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Trip from Catonsville, MD to Cabin John, MD

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

53m

Distance

38.2 mi

62 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 49m ★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 51m

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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census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States

Catonsville, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Cabin John, MD, MD

Cabin John, MD

Shane Kell

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a straightforward trip within Maryland, this 38.2-mile journey from Catonsville to Cabin John is a convenient option. Expect the drive to take approximately 53 minutes under normal conditions, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate a mix of roads, primarily utilizing I-95, the Capital Beltway, and South Rolling Road. With a modest fuel budget of about $6, the trip is quite economical for a quick transit between these two Northeast locales. Because the drive is short, it offers great flexibility for your schedule, allowing you to reach your destination quickly without the fatigue associated with longer hauls.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 18.9 mi 21m
Capital Beltway 12.5 mi 16m
South Rolling Road 1.2 mi 2m
Seven Locks Road 1.1 mi 2m
Bloomsbury Avenue 0.9 mi 2m
MD 166 0.7 mi <1m
Tomlinson Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
River Road 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 18.9 mi, about 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Catonsville, MD and Cabin John, MD.

1

Start on this road

37 ft · 8 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto MD 144

153 ft · 8 sec · Frederick Road
3

Turn right onto Bloomsbury Avenue

0.9 mi · 2 min · Bloomsbury Avenue
4

At end of road, turn left onto MD 166

0.9 mi · 2 min · South Rolling Road
5

Continue on MD 166

0.3 mi · 39 sec · South Rolling Road
Use the straight lane.
6

Turn left onto MD 166

0.7 mi · 46 sec · MD 166
Toward I 195 East Use the left lane.
7

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 4B Toward I 95 South: Washington Use the slight right lane.
8

Merge onto I 95

19 mi · 21 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 27 Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, College Park Use the slight right lane.
10

Keep slight right at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda
11

Merge onto I 495

8.5 mi · 10 min · Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 495

4.0 mi · 5 min · Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Exit 39 Toward MD 190: Washington, Potomac Use the slight right lane.
14

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Exit 39 Toward MD 190: Washington, Potomac Use the right lane.
15

Keep slight left at fork

362 ft · 13 sec
Toward MD 190 West: Potomac Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16

Turn left onto MD 190

0.2 mi · 23 sec · River Road
17

Turn sharp left onto Seven Locks Road

1.1 mi · 2 min · Seven Locks Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
18

Turn left onto Tomlinson Avenue

0.2 mi · 43 sec · Tomlinson Avenue
19

Turn right onto 77th Street

243 ft · 10 sec · 77th Street
20

Arrive at destination

77th Street

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Riverdale Park, MD, MD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Riverdale Park, MD

19 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

McLean, VA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Laurel, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 19.1 miles from Catonsville, 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 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 2.9 and 36.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
2.9 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the exit toward I 95 South: Washington

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 4B Toward I 95 South: Washington
8
22.3 mi into trip | ~29m in

Take the exit toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, College Park

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 27 Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, Col...
8
36.3 mi into trip | ~48m in

Take the exit toward MD 190: Washington, Potomac

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 39 Toward MD 190: Washington, Potomac
10
36.5 mi into trip | ~49m in

Keep slight right at fork toward MD 190: Washington, Potomac

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

Use the right lane. Exit 39 Toward MD 190: Washington, Potomac
8
36.7 mi into trip | ~49m in

Keep slight left at fork toward MD 190 West: Potomac

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward MD 190 West: Potomac

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.33 one way

$12.67 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $6.94 $13.87
premium $4.93 $7.41 $14.82
diesel $5.61 $8.43 $16.87

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.5 0 $4.01 $1.83
Efficient EV 9.6 0 $3.34 $1.53
EV Truck/SUV 15.3 0 $5.35 $2.44

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% 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 20, 2026

Origin

Catonsville, MD

Late night in Catonsville on Tuesday

Local time

4:53 AM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cabin John, MD

Late night in Cabin John on Tuesday

Local time

4:53 AM

EDT

Current temp

66°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 warmer at arrival

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

Road read

53m 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?

This route offers a mixed driving experience, balancing suburban transit with high-speed interstate travel. Approximately 51% of your time will be spent on highways, providing a steady pace once you merge onto the main corridors. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 18.9 miles while traveling on I-95, which serves as the primary backbone of the trip. As you transition from local roads like South Rolling Road to the heavier traffic flow of the Capital Beltway, the road’s personality shifts from residential to industrial and commercial. Be prepared for this change in rhythm as you move from the quieter streets of Catonsville into the more densely populated transit arteries.

51% 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: 18.9 mi on I 95.

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 2.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 38.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Catonsville, MD and Cabin John, MD, road signs point toward Bethesda, College Park and Potomac.

Bethesda

22.3 mi in | ~29m

College Park

22.3 mi in | ~29m

Potomac

36.3 mi in | ~48m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 38.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

53m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (51%). 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 18.9 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Cabin John, 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 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Monocacy National Battlefield. 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 Cabin John, 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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Explore More

Return Trip

Cabin John, MD to Catonsville, MD

Plan the drive back the other way.

38.6 mi 52m

Continue From Cabin John, MD

Baltimore, MD 42.9 mi · 59m Frederick, MD 36.2 mi · 50m Redland, MD 14.6 mi · 24m

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