Origin
Catonsville, MD
Night in Catonsville on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Catonsville, MD to Cavetown, 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 16m
Distance
65.4 mi
105 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Catonsville, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Cavetown, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Catonsville to Cavetown, you are looking at a 65.4-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 16 minutes to complete. This trip is perfectly suited as a simple day trip, allowing you to head out and return without the need for an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $11 on fuel for the round trip. The route relies on local roads like Frederick Road and sections of the I-695 Baltimore Beltway to navigate out of the Northeast region. Since the drive is relatively short and straightforward, it serves as a manageable transition between these two Maryland locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 56.5 mi | 1h |
| Mapleville Road | 5 mi | 8m |
| Baltimore Beltway | 2 mi | 2m |
| Frederick Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Cavetown Church Road | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 56.5 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Catonsville, MD and Cavetown, MD.
1
Start on this road
37 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto MD 144
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Frederick Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 695 North
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto I 695
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Baltimore Beltway
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 16A-B
Toward I 70: Frederick, Local Traffic
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 16A
Toward I 70 West: Frederick
Use the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto I 70
14 mi
·
15 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 70; US 40
12 mi
·
12 min
·
I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 70; US 40
31 mi
·
33 min
·
I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 35
Toward MD 66: Boonsboro, Smithsburg
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto MD 66
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Mapleville Road
12
Enter roundabout onto MD 66
156 ft
·
2 sec
·
Mapleville Road
13
Continue on MD 66
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Mapleville Road
14
Turn right onto Cavetown Church Road
17 ft
·
0 sec
·
Cavetown Church Road
15
Arrive at destination
Cavetown Church Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.7 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 60.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 695 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 695 North
8
2.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Frederick, Local Traffic
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 16A-B
Toward I 70: Frederick, Local Traffic
8
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 West: Frederick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 16A
Toward I 70 West: Frederick
5
3.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 70
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
60.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward MD 66: Boonsboro, Smithsburg
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 35
Toward MD 66: Boonsboro, Smithsburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.84 one way
$21.68 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $11.87 | $23.75 |
| premium | $4.93 | $12.68 | $25.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.44 | $28.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.87 | $3.14 |
| Efficient EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.72 | $2.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.16 | $4.19 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Cavetown, MD
Night in Cavetown on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Mount Airy, MD
33 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 16m 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 rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway-exclusive miles. You will navigate through varied local road conditions that require your full attention behind the wheel. Because the drive is comprised entirely of local thoroughfares, you won't encounter the long, uninterrupted stretches found on major expressways. The personality of this trip is defined by frequent turns and the pace of local traffic, making it a more interactive experience than a typical highway trek. Stay alert to the changing road geometry as you make your way toward your destination.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.5 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Mapleville Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 65.4 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
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 Catonsville, MD to Cavetown, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Smithsburg along the way.
Smithsburg
60.1 mi in
|
~1h 7m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 65.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.5 miles on I 70. 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 Cavetown, 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 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Monocacy National Battlefield, Antietam National Battlefield and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (5 total within detour distance). 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 Cavetown, 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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