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Trip from Crofton, MD to Baltimore, MD

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

Drive Time

37m

Distance

24.3 mi

39 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min
4 AM
0h 35m ★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Crofton, MD, MD

Crofton, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 24.3-mile drive from Crofton, MD, to Baltimore, MD, is easily manageable within a single day, taking approximately 37 minutes. The journey primarily utilizes I-97, Robert Crain Highway, and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, offering a convenient link between two points within Maryland's Northeast region. With an estimated fuel cost of just $4, this is a budget-friendly excursion. The mixed driving profile means you’ll experience a blend of highway speeds and potentially some local road travel, making it a practical option for a quick trip or an add-on to a larger itinerary.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 97 10 mi 11m
Robert Crain Highway 5.6 mi 8m
Baltimore-Washington Parkway 4 mi 5m
Baltimore Beltway 1.1 mi 1m
Russell Street 1 mi 2m
West Baltimore Street 0.6 mi 1m
Crofton Parkway 0.5 mi 1m
Stratton Road 0.3 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 97 — 10 mi, about 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Crofton, MD and Baltimore, MD.

1

Start on Stratton Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · Stratton Road
2

At end of road, turn left onto Spring Green Avenue

0.2 mi · 48 sec · Spring Green Avenue
3

At end of road, turn right onto Crofton Parkway

0.5 mi · 1 min · Crofton Parkway
4

Turn left onto Crawford Boulevard

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Crawford Boulevard
5

Turn right onto MD 3

5.6 mi · 8 min · Robert Crain Highway
6

Merge onto I 97

8.9 mi · 10 min · I 97
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit onto I 97

1.1 mi · 1 min · I 97
Exit 17A Toward I 695 West: Baltimore, Towson Use the slight right lane.
8

Merge onto I 695

1.1 mi · 1 min · Baltimore Beltway
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Exit 7B Toward MD 295 North: North Baltimore Use the slight right lane.
10

Merge onto MD 295

4.0 mi · 5 min · Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on MD 295

1.0 mi · 2 min · Russell Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Continue on MD 295

0.3 mi · 38 sec · South Paca Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13

Turn right onto West Baltimore Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Baltimore Street
Use the straight lane.
14

Turn left

281 ft · 25 sec
15

At end of road, turn left onto East Fayette Street

212 ft · 6 sec · East Fayette Street
16

Arrive at destination

East Fayette Street

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 24.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | Spring Green Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto Spring Green Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
0.5 mi into trip | ~2m in | Crofton Parkway

At end of road, turn right onto Crofton Parkway

Navigation decision point

8
15.8 mi into trip | ~23m in | I 97

Take the exit onto I 97 toward I 695 West: Baltimore, Towson

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 17A Toward I 695 West: Baltimore, Towson
7
18 mi into trip | ~26m in

Take the exit toward MD 295 North: North Baltimore

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 7B Toward MD 295 North: North Baltimore
6
24.2 mi into trip | ~37m in | East Fayette Street

At end of road, turn left onto East Fayette Street

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.03 one way

$8.06 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 9 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $4.41 $8.82
premium $4.93 $4.71 $9.43
diesel $5.61 $5.37 $10.73

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$4

Estimated CO2 emission: 8.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7.3 0 $2.55 $1.17
Efficient EV 6.1 0 $2.13 $0.97
EV Truck/SUV 9.7 0 $3.40 $1.56

Gas CO2

9 kg

EV CO2

3 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

Crofton, MD

Late night in Crofton on Sunday

Local time

1:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Baltimore, MD

Late night in Baltimore on Sunday

Local time

1:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

75°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

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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a mixed drive on this 24.3-mile route, with about 60% of it being highway. You'll find yourself on I-97 for stretches, including one continuous section of 10 miles, offering a chance to maintain highway speeds. The transition onto roads like Robert Crain Highway and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway will likely introduce a different driving feel, possibly with more local traffic and varied speed limits. This blend means the road's personality shifts, moving from open highway to more integrated urban or suburban driving.

60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10 mi on I 97.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

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 0.3 miles in near Spring Green Avenue.

Driving Effort 7/10

Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 24.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Spring Green Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Crofton Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 15.8 miles (I 97): 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.

On the drive from Crofton, MD to Baltimore, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Towson along the way.

Towson

15.8 mi in | ~23m | via I 97

About the Cities

Arriving in Baltimore, MD

Full guide →

“Bodymore, Murderland” · Founded 1729

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

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 37m. Total distance: 24.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

37m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 10 miles on I 97. 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 Baltimore, 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 0.3 miles (Spring Green Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Crofton Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 15.8 miles (I 97): 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 Baltimore, 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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