If you are planning a trip from Catonsville to Delmar, expect a straightforward journey spanning 102.6 miles. You should budget approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes for the drive, making this a very manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stop. With an estimated fuel cost of $17, it is an affordable excursion for those traveling within Maryland. The route primarily utilizes the Blue Star Memorial Highway, Sussex Highway, and Shore Highway to navigate the region. Since both ends of the trip are located in the Northeast, the transition between these two points is consistent in terms of regional character. It is a practical route for those who prefer to keep their travel time under three hours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.3 miles from Catonsville, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway
19.1 mi
27m
Sussex Highway
18.9 mi
25m
Shore Highway
13.5 mi
18m
Baltimore Beltway
8.4 mi
11m
Seashore Highway
7.5 mi
9m
US 50
6.9 mi
9m
Arundel Expressway
6.6 mi
9m
Queen Anne Highway
6.2 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 19.1 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Catonsville, MD and Delmar, 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
8.4 mi·11 min·Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 2Toward MD 10 South: Severna ParkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on MD 10
5.9 mi·8 min·Arundel Expressway
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 10
0.7 mi·1 min·Arundel Expressway
Toward MD 10 South: Severna ParkUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto MD 2
2.4 mi·3 min·Ritchie Highway
9
Continue on MD 2
6.1 mi·8 min·Governor Ritchie Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Bay Bridge
11
Merge onto US 50; US 301
19 mi·27 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 50
6.9 mi·9 min·US 50
Toward US 50 East: Ocean City, Rehoboth
13
Turn left onto MD 404
6.2 mi·8 min·Queen Anne Highway
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on Shore Highway
5.3 mi·7 min·Shore Highway
Use the left lane.
15
Take the exit onto MD 404 Business
1.4 mi·2 min·MD 404 Business
16
Turn slight right onto MD 404 Business
0.4 mi·50 sec·Franklin Street
17
Turn right onto South 5th Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·South 5th Avenue
18
Turn left onto Legion Road
282 ft·7 sec·Legion Road
19
Turn right onto MD 313; MD 404
8.1 mi·11 min·Shore Highway
20
Continue on DE 404
7.5 mi·9 min·Seashore Highway
21
At end of road, turn left onto DE 404 Business
0.4 mi·46 sec·Market Street
22
At end of road, turn right onto US 13 Business; DE 404 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·South Main Street
23
Turn right onto US 13
19 mi·25 min·Sussex Highway
24
Turn right onto MD 54; DE 54
1.1 mi·2 min·East State Street
25
Arrive at destination
MD 54; DE 54
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short 102.6-mile trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the drive in one go, as there are no mandated stops required to finish the 2-hour and 25-minute journey. Since the route is turn-heavy, try to avoid traveling during peak local traffic hours to ensure your drive remains as efficient as possible. Keep your fuel budget of $17 in mind as you plan your departure, and ensure your vehicle is ready for a mix of highway and local road conditions. Given the lack of long highway stretches, focus on maintaining a steady pace through the turn-heavy sections to keep your arrival time on track.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 51.3 miles from Catonsville, MD, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.1 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 23 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.3 miles or 1h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Delmar, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Catonsville, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Catonsville, MD
This is one driving day of about 102.6 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Catonsville, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Blue Star Memorial Highway for about 19.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 43.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|I 695 / Baltimore Beltway
Merge onto I 695 / Baltimore Beltway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
9 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the exit toward MD 10 South: Severna Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2
Toward MD 10 South: Severna Park
7
15.5 mi into trip|~22m in|MD 10 / Arundel Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 10 / Arundel Expressway toward MD 10 South: Severna Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MD 10 South: Severna Park
5
24.6 mi into trip|~35m in
Take the exit toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Bay Bridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Bay Bridge
6
43.9 mi into trip|~1h 3m in|US 50
Keep slight right at fork onto US 50 toward US 50 East: Ocean City, Rehoboth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50 East: Ocean City, Rehoboth
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.01 one way
$34.02 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$18.63
$37.26
premium
$4.93
$19.90
$39.80
diesel
$5.61
$22.65
$45.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.8
0
$10.77
$4.92
Efficient EV
25.7
0
$8.98
$4.10
EV Truck/SUV
41
0
$14.36
$6.57
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Catonsville, MD
Late night
in Catonsville on Sunday
Local time
2:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Delmar, MD
Late night
in Delmar on Sunday
Local time
2:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Ridgely, MD
51 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
3 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
2h 25m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate sprint, as only 15% of this route takes place on major highways. You will spend much of your time navigating local roads, which keeps the experience engaging behind the wheel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 19.1-mile segment on the Blue Star Memorial Highway. As you transition between the various highways, the road character shifts from regional corridors to local pavement. Be prepared to stay alert, as the winding nature of these roads demands more attention than a standard high-speed commute.
Only 15% 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: 19.1 mi on Blue Star Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.7 miles in near I 695 / Baltimore Beltway.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 102.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (I 695 / Baltimore Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.5 miles (MD 10 / Arundel Expressway): 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.
On the drive from Catonsville, MD to Delmar, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Rehoboth along the way.
Rehoboth
43.9 mi in|~1h 3m|via US 50
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 25m. Total distance: 102.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.1 miles on Blue Star Memorial Highway. 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 Delmar, MD before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (I 695 / Baltimore Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.5 miles (MD 10 / Arundel Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Delmar, MD before heading back.
