Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
35.1 mi
56 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
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.
Gwynn Oak, MD
Iqbal farooz
Fairwood, MD
Jonathan Borba
This 35.1-mile drive from Gwynn Oak, MD to Fairwood, MD is a straightforward, one-day trip that should take about 56 minutes. You'll primarily be on I-97, the Baltimore Beltway, and MD 3, making it a convenient option for a quick journey within the Northeast region. With an estimated fuel cost of $6, this route is budget-friendly for a day trip. The mixed drive profile suggests a blend of highway speeds and potentially some local road transitions, but the relatively short distance means it's easily manageable without needing an overnight stop. Plan for a simple, efficient travel day.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 97 | 8.9 mi | 10m |
| MD 3 | 7.6 mi | 11m |
| Baltimore Beltway | 7.6 mi | 10m |
| Annapolis Road | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Ingleside Avenue | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| West Forest Park Avenue | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Church Road North | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Hillsdale Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 25 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,835 veh/hr typical · worst 6,313
Quietest
2 AM
~322 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Gwynn Oak, MD and Fairwood, MD.
Start on this road
Turn right onto Haddon Avenue
Turn left onto Hillsdale Road
Turn slight right onto West Forest Park Avenue
Continue on Ingleside Avenue
Turn right onto US 40
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 695
Take the exit
Continue on I 97
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 3
Turn right onto MD 450
Turn left onto MD 197
Turn right onto Old MD 450
Turn left onto Church Road North
Turn right onto Fairwood Parkway
Turn left onto Gerrards Hope Drive
Turn right onto Tylers Hope Drive
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.5 miles from Gwynn Oak, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 22.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Haddon Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto US 40 / Baltimore National Pike
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 695 South: Glen Burnie
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 3 toward MD 32 West, MD 3 South: Bowie, Crofton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$6.21 one way
$12.41 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $6.80 | $13.60 |
| premium | $5.24 | $7.25 | $14.49 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $7.39 | $14.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.69 | $1.68 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.07 | $1.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14 | 0 | $4.91 | $2.25 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Gwynn Oak on Wednesday
Local time
7:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Evening in Fairwood on Wednesday
Local time
7:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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.
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 48% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 8.9 miles on I-97, offering a chance for consistent speed. You'll transition between the Baltimore Beltway and MD 3, likely experiencing varied traffic conditions and road types. While not exclusively a highway cruise, the drive balances faster sections with potentially more varied local road segments, giving you a dynamic driving experience without being overly taxing for its 56-minute duration.
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 early in the drive near Haddon Avenue.
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 35.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Haddon Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (US 40 / Baltimore National Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
542 ft
Total Descent
782 ft
Highest Point
486 ft
~5 mi in
Elevation Range
462 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Gwynn Oak, MD to Fairwood, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Crofton along the way.
Crofton
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 35.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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