Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
29m
Distance
21.5 mi
35 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Catonsville, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Crownsville to Catonsville is 21.5 miles and takes about 29 minutes via I 97 and the Baltimore Beltway, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Maryland, connecting two points in the Northeast region. The route offers a mix of highway driving and surface roads, making it a straightforward commute or a quick hop between areas. Given its brief duration, it's ideal for a same-day excursion with minimal planning.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 97 | 12.1 mi | 14m |
| Baltimore Beltway | 6.5 mi | 8m |
| Generals Highway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Frederick Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Lancers Trail | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Crownsville, MD and Catonsville, MD.
Start on Lancers Trail
Turn right onto MD 178
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 97
Keep slight left at fork onto I 97
Take the exit onto I 97
Merge onto I 695
Take the exit
Turn left onto MD 144
Turn right
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 21 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork onto I 97
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Merge onto I 695 / Baltimore Beltway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MD 144: Catonsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto MD 144 / Frederick Road
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$3.56 one way
$7.13 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.90 | $7.81 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.17 | $8.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.75 | $9.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.26 | $1.03 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.88 | $0.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.01 | $1.38 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Crownsville on Sunday
Local time
7:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Mostly Cloudy then Scattered Rain Showers
Destination
Morning in Catonsville on Sunday
Local time
7:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Cloudy then Scattered Rain Showers
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
You'll spend about 57% of this 21.5-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 12.1 miles on I 97. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface streets as you approach your destination. The presence of the Baltimore Beltway suggests you'll navigate moderate traffic and merging lanes.
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 2.8 miles in near I 97.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 21.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 29m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles (I 97): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.2 miles (I 97): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.3 miles (I 695 / Baltimore Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Crownsville, MD to Catonsville, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Towson along the way.
Towson
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 29m. Total distance: 21.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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