Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53m
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.
Milford Mill, MD
Connor Scott McManus
Bowie, MD
Wikimedia Commons
This 35.1-mile drive from Milford Mill, MD, to Bowie, MD, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 53 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $6, it's an economical option for a single day. The route is primarily composed of major roadways, making it a practical choice for anyone looking to travel between these two points within Maryland. You'll spend a good portion of your time on highways, so expect a consistent pace. Given its short duration and manageable distance, this trip is perfectly suited for a one-day excursion with no need for an overnight stay.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MD 3 | 10.8 mi | 16m |
| Baltimore Beltway | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| I 97 | 8.9 mi | 10m |
| North Rolling Road | 2 mi | 4m |
| Windsor Mill Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Collington Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Big Buck Drive | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Security Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Milford Mill, MD and Bowie, MD.
Start on Big Buck Drive
Turn left onto Mayfield Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Windsor Mill Road
Turn slight right onto North Rolling Road
Turn left onto MD 122
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 197
Turn left onto Evergreen Parkway
Turn right
Turn left
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 Milford Mill, 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 3.7 and 35 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward I 695 South: Glen Burnie
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 695 / Baltimore Beltway
Merge point - match speed before joining. 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
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$5.82 one way
$11.64 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.37 | $12.75 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.81 | $13.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.75 | $15.50 |
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, 2026-04-13.
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
Late night in Milford Mill on Sunday
Local time
3:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Bowie on Sunday
Local time
3:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°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
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
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.
The drive between Milford Mill and Bowie offers a mixed driving experience, with 57% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on MD 3, Baltimore Beltway, and I 97, suggesting a blend of higher-speed travel and potentially some more local road segments. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 10.8 miles on MD 3, providing a period of consistent travel. This combination means you'll transition between different types of road conditions, from efficient highway cruising to potentially more varied traffic patterns as you approach your destination.
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 around 3.7 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 11 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 53m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles (I 695 / Baltimore Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Milford Mill, MD to Bowie, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Crofton along the way.
Crofton
Bowie is a suburban bedroom community of Washington, D.C. in Prince George's County, Maryland.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 35.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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