Frederick, MD to Arlington, MD is 45.9 miles and takes about 58 minutes via I 70 and the Baltimore Beltway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive will take you through the Northeast region as you travel within Maryland. It's a relatively short trip, making it ideal for a quick commute or an easy day trip. Given its duration, most travelers can complete this journey without needing an overnight stay. The primary roads involved are I 70 and the Baltimore Beltway, suggesting a predominantly interstate experience.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
36.6 mi
39m
Baltimore Beltway
2.2 mi
3m
Liberty Road
2 mi
4m
West Northern Parkway
1.7 mi
3m
North East Street
0.6 mi
1m
East Church Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Jonquil Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
East Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 36.6 mi, about 39m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,561 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~211 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Frederick, MD and Arlington, MD.
1
Start on MD 144
122 ft·7 sec·East Patrick Street
2
Turn right onto North Market Street
435 ft·18 sec·North Market Street
3
Turn right onto East Church Street
0.3 mi·47 sec·East Church Street
4
Turn right onto North East Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North East Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Enter roundabout onto East Street
101 ft·1 sec·East Street
6
Continue on East Street
0.1 mi·14 sec·East Street
7
Continue on MD 85
0.2 mi·17 sec·Buckeystown Pike
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East
9
Merge onto I 70; US 40
21 mi·22 min·I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
6.5 mi·6 min·I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
9.1 mi·9 min·I 70
Toward BaltimoreUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·16 sec
Exit 91B-AToward I 695 North, I 695 South: New York, Towson, Baltimore, Glen BurnieUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 91BToward I 695 North: New York, TowsonUse the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto I 695
2.2 mi·3 min·Baltimore Beltway
15
Take the exit
394 ft·9 sec
Exit 18A-BToward MD 26: Liberty Road, Randallstown, LochearnUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 18AToward MD 26 East: Liberty Road, LochearnUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto MD 26
2.0 mi·4 min·Liberty Road
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto West Northern Parkway
1.7 mi·3 min·West Northern Parkway
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto Jonquil Avenue
427 ft·19 sec·Jonquil Avenue
20
Turn left onto West Rogers Avenue
107 ft·5 sec·West Rogers Avenue
21
Turn right onto Jonquil Avenue
0.1 mi·26 sec·Jonquil Avenue
22
At end of road, turn left onto Lewiston Avenue
0.1 mi·22 sec·Lewiston Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
Cuthbert Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 22.9 miles from Frederick, 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 29.2 and 41.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
29.2 mi into trip|~33m in|I 70
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 toward Baltimore
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Baltimore
8
38.4 mi into trip|~43m in
Take the exit toward I 695 North, I 695 South: New York, Towson, Baltimore, Glen Burnie
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 91B-A
Toward I 695 North, I 695 South: New York, Tows...
9
38.6 mi into trip|~43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 695 North: New York, Towson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 91B
Toward I 695 North: New York, Towson
8
41.6 mi into trip|~48m in
Take the exit toward MD 26: Liberty Road, Randallstown, Lochearn
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 18A-B
Toward MD 26: Liberty Road, Randallstown, Loche...
10
41.6 mi into trip|~48m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 26 East: Liberty Road, Lochearn
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18A
Toward MD 26 East: Liberty Road, Lochearn
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.32 one way
$14.64 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg16 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$8.10
$16.20
premium
$4.81
$8.69
$17.38
diesel
$4.80
$8.67
$17.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 69% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
13.8
0
$4.82
$2.20
Efficient EV
11.5
0
$4.02
$1.84
EV Truck/SUV
18.4
0
$6.43
$2.94
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 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 Jun 30, 2026
Origin
Frederick, MD
Morning
in Frederick on Sunday
Local time
10:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued June 30 at 10:06AM EDT until July 1 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued June 30 at 10:06AM EDT until July 1 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Destination
Arlington, MD
Morning
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
10:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny
S 6 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued June 30 at 10:06AM EDT until July 1 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued June 30 at 10:06AM EDT until July 1 at 8:00PM 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
1 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
58m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily highway-oriented, with an 84% highway share, making for a fast-paced journey. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 36.6 miles primarily on I 70, which will likely feel like a continuous interstate cruise. While the profile is 'Highway-focused drive,' expect the latter part of the journey to involve navigating the Baltimore Beltway, which can introduce more traffic and lane changes as you approach your destination. The road character remains consistent for the most part, emphasizing efficiency over scenic detours.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.6 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Baltimore Beltway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 29.2 miles in near I 70.
Driving Effort10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 18 decision points packed into just 45.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 29.2 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
694 ft282 ft
Total Climb
532 ft
Total Descent
371 ft
Highest Point
694 ft
~19.7 mi in
Elevation Range
413 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Frederick, MD and Arlington, MD, road signs point toward Baltimore, Towson, Glen Burnie, Randallstown and Lochearn.
Frederick is a charming city of approximately 80,000 people (2020) in Maryland. It is a major antique center with many shops, eateries, galleries and antique dealers.
Top landmarks
•Frederick Armory — drill hall in Frederick, United States of America
•Frederick Historic District — historic district in Maryland, United States
•Hessian Barracks — historic barracks building in Frederick, Maryland, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 45.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.6 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Arlington, 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 29.2 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Monocacy National Battlefield, Antietam National Battlefield and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (5 total within detour distance). 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 Arlington, MD before heading back.
