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Trip from Baltimore, MD to Elkton, 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 14m

Distance

52.8 mi

85 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 8m ★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 11m

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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Downtown Elkton, MD, MD

Elkton, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 52.8-mile drive from Baltimore to Elkton, Maryland, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 14 minutes. Given its short duration and manageable distance, it's ideal as a single-day trip. You'll navigate primarily via the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway and Express Toll Lanes, with some sections on Pulaski Highway. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $9. Since both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, you'll stay within familiar territory throughout this drive. This route is characterized by frequent turns, suggesting a more local feel rather than a continuous highway experience.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway 30.7 mi 35m
Express Toll Lanes 8.5 mi 9m
Pulaski Highway 5.9 mi 9m
East Baltimore Street 2.8 mi 8m
North East Road 1.5 mi 2m
Harbor Tunnel Thruway 1.4 mi 1m
East Lombard Street 0.6 mi 1m
West Main Street 0.3 mi 1m
Longest stretch: John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway — 30.7 mi, about 35m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Baltimore, MD and Elkton, MD.

1

Start on East Fayette Street

487 ft · 23 sec · East Fayette Street
2

Turn left onto MD 2

312 ft · 16 sec · Saint Paul Street
Use the left lane.
3

Turn left onto East Baltimore Street

2.8 mi · 8 min · East Baltimore Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
4

At end of road, turn right onto MD 150

418 ft · 19 sec · South Haven Street
5

Turn left onto MD 150

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Lombard Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward I 895 North Use the left lane.
7

Merge onto I 895

1.4 mi · 1 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 895

8.5 mi · 9 min · Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
9

Keep slight right at fork

297 ft · 3 sec
10

Merge onto I 95

31 mi · 35 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 30 sec
Exit 100 Toward MD 272: North East, Rising Sun Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward MD 272 South: North East Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13

Turn straight onto MD 272

1.5 mi · 2 min · North East Road
Use the left lane.
14

Turn left onto US 40

5.9 mi · 9 min · Pulaski Highway
Use the left lane.
15

Turn left onto Landing Lane

0.2 mi · 37 sec · Landing Lane
Use the left lane.
16

Turn right onto West Main Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · West Main Street
17

Turn left onto MD 213

102 ft · 3 sec · North Bridge Street
18

Arrive at destination

MD 213

Where to Stop

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

Downtown South Bel Air, MD, MD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

South Bel Air, MD

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Essex, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Aberdeen, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 26.4 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 44.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | MD 2 / Saint Paul Street

Turn left onto MD 2 / Saint Paul Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Baltimore Street

Turn left onto East Baltimore Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
6
3 mi into trip | ~9m in | MD 150 / East Lombard Street

Turn left onto MD 150 / East Lombard Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
8
44.5 mi into trip | ~58m in

Take the exit toward MD 272: North East, Rising Sun

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 100 Toward MD 272: North East, Rising Sun
8
44.7 mi into trip | ~59m in

Keep slight right at fork toward MD 272 South: North East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward MD 272 South: North East

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.75 one way

$17.51 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $9.59 $19.17
premium $4.93 $10.24 $20.48
diesel $5.61 $11.66 $23.32

Estimated Tolls: $0.09

Harbor Tunnel Thruway (1.4 mi) $0.09

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

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Tolls

$0

Total

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.5 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 $5.54 $2.53
Efficient EV 13.2 0 $4.62 $2.11
EV Truck/SUV 21.1 0 $7.39 $3.38

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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Baltimore, MD

Night in Baltimore on Saturday

Local time

10:44 PM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Elkton, MD

Night in Elkton on Saturday

Local time

10:44 PM

EDT

Current temp

73°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

2 degrees cooler at arrival

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

Road read

1h 14m 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 drive with a 'turn-heavy local' profile, meaning you'll encounter numerous intersections and changes in direction. While you'll spend some time on the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, including a continuous stretch of 30.7 miles, the overall experience is not a monotonous interstate grind. The highway share is 0%, indicating that the majority of your travel will be on roads that require more active navigation. This route's personality suggests a dynamic journey where you'll constantly be adjusting your path.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.7 mi on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near MD 2 / Saint Paul Street.

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 52.8 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.1 miles (MD 2 / Saint Paul Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (East Baltimore Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (MD 150 / East Lombard Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

On the drive from Baltimore, MD to Elkton, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Rising Sun along the way.

Rising Sun

44.5 mi in | ~58m

About the Cities

Starting in Baltimore, MD

Full guide →

“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

  • • Johns Hopkins Hospital — hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, United States
  • • Walters Art Museum — art museum in Baltimore, Maryland, US
  • • Baltimore Museum of Art — art museum in Baltimore, Maryland, USA

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 14m. Total distance: 52.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 30.7 miles on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.09 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 Elkton, 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 0.1 miles (MD 2 / Saint Paul Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (East Baltimore Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (MD 150 / East Lombard Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Elkton, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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