Traveling from Baltimore to Charlotte Hall covers 67.3 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 37 minutes. This route is a straightforward journey that functions perfectly as a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You should budget approximately $11 for fuel to complete the drive. Navigating through the Northeast region of Maryland, you will transition from the urban environment of Baltimore toward the more rural landscape of Charlotte Hall. It is a practical and efficient route for those looking to reach their destination without unnecessary complexity or long travel times.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.7 miles from City of Baltimore, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MD 3
18.2 mi
26m
Crain Highway
15.5 mi
21m
Leonardtown Road
10.7 mi
15m
I 97
8.9 mi
10m
Baltimore-Washington Parkway
4.1 mi
5m
Mattawoman Beantown Road
3.2 mi
4m
Baltimore Beltway
1.3 mi
1m
Russell Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
MD 3
— 18.2 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Baltimore, MD and Charlotte Hall, MD.
1
Start on East Fayette Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·East Fayette Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
2
Continue on West Fayette Street
0.4 mi·1 min·West Fayette Street
3
Turn left onto MD 295
0.4 mi·47 sec·North Greene Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Continue on MD 295
1.0 mi·2 min·Russell Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn straight onto MD 295
4.1 mi·5 min·Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 695 East: Glen BurnieUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 695
1.3 mi·1 min·Baltimore Beltway
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 4Toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay BridgeUse the slight left lane.
9
Continue on I 97
8.9 mi·10 min·I 97
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 3
18 mi·26 min·MD 3
Toward MD 32 West, MD 3 South: Bowie, CroftonUse the left lane.
11
Continue on US 301
16 mi·21 min·Crain Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit onto MD 5
0.3 mi·39 sec·MD 5
Toward Lexington Park, LeonardtownUse the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto MD 5
3.2 mi·4 min·Mattawoman Beantown Road
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto MD 5
11 mi·15 min·Leonardtown Road
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on MD 5
1.0 mi·1 min·Three Notch Road
16
Turn right onto Golden Beach Road
0.1 mi·21 sec·Golden Beach Road
17
Turn left onto Charlotte Hall Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Charlotte Hall Road
18
Turn left
170 ft·12 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 37-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility when planning your departure time. Since the trip is relatively short and requires no planned stops, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing to build in rest breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you head out, as the $11 estimate serves as a helpful baseline for your travel budget. Because you will be navigating shifting road types, stay alert when transitioning between the highway portions and the local stretches of Leonardtown Road. Try to avoid peak traffic hours in the Baltimore area to ensure you maintain your estimated arrival time.
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 33.7 miles from City of Baltimore, MD, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.2 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 15 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.7 miles or 48m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charlotte Hall, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving City of Baltimore, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from City of Baltimore, MD
This is one driving day of about 67.3 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from City of Baltimore, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on MD 3 for about 18.2 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 0.6 and 51.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|MD 295 / North Greene Street
Turn left onto MD 295 / North Greene Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
6.2 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the exit toward I 695 East: Glen Burnie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 695 East: Glen Burnie
8
7.7 mi into trip|~12m 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
8
17.4 mi into trip|~24m in|MD 3
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 3 toward MD 32 West, MD 3 South: Bowie, Crofton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward MD 32 West, MD 3 South: Bowie, Crofton
7
51.1 mi into trip|~1h 12m in|MD 5
Take the exit onto MD 5 toward Lexington Park, Leonardtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Lexington Park, Leonardtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.16 one way
$22.31 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$12.22
$24.44
premium
$4.93
$13.05
$26.10
diesel
$5.61
$14.86
$29.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.2
0
$7.07
$3.23
Efficient EV
16.8
0
$5.89
$2.69
EV Truck/SUV
26.9
0
$9.42
$4.31
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
City of Baltimore, MD
Late night
in City of Baltimore on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Charlotte Hall, MD
Late night
in Charlotte Hall on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
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 37m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potoma...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
$20
near mile 41.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition across the 67.3-mile distance. The journey relies on a combination of MD 3, Crain Highway, and Leonardtown Road to move you toward your destination. Roughly 47% of your time will be spent on highways, providing a balance between faster transit and local road navigation. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch along an 18.2-mile segment of MD 3. Overall, the drive shifts from busy metropolitan arteries to more localized roads, keeping the pace varied and engaging.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.2 mi on MD 3.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 0.6 miles in near MD 295 / North Greene Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.3 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 0.6 miles (MD 295 / North Greene Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Charlotte Hall, MD, road signs point toward Crofton, Lexington Park and Leonardtown.
Crofton
17.4 mi in|~24m|via MD 3
Lexington Park
51.1 mi in|~1h 12m|via MD 5
Leonardtown
51.1 mi in|~1h 12m|via MD 5
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 67.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). 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 18.2 miles on MD 3. 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 Charlotte Hall, 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 0.6 miles (MD 295 / North Greene Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 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. 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 Charlotte Hall, MD before heading back.
