Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
32.7 mi
53 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Catonsville, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Chevy Chase Section 4, MD
Connor Scott McManus
Catonsville, MD to Chevy Chase Section 4, MD is 32.7 miles and takes about 46m via I 95 and Capital Beltway, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region and Maryland, so you won't be crossing state lines. It's a relatively short drive, mostly on major highways, making it a straightforward option for getting between these two points. Consider this route for a quick commute or a simple point-to-point journey.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 18.9 mi | 21m |
| Capital Beltway | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| Connecticut Avenue | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| South Rolling Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Bloomsbury Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| MD 166 | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Thornapple Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Meadow Lane | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Catonsville, MD and Chevy Chase Section 4, MD.
Start on this road
Turn left onto MD 144
Turn right onto Bloomsbury Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto MD 166
Continue on MD 166
Turn left onto MD 166
Take the exit
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto MD 185
Turn right onto Thornapple Street
Turn left onto Meadow Lane
Turn right onto Sycamore Street
Turn left onto Hillcrest Place
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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.
A short stop after about 32.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 16.3 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 30.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto MD 166 toward I 195 East
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 185 South: Connecticut Avenue South, Chevy Chase
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$5.42 one way
$10.84 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.94 | $11.87 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.34 | $12.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.22 | $14.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.43 | $1.57 |
| Efficient EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.86 | $1.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.58 | $2.09 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Catonsville on Sunday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Chevy Chase Section 4 on Sunday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive is a mixed bag, with 60% of it on highways. You'll spend a good portion of your time on I 95 and the Capital Beltway, which means you can expect consistent speeds for longer stretches. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 18.9 miles on I 95. As you approach your destination, the route transitions to Connecticut Avenue, offering a change from the interstate feel. Overall, it's a practical drive that balances efficient highway travel with a more local road experience near the end.
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 2.2 miles in near MD 166.
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 16 decision points packed into just 32.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles (MD 166): Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Catonsville, MD and Chevy Chase Section 4, MD, road signs point toward Bethesda, College Park and Chevy Chase.
Bethesda
College Park
Chevy Chase
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 32.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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Return Trip
Chevy Chase Section 4, MD to Catonsville, MDPlan the drive back the other way.
Explore more options from Catonsville, MD or browse trips ending in Chevy Chase Section 4, MD.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips.
