Origin
Lochearn, MD
Late night in Lochearn on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lochearn, MD to Bowie, MD
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
35.4 mi
57 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lochearn, MD
Jonathan Borba
Bowie, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 35.4-mile drive from Lochearn, MD to Bowie, MD is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 50 minutes. You'll primarily navigate the Baltimore Beltway and MD 3, with a portion on I-97, covering about 56% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this short hop is around $6, making it an economical option. Given its brevity, this route is perfect for a quick transition between locations within the Northeast region of Maryland, requiring no overnight stays. It offers a practical and efficient way to get from point A to point B without significant detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Beltway | 12.2 mi | 16m |
| MD 3 | 10.8 mi | 16m |
| I 97 | 8.9 mi | 10m |
| Liberty Road | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Collington Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Evergreen Parkway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Baltimore Beltway
— 12.2 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lochearn, MD and Bowie, MD.
1
Start on MD 26
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Liberty Road
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 695 South: Glen Burnie
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Merge onto I 695
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 4
Toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
Use the slight left lane.
5
Continue on I 97
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
I 97
Use the straight lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 3
11 mi
·
16 min
·
MD 3
Toward MD 32 West, MD 3 South: Bowie, Crofton
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto MD 197
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Collington Road
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left onto Evergreen Parkway
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Evergreen Parkway
9
Turn right
259 ft
·
20 sec
10
Turn left
110 ft
·
8 sec
11
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.7 miles from Lochearn, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 35.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 695 South: Glen Burnie
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 695 South: Glen Burnie
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m 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
13.9 mi into trip
|
~20m in
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
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 4
Toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
8
23.6 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
MD 3
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
Use the left lane.
Toward MD 32 West, MD 3 South: Bowie, Crofton
5
35.3 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.87 one way
$11.74 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.43 | $12.86 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.87 | $13.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.82 | $15.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.72 | $1.70 |
| Efficient EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.10 | $1.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.96 | $2.27 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Bowie, MD
Late night in Bowie on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
17 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
50m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, blending faster highway travel with potentially slower sections. With 56% of the trip on highways, you'll experience periods of consistent speed, including a notable longest stretch of 12.2 miles on the Baltimore Beltway. The road character will likely shift as you transition between these major arteries and local roads, offering a varied driving experience. This isn't a purely monotonous interstate haul, but rather a blend that keeps things dynamic for the relatively short 50-minute duration.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.2 mi on Baltimore Beltway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 35.4 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (I 695 / Baltimore Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
On the drive from Lochearn, MD to Bowie, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Crofton along the way.
Crofton
23.6 mi in
|
~31m
|
via MD 3
About the Cities
Arriving in Bowie, MD
Full guide →Founded 1882
Bowie is a suburban bedroom community of Washington, D.C. in Prince George's County, Maryland.
Top landmarks
- • Belair Mansion — mansion located in Collington, Maryland, United States of America
- • Bowie Railroad Buildings — railway building and museum in Bowie, Maryland, USA
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 35.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.2 miles on Baltimore Beltway. 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 Bowie, 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 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (I 695 / Baltimore Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park. 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 Bowie, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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