Origin
Catonsville, MD
Late night in Catonsville on Sunday
Local time
12:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Catonsville, MD to Charlestown, 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 13m
Distance
53.3 mi
86 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Catonsville, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Charlestown, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward regional excursion within Maryland, the 53.3-mile trip from Catonsville to Charlestown is a manageable choice. Expect a drive time of approximately 1 hour and 13 minutes, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day outing. You will navigate primarily via Frederick Road and the Baltimore Beltway (I-695 South) to transition between these two Northeast locations. With an estimated fuel cost of just $9, it is an economical way to explore a different corner of the state. Because the duration is relatively short, you do not need to worry about overnight logistics, providing you with maximum flexibility for your travel schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway | 15.3 mi | 17m |
| I 95 | 11.1 mi | 15m |
| Pulaski Highway | 9 mi | 12m |
| Express Toll Lanes | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| Baltimore Beltway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Aberdeen Thruway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| West Old Philadelphia Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Baltimore Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
— 15.3 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Catonsville, MD and Charlestown, MD.
1
Start on this road
37 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto MD 144
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Frederick Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 695 South: Glen Burnie
4
Merge onto I 695
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 11A; 11B
Toward I 95 North, I 95 South: Baltimore, Washington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 11A
Toward I 95 North: Baltimore
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 95
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
297 ft
·
3 sec
11
Merge onto I 95
15 mi
·
17 min
·
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 85
Toward MD 22: Aberdeen, Churchville
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 85
Toward MD 22: Aberdeen, Churchville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
327 ft
·
7 sec
Toward MD 22 East: Aberdeen
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward MD 22 East: Aberdeen
16
Merge onto MD 22
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Aberdeen Thruway
Use the left lane.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward US 40 East
18
Merge onto US 40
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
North Philadelphia Boulevard
19
Continue on US 40
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Pulaski Highway
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto MD 7
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Old Philadelphia Road
21
Turn right onto MD 267
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Baltimore Street
22
Turn left onto MD 267
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Cecil Street
23
Continue on MD 267
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Market Street
24
Turn left
258 ft
·
18 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.7 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 215 decision points cluster between mile 2.9 and 39.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
2.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North, I 95 South: Baltimore, Washington
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 11A; 11B
Toward I 95 North, I 95 South: Baltimore, Washi...
8
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: Baltimore
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 11A
Toward I 95 North: Baltimore
8
38.7 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward MD 22: Aberdeen, Churchville
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 85
Toward MD 22: Aberdeen, Churchville
10
39 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 22: Aberdeen, Churchville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 85
Toward MD 22: Aberdeen, Churchville
8
39.2 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 22 East: Aberdeen
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward MD 22 East: Aberdeen
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.84 one way
$17.67 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.68 | $19.36 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.34 | $20.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.77 | $23.54 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.13
Aberdeen Thruway
(1.8 mi)
$0.13
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: 18.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16 | 0 | $5.60 | $2.56 |
| Efficient EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.66 | $2.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.46 | $3.41 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Charlestown, MD
Late night in Charlestown on Sunday
Local time
12:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°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 13m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features zero highway-exclusive miles, meaning you will spend your time navigating local roads rather than cruising at high speeds. The path requires constant adjustments and careful maneuvering through various intersections and turns. Since there is no single long, uninterrupted stretch, the drive feels active and engaging from start to finish. You should anticipate a dynamic experience that shifts frequently as you transition from the suburban feel of Catonsville toward your destination in Charlestown.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.3 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 2.9 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 53.3 miles you will encounter 21 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 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.7 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.
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 Charlestown, MD, road signs point toward Washington and Churchville.
Washington
2.9 mi in
|
~4m
Churchville
38.7 mi in
|
~49m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 53.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m 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 15.3 miles on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.13 in tolls one way, starting with Aberdeen 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 Charlestown, 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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Charlestown, 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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