Origin
Catonsville, MD
Late night in Catonsville on Sunday
Local time
3:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Catonsville, MD to Chesapeake Beach, 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
51.9 mi
84 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
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
Chesapeake Beach, MD
Carly Dernetz
Trip Overview
Catonsville, MD to Chesapeake Beach, MD is 51.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 16 minutes via Solomons Island Road, I 97, and Baltimore Beltway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Maryland, moving from the Northeast region towards the Chesapeake Bay area. It's a relatively short trip, making it ideal for a spontaneous day trip or a relaxed start to a longer journey. Expect a mixed driving experience that balances highway speeds with more local road conditions as you approach your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Solomons Island Road | 19.6 mi | 30m |
| I 97 | 16.7 mi | 19m |
| Baltimore Beltway | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| East Chesapeake Beach Road | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| Aris T Allen Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Bayside Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Frederick Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 17th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Solomons Island Road
— 19.6 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Catonsville, MD and Chesapeake Beach, 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
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 4
Toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
Use the slight left lane.
6
Continue on I 97
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
I 97
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 97
7.8 mi
·
8 min
·
I 97
Toward Bay Bridge
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 22
Toward MD 665: Riva Road
10
Continue on MD 665
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Aris T Allen Boulevard
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward MD 2: Parole, Edgewater
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto MD 2
11 mi
·
18 min
·
Solomons Island Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Enter roundabout onto MD 2
164 ft
·
2 sec
·
Solomons Island Road
14
Continue on MD 2
6.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Solomons Island Road
Use the straight lane.
15
Enter roundabout onto MD 2
152 ft
·
1 sec
·
Solomons Island Road
16
Continue on MD 2
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Solomons Island Road
17
Turn left onto MD 260
4.5 mi
·
7 min
·
East Chesapeake Beach Road
Use the left lane.
18
At end of road, turn right onto MD 261
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bayside Road
Use the right lane.
19
Turn left onto 17th Street
480 ft
·
31 sec
·
17th Street
20
Turn right onto C Street
56 ft
·
3 sec
·
C Street
21
Arrive at destination
C Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 7.1 and 51.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
7.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 4
Toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
6
24.6 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis, Bay...
6
25.4 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 665: Riva Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 22
Toward MD 665: Riva Road
7
26.7 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward MD 2: Parole, Edgewater
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MD 2: Parole, Edgewater
6
51.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
MD 261 / Bayside Road
At end of road, turn right onto MD 261 / Bayside Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.60 one way
$17.21 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.42 | $18.85 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.07 | $20.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.46 | $22.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.45 | $2.49 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.54 | $2.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.27 | $3.32 |
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.
Destination
Chesapeake Beach, MD
Late night in Chesapeake Beach on Sunday
Local time
3:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
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?
This route offers a mixed drive, with 32% of it on highways. You'll spend a portion of your time on the Baltimore Beltway and I-97, which are typical interstate stretches. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 19.6 miles along Solomons Island Road, which provides a more continuous driving experience. As you move from the busier highway sections to Solomons Island Road, the character of the drive shifts, becoming more about navigating local routes and experiencing the transition towards the coastal region.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.6 mi on Solomons Island Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 7.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.9 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 7.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Chesapeake Beach, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Edgewater along the way.
Edgewater
26.7 mi in
|
~34m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 51.9 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 (32%). 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 19.6 miles on Solomons Island Road. 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 Chesapeake Beach, 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 7.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park. 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 Chesapeake Beach, 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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