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Trip from Maryland City, MD to South Bel Air, MD

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 8m

Distance

47.1 mi

76 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 3m ★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Maryland City, MD, MD

Maryland City, MD

Styves Exantus

Downtown South Bel Air, MD, MD

South Bel Air, MD

Da Khatri

Trip Overview

Traveling from Maryland City to South Bel Air covers 47.1 miles, a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 8 minutes. Because of the manageable duration, this trip is perfectly suited as a simple one-day excursion. You will navigate a path that utilizes the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, the Express Toll Lanes, and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. With fuel costs estimated at $8, it is an economical route for your schedule. Both the origin and destination are located within the Northeast region of Maryland, keeping the terrain and environment consistent throughout your drive.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Baltimore-Washington Parkway 12.8 mi 17m
Express Toll Lanes 8.5 mi 9m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway 7.3 mi 8m
Harbor Tunnel Thruway 7 mi 10m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway 4.3 mi 6m
Baltimore Harbor Tunnel 1.4 mi 2m
Harbor Tunnel Throughway 1 mi 1m
Emmorton Road 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Baltimore-Washington Parkway — 12.8 mi, about 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Maryland City, MD and South Bel Air, MD.

1

Start on Vale Summit South

458 ft · 22 sec · Vale Summit South
2

Turn right onto Wye Mills South

0.1 mi · 35 sec · Wye Mills South
3

Turn left onto Yellow Springs South

0.4 mi · 1 min · Yellow Springs South
4

At end of road, turn right onto Crumpton South

325 ft · 19 sec · Crumpton South
5

Turn left onto Old Line Avenue

218 ft · 10 sec · Old Line Avenue
6

Turn right onto Greensboro South

263 ft · 13 sec · Greensboro South
7

Turn right onto Old Annapolis Road

0.1 mi · 25 sec · Old Annapolis Road
8

Turn sharp left onto Red Clay Road

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Red Clay Road
9

Turn right onto MD 198

0.5 mi · 1 min · Laurel Fort Meade Road
10

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 1 min
Toward North Baltimore, Baltimore-Washington Parkway North Use the right lane.
11

Merge onto Baltimore-Washington Parkway

13 mi · 17 min · Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Use the straight lane.
12

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Toward I 895 North: Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thruway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Merge onto I 895

1.1 mi · 1 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
14

Continue on I 895

1.0 mi · 1 min · Harbor Tunnel Throughway
15

Continue on I 895

2.2 mi · 3 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on I 895

1.4 mi · 2 min · Baltimore Harbor Tunnel
17

Continue on I 895

3.7 mi · 5 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight left at fork onto I 895

8.5 mi · 9 min · Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
19

Keep slight right at fork

297 ft · 3 sec
20

Merge onto I 95

7.3 mi · 8 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 77A Toward MD 24: Bel Air, Edgewood Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward MD 24 North: Bel Air Use the slight left lane.
23

Turn left onto MD 24

4.3 mi · 6 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the left lane.
24

Turn right onto West Ring Factory Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Ring Factory Road
Use the right lane.
25

Turn left onto MD 924

0.6 mi · 1 min · Emmorton Road
26

Continue on MD 924

496 ft · 17 sec · South Main Street
27

Turn right onto East MacPhail Road

0.3 mi · 44 sec · East MacPhail Road
28

Turn left onto South Shamrock Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · South Shamrock Road
29

Arrive at destination

South Shamrock Road

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

census-designated place in Maryland, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dundalk, MD

24 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

Catonsville, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dundalk, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 23.5 miles from Maryland City, 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 22

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 40.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0.9 mi into trip | ~3m in | Red Clay Road

Turn sharp left onto Red Clay Road

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

6
1.6 mi into trip | ~5m in

Take the ramp toward North Baltimore, Baltimore-Washington Parkway North

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward North Baltimore, Baltimore-Washington Pa...
6
14.8 mi into trip | ~23m in

Take the exit toward I 895 North: Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thruway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 895 North: Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thr...
8
40.4 mi into trip | ~56m in

Take the exit toward MD 24: Bel Air, Edgewood

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 77A Toward MD 24: Bel Air, Edgewood
7
40.7 mi into trip | ~57m in

Keep slight left at fork toward MD 24 North: Bel Air

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward MD 24 North: Bel Air

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.81 one way

$15.62 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $8.55 $17.10
premium $4.93 $9.13 $18.27
diesel $5.61 $10.40 $20.80

Estimated Tolls: $0.49

Harbor Tunnel Thruway (7 mi) $0.49

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Tolls

$0

Total

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.1 0 $4.95 $2.26
Efficient EV 11.8 0 $4.12 $1.88
EV Truck/SUV 18.8 0 $6.59 $3.01

Gas CO2

16 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (63% 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 Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Maryland City, MD

Morning in Maryland City on Sunday

Local time

9:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

South Bel Air, MD

Morning in South Bel Air on Sunday

Local time

9:27 AM

EDT

Current temp

72°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

2 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

1h 8m 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 turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you transition between major arteries. While roughly 27% of your trip involves highway travel, the route is far from a monotonous interstate cruise. You will experience a mix of fast-paced segments and more technical local maneuvering. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 12.8-mile run along the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. Be prepared for the road’s personality to shift as you move off the main highways and into the more localized sections of the trip.

Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.8 mi on Baltimore-Washington Parkway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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 0.9 miles in near Red Clay Road.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.1 miles you will encounter 22 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 0.9 miles (Red Clay Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.

On the drive from Maryland City, MD to South Bel Air, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Edgewood along the way.

Edgewood

40.4 mi in | ~56m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 47.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 8m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 12.8 miles on Baltimore-Washington Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.49 in tolls one way, starting with Harbor Tunnel Thruway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

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 South Bel Air, 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 0.9 miles (Red Clay Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

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 South Bel Air, 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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