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Trip from North Bel Air, MD to Annapolis, 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 14m

Distance

55.6 mi

89 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 9m ★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m

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 North Bel Air, MD, MD

North Bel Air, MD

William Finn

city in and county seat of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States, and Maryland federated state capital city

Annapolis, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from North Bel Air to Annapolis, you are looking at a manageable 55.6-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 14 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you can easily head down and back without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $9 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating through the Northeast region of Maryland, you will utilize a combination of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, Express Toll Lanes, and I-97. It is an efficient path that connects the northern part of the state to the capital, making it a practical choice for those who value a straightforward, no-fuss commute.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 97 16.7 mi 19m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway 8.1 mi 9m
Express Toll Lanes 7.7 mi 9m
Harbor Tunnel Thruway 6 mi 8m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway 5.2 mi 7m
John Hanson Highway 2.2 mi 2m
Harbor Tunnel Throughway 2.2 mi 3m
Baltimore Harbor Tunnel 1.4 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 97 — 16.7 mi, about 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between North Bel Air, MD and Annapolis, MD.

1

Start on MD 924

501 ft · 16 sec · North Main Street
2

Continue on US 1 Business; MD 924

0.4 mi · 51 sec · North Bond Street
3

Turn right onto US 1 Business

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Churchville Road
Use the right lane.
4

At end of road, turn right onto US 1 Business

0.5 mi · 1 min · Baltimore Pike
5

Turn left onto MD 24

5.2 mi · 7 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the left lane.
6

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 95 South: Baltimore Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Merge onto I 95

8.1 mi · 9 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes

6.5 mi · 7 min · Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes

1.2 mi · 1 min · Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
10

Merge onto I 895

3.8 mi · 5 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
11

Continue on I 895

1.4 mi · 2 min · Baltimore Harbor Tunnel
12

Continue on I 895

2.2 mi · 3 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on I 895

0.5 mi · 39 sec · Harbor Tunnel Throughway
14

Keep slight right at fork onto Harbor Tunnel Throughway

1.7 mi · 2 min · Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Exit 6 Toward Annapolis, Glen Burnie Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight right at fork

1.1 mi · 1 min
Toward I 97 South: Annapolis Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on I 97

8.9 mi · 10 min · I 97
Use the straight lane.
17

Keep slight left at fork onto I 97

7.8 mi · 8 min · I 97
Toward Bay Bridge
18

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
19

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 52 sec
Toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
20

Merge onto US 50; US 301

2.2 mi · 2 min · John Hanson Highway
21

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Exit 24 Toward MD 70: Rowe Boulevard, Bestgate Road, Annapolis, Maryland Fire-Rescue Memorial, Historic Annapolis State Capital Use the slight right lane.
22

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Toward MD 70 : Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis South
23

Turn straight onto MD 70

1.1 mi · 1 min · Roscoe Rowe Boulevard
24

Keep slight right at fork onto Roscoe Rowe Boulevard

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Roscoe Rowe Boulevard
25

Turn left onto Northwest Street

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Northwest Street
26

Enter roundabout onto School Street

0.1 mi · 16 sec · School Street
27

Continue on School Street

137 ft · 5 sec · School Street
28

Arrive at destination

School Street

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

28 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

Bel Air, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dundalk, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 27.8 miles from North Bel Air, 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 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 6.4 and 53.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
6.4 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the exit toward I 95 South: Baltimore

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 95 South: Baltimore
9
30.7 mi into trip | ~42m in | Harbor Tunnel Throughway

Keep slight right at fork onto Harbor Tunnel Throughway toward Annapolis, Glen Burnie

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 6 Toward Annapolis, Glen Burnie
7
32.4 mi into trip | ~44m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 97 South: Annapolis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 97 South: Annapolis
8
53.5 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in

Take the exit toward MD 70: Rowe Boulevard, Bestgate Road, Annapolis, Maryland Fire-Rescue Memorial, Historic Annapolis State Capital

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 24 Toward MD 70: Rowe Boulevard, Bestgate Road, An...
7
53.8 mi into trip | ~1h 11m in

Keep slight right at fork toward MD 70 : Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward MD 70 : Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis South

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.22 one way

$18.44 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 20 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $10.10 $20.19
premium $4.93 $10.78 $21.57
diesel $5.61 $12.28 $24.55

Estimated Tolls: $0.42

Harbor Tunnel Thruway (6 mi) $0.42

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

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Tolls

$0

Total

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 19.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 16.7 0 $5.84 $2.67
Efficient EV 13.9 0 $4.87 $2.22
EV Truck/SUV 22.2 0 $7.78 $3.56

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

7 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

North Bel Air, MD

Late night in North Bel Air on Sunday

Local time

12:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Annapolis, MD

Late night in Annapolis on Sunday

Local time

12:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°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

6 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

1h 14m 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 driving experience that transitions from major thoroughfares to more localized highway travel. About 30% of your time will be spent on highways, providing a balanced pace throughout the 55.6-mile trek. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 16.7-mile segment on I-97, which serves as the primary backbone of the latter half of your drive. Because this is a mixed-profile route, you will experience a shift from the high-speed flow of the Kennedy Memorial Highway into the steady rhythm of the interstate system. Stay alert as the road transitions, as traffic patterns can fluctuate significantly depending on the time of day.

30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.7 mi on I 97.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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 6.4 miles in.

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 55.6 miles you will encounter 20 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 6.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.7 miles (Harbor Tunnel Throughway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 North Bel Air, MD to Annapolis, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Glen Burnie along the way.

Glen Burnie

30.7 mi in | ~42m | via Harbor Tunnel Throughway

About the Cities

Arriving in Annapolis, MD

Full guide →

Annapolis is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland. Annapolis was a thriving, wealthy town in the 1600s and 1700s. Many of the houses and other buildings from the 1800s remain, leaving a thriving, vibrant historic district with shops and restaurants along the waterfront. Brick-lined streets and quaint shops add to the feel. You could easily spend a day walking around the town's downtown harbor area shopping and eating. There is also a lively nighttime scene.

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 1h 14m. Total distance: 55.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 16.7 miles on I 97. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.42 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 Annapolis, 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 6.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.7 miles (Harbor Tunnel Throughway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Annapolis, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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