If you are looking to head west from the City of Baltimore toward Cavetown, you are in for a straightforward, 73.2-mile trek. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 28 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You will rely primarily on the Baltimore Beltway, I-70, and Mapleville Road to complete the journey. With fuel costs estimated at around $12, it is an affordable route that stays entirely within Maryland. Since the drive is relatively short, there is no need to worry about overnight logistics; you can easily make this a round trip in one go.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
56.5 mi
1h
Mapleville Road
5 mi
8m
Baltimore Beltway
4.6 mi
6m
I 95
2.9 mi
3m
Cal Ripken Way
0.7 mi
1m
Light Street
0.4 mi
1m
East Conway Street
0.3 mi
<1m
East Fayette Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 56.5 mi, about 1h
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 17 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,235 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,726
Quietest
2 AM
~233 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Baltimore, MD and Cavetown, MD.
1
Start on East Fayette Street
487 ft·23 sec·East Fayette Street
2
Turn left onto MD 2
312 ft·10 sec·Saint Paul Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Continue on MD 2
0.4 mi·1 min·Light Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Turn right onto East Conway Street
0.3 mi·52 sec·East Conway Street
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left onto I 395
0.7 mi·1 min·Cal Ripken Way
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 South: Washington
7
Merge onto I 95
2.9 mi·3 min·I 95
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 49BToward I 695 West: TowsonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 695
4.6 mi·6 min·Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 16A-BToward I 70: Frederick, Local TrafficUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 16AToward I 70 West: FrederickUse the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto I 70
14 mi·15 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
12 mi·12 min·I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 70; US 40
31 mi·33 min·I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 35Toward MD 66: Boonsboro, SmithsburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto MD 66
1.4 mi·2 min·Mapleville Road
17
Enter roundabout onto MD 66
156 ft·2 sec·Mapleville Road
18
Continue on MD 66
3.6 mi·6 min·Mapleville Road
19
Turn right onto Cavetown Church Road
17 ft·0 sec·Cavetown Church Road
20
Arrive at destination
Cavetown Church Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 36.6 miles from City of Baltimore, 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 67.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|MD 2 / Saint Paul Street
Turn left onto MD 2 / Saint Paul Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
5.2 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward I 695 West: Towson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 49B
Toward I 695 West: Towson
8
10.4 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Frederick, Local Traffic
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 16A-B
Toward I 70: Frederick, Local Traffic
8
10.6 mi into trip|~17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 West: Frederick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 16A
Toward I 70 West: Frederick
8
67.9 mi into trip|~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward MD 66: Boonsboro, Smithsburg
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 35
Toward MD 66: Boonsboro, Smithsburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.95 one way
$25.89 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$14.18
$28.36
premium
$5.24
$15.11
$30.23
diesel
$5.35
$15.42
$30.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22
0
$7.69
$3.51
Efficient EV
18.3
0
$6.41
$2.93
EV Truck/SUV
29.3
0
$10.25
$4.68
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 Jun 2, 2026
Origin
City of Baltimore, MD
Evening
in City of Baltimore on Wednesday
Local time
5:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Sunny
NE 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 1 at 6:59PM EDT until June 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Cavetown, MD
Evening
in Cavetown on Wednesday
Local time
5:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Sunny
NE 2 to 6 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 1 at 6:59PM EDT until June 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
60°F
Mount Airy, MD
37 mi in
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 28m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 81% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will face a long, consistent stretch of 56.5 miles while cruising along I-70, which defines the bulk of the experience. The transition from the urban atmosphere of Baltimore to the more localized feel of Mapleville Road provides a clear shift in pacing as you approach Cavetown. While the majority of the route is designed for efficient, high-speed travel, expect the character of the road to change once you exit the interstate system for the final leg of your journey.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.5 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Mapleville Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near MD 2 / Saint Paul Street.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.1 miles (MD 2 / Saint Paul Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
903 ft36 ft
Total Climb
1,406 ft
Total Descent
706 ft
Highest Point
903 ft
~62.8 mi in
Elevation Range
867 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between City of Baltimore, MD and Cavetown, MD, road signs point toward Local Traffic and Smithsburg.
Slices of American history are around every corner in Baltimore. Maryland's largest city is a gritty old seaport town that's perhaps most famous as the site of Fort McHenry, where, at the height of the War of 1812, the sight of a tattered but defiant American flag flying over the harbor, despite a furious British bombardment, inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that was later adapted into the U.S. national anthem "Star-Spangled Banner". Nowadays, Baltimore's nonstop nightlife, temperate climate, tradition of hospitality (they don't call this place "Charm City" for nothing), and cultural attractions — not to mention its prime location on the juncture of Chesapeake Bay — made it one of the major tourist destinations of the Mid-Atlantic region.
Top landmarks
•Johns Hopkins Hospital — hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, United States
•Walters Art Museum — art museum in Baltimore, Maryland, US
•Baltimore Museum of Art — art museum in Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 73.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.5 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Cavetown, 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 0.1 miles (MD 2 / Saint Paul Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Monocacy National Battlefield, Antietam National Battlefield and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (5 total within detour distance). 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 Cavetown, MD before heading back.
