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Trip from College Park, MD to Dundalk, MD

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

52m

Distance

36.6 mi

59 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 48m ★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 50m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown College Park, MD, MD

College Park, MD

Wikimedia Commons

census-designated place in Maryland, United States

Dundalk, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Connecting College Park to Dundalk is a straightforward 36.6-mile journey that typically takes about 52 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a short trip within Maryland, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. You will spend roughly $6 on fuel for the trek, making it an affordable option for travelers. The route relies heavily on major infrastructure, keeping you on the move through the Northeast region without the need for multiple stops. If you are looking for a quick, efficient way to navigate between these two points, this highway-focused drive provides a reliable path.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 29.6 mi 35m
Baltimore Avenue 2.7 mi 7m
Broening Highway 1.6 mi 3m
Keith Avenue 0.9 mi 2m
Capital Beltway 0.8 mi <1m
Dundalk Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Belclare Road <0.1 mi <1m
Knox Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 29.6 mi, about 35m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between College Park, MD and Dundalk, MD.

1

Start on Knox Road

272 ft · 15 sec · Knox Road
2

Turn right onto US 1

2.7 mi · 7 min · Baltimore Avenue
Use the left lane.
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Silver Spring Use the right lane.
4

Merge onto I 95; I 495

0.8 mi · 57 sec · Capital Beltway
5

Keep slight right at fork onto I 95

28 mi · 33 min · I 95
Toward I-95 North: Baltimore Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 95

2.1 mi · 2 min · I 95
Use the slight right lane.
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Use the slight right lane.
8

Turn left onto Keith Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Keith Avenue
9

Keep slight right at fork onto Keith Avenue

0.2 mi · 36 sec · Keith Avenue
10

Turn straight onto Broening Highway

1.6 mi · 3 min · Broening Highway
11

Turn left onto Belclare Road

490 ft · 20 sec · Belclare Road
12

Turn right onto Dundalk Avenue

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Dundalk Avenue
13

Continue on Dundalk Avenue

285 ft · 12 sec · Dundalk Avenue
14

Arrive at destination

1 ft · Dundalk Avenue

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Laurel, MD

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

Essex, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ellicott City, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.3 miles from College Park, 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 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 33.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 1 / Baltimore Avenue

Turn right onto US 1 / Baltimore Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
2.8 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the ramp toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Silver Spring

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Silv...
7
3.8 mi into trip | ~9m in | I 95

Keep slight right at fork onto I 95 toward I-95 North: Baltimore

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward I-95 North: Baltimore
6
31.3 mi into trip | ~42m in | I 95

Keep slight right at fork onto I 95

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.
5
33.4 mi into trip | ~45m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.07 one way

$12.14 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $6.65 $13.29
premium $4.93 $7.10 $14.20
diesel $5.61 $8.08 $16.16

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 12.8 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 11 0 $3.84 $1.76
Efficient EV 9.2 0 $3.20 $1.46
EV Truck/SUV 14.6 0 $5.12 $2.34

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.

Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026

Origin

College Park, MD

Late night in College Park on Sunday

Local time

12:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dundalk, MD

Late night in Dundalk on Sunday

Local time

12:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

72°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

3 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

52m 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 trip dominated by high-speed transit, as 81% of your travel takes place on the highway. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-95, which accounts for a 29.6-mile uninterrupted stretch of the journey. The experience shifts from the initial local feel of Baltimore Avenue to the fast-paced flow of the interstate, eventually transitioning onto the Broening Highway as you near your destination. This is a practical, utilitarian drive designed for speed rather than lingering, so be prepared for a consistent, interstate-heavy pace throughout the nearly hour-long duration.

81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.6 mi on I 95.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Baltimore Avenue. 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 US 1 / Baltimore Avenue.

Driving Effort 8/10

Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 36.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 1 / Baltimore Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.8 miles (I 95): 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 College Park, MD to Dundalk, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Silver Spring along the way.

Silver Spring

2.8 mi in | ~7m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 52m. Total distance: 36.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

52m 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 29.6 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 Dundalk, 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 (US 1 / Baltimore Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.8 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Dundalk, 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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