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Trip from Bel Air, MD to Olney, 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 23m

Distance

59.3 mi

95 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 17m ★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m

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

town in Harford County, Maryland, United States

Bel Air, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Olney, MD, MD

Olney, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Spanning 59.3 miles, this trip from Bel Air to Olney is a straightforward journey through Maryland that takes approximately 1 hour and 23 minutes. Because of the relatively short distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. You should budget about $10 for fuel to complete the trip. Navigating through the Northeast region, you will utilize a combination of the Harbor Tunnel Thruway, the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, and the Express Toll Lanes. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick visit, the route offers a functional connection between these two areas. It is a practical drive that gets you to your destination efficiently without the need for complex travel logistics.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Harbor Tunnel Thruway 12 mi 15m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway 8.1 mi 9m
Express Toll Lanes 7.7 mi 9m
I 95 6.6 mi 7m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway 5.2 mi 7m
Patuxent Freeway 3.6 mi 4m
Olney Sandy Spring Road 3.2 mi 5m
Hall Shop Road 2.8 mi 4m
Longest stretch: Harbor Tunnel Thruway — 12 mi, about 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bel Air, MD and Olney, MD.

1

Start on Courtland Place

403 ft · 19 sec · Courtland Place
2

Turn right onto South Hickory Avenue

342 ft · 9 sec · South Hickory Avenue
3

Turn right onto MD 22

0.4 mi · 56 sec · Churchville Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
4

At end of road, turn right onto US 1 Business

0.5 mi · 1 min · Baltimore Pike
5

Turn left onto MD 24

5.2 mi · 7 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the left lane.
6

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 95 South: Baltimore Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Merge onto I 95

8.1 mi · 9 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes

6.5 mi · 7 min · Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes

1.2 mi · 1 min · Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
10

Merge onto I 895

3.8 mi · 5 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
11

Continue on I 895

1.4 mi · 2 min · Baltimore Harbor Tunnel
12

Continue on I 895

2.2 mi · 3 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on I 895

0.5 mi · 39 sec · Harbor Tunnel Throughway
14

Keep slight left at fork onto I 895

0.5 mi · 41 sec · Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Continue on I 895

6.0 mi · 7 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16

Merge onto I 95

6.6 mi · 7 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 38B Toward MD 32 West: Columbia Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Merge onto MD 32

3.6 mi · 4 min · Patuxent Freeway
19

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 18 sec
Exit 17 Toward Sanner Road, Cedar Lane Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Keep slight left at fork

200 ft · 6 sec
Toward Sanner Road, Grace Drive
21

Turn left onto Cedar Lane

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Cedar Lane
Use the left / straight lanes.
22

Turn right onto Guilford Road

1.7 mi · 3 min · Guilford Road
23

Turn left onto Hall Shop Road

2.8 mi · 4 min · Hall Shop Road
24

Turn left onto MD 108

0.8 mi · 1 min · Clarksville Pike
25

Continue on MD 108

2.4 mi · 3 min · Ashton Road
26

Continue on MD 108

3.2 mi · 5 min · Olney Sandy Spring Road
Use the straight lane.
27

Turn sharp left onto 18000 Georgia Avenue, Olney MD

117 ft · 13 sec · 18000 Georgia Avenue, Olney MD
28

Arrive at destination

18000 Georgia Avenue, Olney MD

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Baltimore, MD

30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Baltimore, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 29.6 miles from Bel Air, 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 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 6.2 and 48 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
6.2 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the exit toward I 95 South: Baltimore

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 95 South: Baltimore
6
15 mi into trip | ~21m 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.
7
43.6 mi into trip | ~57m in

Take the exit toward MD 32 West: Columbia

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 38B Toward MD 32 West: Columbia
8
47.8 mi into trip | ~1h 4m in

Take the exit toward Sanner Road, Cedar Lane

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 17 Toward Sanner Road, Cedar Lane
7
48 mi into trip | ~1h 4m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Sanner Road, Grace Drive

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward Sanner Road, Grace Drive

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.83 one way

$19.66 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $10.77 $21.53
premium $4.93 $11.50 $23.00
diesel $5.61 $13.09 $26.19

Estimated Tolls: $0.84

Harbor Tunnel Thruway (12 mi) $0.84

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

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Tolls

$1

Total

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.7 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 17.8 0 $6.23 $2.85
Efficient EV 14.8 0 $5.19 $2.37
EV Truck/SUV 23.7 0 $8.30 $3.80

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 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

Bel Air, MD

Evening in Bel Air on Sunday

Local time

5:50 PM

EDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Olney, MD

Evening in Olney on Sunday

Local time

5:50 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

1 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 23m 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 turn-heavy local drive that balances short highway bursts with more winding segments. With highways accounting for only 17% of the total distance, you will spend most of your time navigating local roads rather than cruising on open interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 12-mile segment on the Harbor Tunnel Thruway, which offers a brief change of pace from the more technical, turning portions of the trip. The character of the road shifts significantly as you transition off the main highways, requiring you to remain attentive to the road's curves. It is a hands-on driving experience that demands more engagement than a standard highway slog.

Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12 mi on Harbor Tunnel Thruway.

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 6.2 miles in.

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 59.3 miles you will encounter 20 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 15 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

542 ft 30 ft

Total Climb

586 ft

Total Descent

429 ft

Highest Point

542 ft

~59.3 mi in

Elevation Range

512 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Bel Air, MD

Full guide →

Bel Air , along with Bel Air North and South, is a Central Maryland suburb of Baltimore, with a combined population of 75,000.

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 23m. Total distance: 59.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 12 miles on Harbor Tunnel Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.84 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 Olney, 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 6.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Monocacy National Battlefield and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. 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 Olney, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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