Origin
Catonsville, MD
Morning in Catonsville on Tuesday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Catonsville, MD to Kensington, MD
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
44m
Distance
32 mi
51 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Catonsville, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Kensington, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Catonsville to Kensington, you are facing a straightforward 32-mile journey that typically takes about 44 minutes. Because this is a short, localized trip within Maryland, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You will primarily navigate via I-95, the Capital Beltway, and Connecticut Avenue to reach your destination. With a modest fuel budget of just $5, this drive is highly economical and avoids the need for an overnight stay. It is an ideal route for commuters or weekend travelers who prefer a quick, efficient transit between these two Northeast locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 18.9 mi | 21m |
| Capital Beltway | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| Connecticut Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| South Rolling Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Bloomsbury Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| MD 166 | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Frederick Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 18.9 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Catonsville, MD and Kensington, MD.
1
Start on this road
37 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto MD 144
153 ft
·
8 sec
·
Frederick Road
3
Turn right onto Bloomsbury Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Bloomsbury Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto MD 166
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South Rolling Road
5
Continue on MD 166
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Rolling Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left onto MD 166
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
·
MD 166
Toward I 195 East
Use the left lane.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 4B
Toward I 95 South: Washington
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 95
19 mi
·
21 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 27
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, College Park
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda
11
Merge onto I 495
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 33
Toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
289 ft
·
7 sec
Toward MD 185 North: Connecticut Avenue North, Kensington, Beach Drive
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto MD 185
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Connecticut Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
MD 185
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 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.
6
2.2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
MD 166
Turn left onto MD 166 toward I 195 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 195 East
7
2.9 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4B
Toward I 95 South: Washington
8
22.3 mi into trip
|
~29m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 27
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, Col...
8
30.1 mi into trip
|
~40m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 33
Toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase
8
30.6 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 185 North: Connecticut Avenue North, Kensington, Beach Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MD 185 North: Connecticut Avenue North,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.31 one way
$10.61 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.81 | $11.62 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.21 | $12.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.07 | $14.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.2 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 | 9.6 | 0 | $3.36 | $1.54 |
| Efficient EV | 8 | 0 | $2.80 | $1.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.48 | $2.05 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Kensington, MD
Morning in Kensington on Tuesday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°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
44m 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 trip is heavily highway-focused, with 61% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm during the longest stretch of the drive, which covers 18.9 miles on I-95. As you transition from the interstate onto the Capital Beltway and eventually Connecticut Avenue, the driving environment shifts from wide-open highway lanes to more localized traffic patterns. Expect a functional, no-frills experience that prioritizes speed over scenic detours. You should be prepared for a consistent flow of traffic that defines the character of this metropolitan-area transit.
61% 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: 18.9 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Capital Beltway. 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.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 11 decision points packed into just 32 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 44m.
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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
334 ft
172 ft
Total Climb
286 ft
Total Descent
162 ft
Highest Point
334 ft
~12 mi in
Elevation Range
162 ft
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 Kensington, MD, road signs point toward Bethesda, College Park and Chevy Chase.
Bethesda
22.3 mi in
|
~29m
College Park
22.3 mi in
|
~29m
Chevy Chase
30.1 mi in
|
~40m
About the Cities
Arriving in Kensington, MD
Full guide →Kensington is a suburb of Washington, D.C. in the Capital Region of Maryland with a population of about 2,100 people in 2020. The main reasons to visit are antique shopping at Antique Row, to see the enormous Mormon Temple, and one great pizza place. Aside from that, it's just a quiet suburban town with some odd quirks. Sections of the "Town of Kensington" are really beautiful, with big old Victorian homes set in a nice community by parks and Antique Row—looking much as it did when Kensington was a summer getaway from the big city.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 44m. Total distance: 32 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.9 miles on I 95. 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 Kensington, 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 2.2 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.
Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Monocacy National Battlefield. 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 Kensington, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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