Origin
Ellicott City, MD
Morning in Ellicott City on Sunday
Local time
11:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ellicott City, MD to City of 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
25m
Distance
13 mi
21 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 23m
★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 30m
10 AM
0h 27m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ellicott City, MD
Wikimedia Commons
City of Baltimore, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 13-mile drive from Ellicott City, MD to Baltimore, MD is easily manageable as a day trip, taking only about 25 minutes to complete. With a budget of around $2 for fuel, this quick journey is perfect for a spontaneous outing. The route primarily utilizes Frederick Road before merging onto I-95 and the Baltimore Beltway, offering a straightforward connection between the Northeast regions of Maryland. Given its brevity and minimal stop count (zero recommended), you won't need an overnight stay. This trip is all about efficient travel, getting you from point A to point B with ease.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Frederick Road | 4 mi | 8m |
| I 95 | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Baltimore Beltway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Russell Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| West Baltimore Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Paca Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Fayette Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Frederick Road
— 4 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ellicott City, MD and City of Baltimore, MD.
1
Start on Old Columbia Pike
110 ft
·
6 sec
·
Old Columbia Pike
2
Turn right onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Main Street
3
Continue on MD 144
4.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Frederick Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 695 South: Glen Burnie
5
Merge onto I 695
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 11A; 11B
Toward I 95 North, I 95 South: Baltimore, Washington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 11A
Toward I 95 North: Baltimore
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 95
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 52
Toward Russell Street North
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on MD 295
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Russell Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on MD 295
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
South Paca Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto West Baltimore Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Baltimore Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left
281 ft
·
25 sec
14
At end of road, turn left onto East Fayette Street
212 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Fayette Street
15
Arrive at destination
East Fayette Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 12.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 695 / Baltimore Beltway
Merge onto I 695 / Baltimore Beltway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
6.8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North, I 95 South: Baltimore, Washington
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 11A; 11B
Toward I 95 North, I 95 South: Baltimore, Washi...
8
7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: Baltimore
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 11A
Toward I 95 North: Baltimore
7
10.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward Russell Street North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 52
Toward Russell Street North
6
12.9 mi into trip
|
~25m 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
$2.16 one way
$4.31 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $2.36 | $4.72 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.52 | $5.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.87 | $5.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.37 | $0.62 |
| Efficient EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.14 | $0.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.82 | $0.83 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
City of Baltimore, MD
Morning in City of Baltimore on Sunday
Local time
11:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 8 to 12 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 3:33AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
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
16 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
25m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for a significant portion of this 13-mile journey. While only 19% of the route is on highways, the longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 4 miles on Frederick Road. This suggests a more engaged driving experience with frequent changes in direction and speed, rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. As you transition towards Baltimore, you'll likely experience a mix of city streets and potentially busier highway segments as you approach your destination.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4 mi on Frederick Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in near I 695 / Baltimore Beltway.
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 13 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 25m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles (I 695 / Baltimore Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7 miles: 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ellicott City, MD and City of Baltimore, MD, road signs point toward Washington and Russell Street North.
Washington
6.8 mi in
|
~13m
Russell Street North
10.3 mi in
|
~18m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 25m. Total distance: 13 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4 miles on Frederick Road. 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 City of 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 4.5 miles (I 695 / Baltimore Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at City of 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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