Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
31m
Distance
18.7 mi
30 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort George G Mead Junction, MD
Esteban Carriazo
Bowie, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Fort George G Mead Junction, MD to Bowie, MD is 18.7 miles and takes about 31 minutes via Laurel Bowie Road and Baltimore-Washington Parkway, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip connecting two points within Maryland's Northeast region. Expect a drive that involves frequent turns, making it more of a local transit than a highway cruise. With a total drive time under an hour, this route is ideal for a quick errand or a short hop between destinations without needing an overnight stay.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Laurel Bowie Road | 9 mi | 13m |
| Baltimore-Washington Parkway | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Collington Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Patuxent Freeway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Guilford Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Dorsey Run Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Evergreen Parkway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Brock Bridge Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Fort George G Mead Junction, MD and Bowie, MD.
Start on this road
Turn right onto Brock Bridge Road
Turn sharp right onto Guilford Road
Turn left onto Dorsey Run Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto MD 32
Take the exit
Merge onto Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto MD 197
Continue on MD 197
Turn right onto Evergreen Parkway
Turn right
Turn left
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 18.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward Baltimore Washington Parkway South, Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MD 197 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 197 South: Bowie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$3.10 one way
$6.20 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.40 | $6.79 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.63 | $7.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.13 | $8.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.96 | $0.90 |
| Efficient EV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.64 | $0.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.62 | $1.20 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Afternoon in Fort George G Mead Junction on Sunday
Local time
2:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Bowie on Sunday
Local time
2:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
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
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.
This drive is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' indicating a dynamic road experience rather than a monotonous highway journey. With only 28% of the route on highways, you'll spend most of your time navigating local roads. The longest stretch without a turn is 9 miles on Laurel Bowie Road, offering a brief period of consistent travel before transitions. The route's profile suggests a need for attention to navigation, as you'll be making several turns to reach your destination in Bowie.
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 2 miles in.
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 18.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 31m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.6 miles (Baltimore-Washington Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fort George G Mead Junction, MD and Bowie, MD, road signs point toward Baltimore Washington Parkway South and Washington.
Baltimore Washington Parkway South
Washington
Founded 1882
Bowie is a suburban bedroom community of Washington, D.C. in Prince George's County, Maryland.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 31m. Total distance: 18.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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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