Origin
City of Baltimore, MD
Afternoon in City of Baltimore on Sunday
Local time
12:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from City of Baltimore, MD to South Kensington, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
36.1 mi
58 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
City of Baltimore, MD
Wikimedia Commons
South Kensington, MD
RDNE Stock project
Trip Overview
This 36.1-mile drive from the City of Baltimore, MD, to South Kensington, MD, will take you about 48 minutes and is best tackled in a single day. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 68% of the journey on major roadways, making it a straightforward trip within the Northeast region. You can expect the fuel cost to be around $6, which is quite manageable for this distance. This drive is ideal for a quick transition between these two Maryland locations, offering a practical way to cover the ground without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 24.6 mi | 29m |
| Capital Beltway | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| Connecticut Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Cal Ripken Way | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Light Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East Conway Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Franklin Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Fayette Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 24.6 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Baltimore, MD and South Kensington, 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
25 mi
·
29 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 27
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, College Park
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda
10
Merge onto I 495
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 33
Toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
289 ft
·
7 sec
Toward MD 185 North: Connecticut Avenue North, Kensington, Beach Drive
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto MD 185
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Connecticut Avenue
14
Turn slight left
181 ft
·
7 sec
15
Turn left onto Franklin Street
500 ft
·
15 sec
·
Franklin Street
16
Turn right
146 ft
·
10 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.1 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 35.1 — 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.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
East Conway Street
Turn right onto East Conway Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
26.8 mi into trip
|
~34m 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
34.7 mi into trip
|
~45m 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
35.1 mi into trip
|
~46m 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
$5.98 one way
$11.97 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.55 | $13.11 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.00 | $14.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.97 | $15.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.79 | $1.73 |
| Efficient EV | 9 | 0 | $3.16 | $1.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.05 | $2.31 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
South Kensington, MD
Afternoon in South Kensington on Sunday
Local time
12:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°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
48m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 36.1-mile journey, with 68% of the drive on major roads like I-95 and the Capital Beltway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 24.6 miles on I-95, offering a consistent pace. While the bulk of the drive is on these main arteries, the final portion on Connecticut Avenue will likely transition you to more suburban or urban driving conditions as you approach South Kensington. This route is characterized by its efficiency rather than scenic detours.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.6 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 0.1 miles in near MD 2 / Saint Paul Street.
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 12 decision points packed into just 36.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
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 0.5 miles (East Conway Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.8 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.
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 South Kensington, MD, road signs point toward Bethesda and College Park.
Bethesda
26.8 mi in
|
~34m
College Park
26.8 mi in
|
~34m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 36.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.6 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 South 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 0.1 miles (MD 2 / Saint Paul Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (East Conway Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.8 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 South 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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