dernetz
Baltimore, MD to Chesapeake Beach, MD is 52.5 miles and takes about 1h 18m via Solomons Island Road and I-97, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maryland, moving from the Northeast region down to the coast. The route offers a straightforward drive, ideal for a quick getaway or an easy day trip. Expect a mix of driving experiences as you transition from highway to surface roads. It's a practical option if you're looking for a short, direct drive to reach your destination.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Solomons Island Road | 19.6 mi | 30m |
| I 97 | 16.7 mi | 19m |
| East Chesapeake Beach Road | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| Baltimore-Washington Parkway | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| Baltimore Beltway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Russell Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Aris T Allen Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Bayside Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Baltimore, MD and Chesapeake Beach, MD.
Start on East Fayette Street
Continue on West Fayette Street
Turn left onto MD 295
Continue on MD 295
Turn straight onto MD 295
Take the exit
Merge onto I 695
Take the exit
Continue on I 97
Keep slight left at fork onto I 97
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on MD 665
Take the exit
Turn right onto MD 2
Enter roundabout onto MD 2
Continue on MD 2
Enter roundabout onto MD 2
Continue on MD 2
Turn left onto MD 260
At end of road, turn right onto MD 261
Turn left onto 17th Street
Turn right onto C Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 26.3 miles from Baltimore, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.2 and 27.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 695 East: Glen Burnie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 665: Riva Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward MD 2: Parole, Edgewater
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$8.70 one way
$17.41 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.53 | $19.07 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.18 | $20.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.59 | $23.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.51 | $2.52 |
| Efficient EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.59 | $2.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21 | 0 | $7.35 | $3.36 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Baltimore on Sunday
Local time
12:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy then Scattered Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Chesapeake Beach on Sunday
Local time
12:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Cloudy then Isolated Rain Showers
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
About 40% of this 52.5-mile drive is on the highway, primarily I-97. You'll experience a longest stretch of 19.6 miles on Solomons Island Road before transitioning to East Chesapeake Beach Road. Expect some merging and a higher density of exits during the highway portion, followed by a more open feel as you move onto surface streets. The profile is mixed highway and surface, so be ready for a change in pace.
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 6.2 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.5 miles you will encounter 18 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 6.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Baltimore, MD to Chesapeake Beach, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Edgewater along the way.
Edgewater
“Bodymore, Murderland” · Founded 1729
Slices of American history are around every corner in Baltimore. Maryland's largest city is a gritty old seaport town that's perhaps most famous as the site of Fort McHenry, where, at the height of the War of 1812, the sight of a tattered but defiant American flag flying over the harbor, despite a furious British bombardment, inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that was later adapted into the U.S. national anthem "Star-Spangled Banner". Nowadays, Baltimore's nonstop nightlife, temperate climate, tradition of hospitality (they don't call this place "Charm City" for nothing), and cultural attractions — not to mention its prime location on the juncture of Chesapeake Bay — made it one of the major tourist destinations of the Mid-Atlantic region.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 52.5 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 (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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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