Origin
Parole, MD
Late night in Parole on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Parole, MD to Catonsville, 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
36m
Distance
27.6 mi
44 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Parole, MD
Mikhail Nilov
Catonsville, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Parole to Catonsville is a quick, straightforward journey spanning 27.6 miles across Maryland. You can easily complete this trip in about 36 minutes, making it a perfect day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel budget of just $5, it is an economical route for commuters or casual travelers moving through the Northeast region. The path utilizes a combination of I-97, the Baltimore Beltway, and West Street to bridge the gap between these two Maryland communities. Because the drive is so efficient, you have the flexibility to plan your schedule without worrying about long hours on the road.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 97 | 17.4 mi | 20m |
| Baltimore Beltway | 6.5 mi | 8m |
| West Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Frederick Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| John Hanson Highway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Hicks Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 97
— 17.4 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Parole, MD and Catonsville, MD.
1
Start on Hicks Avenue
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Hicks Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto MD 450
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward US 50 West, US 301 South: Washington
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Merge onto US 50; US 301
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
John Hanson Highway
5
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 21
Toward I 97 North: Baltimore
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 97 North: Baltimore
7
Continue on I 97
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
I 97
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 97
10 mi
·
11 min
·
I 97
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto I 97
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 97
Exit 17A
Toward I 695 West: Baltimore, Towson
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 695
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 13
Toward MD 144: Catonsville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto MD 144
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Frederick Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right
37 ft
·
2 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 26.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MD 450 / West Street
At end of road, turn left onto MD 450 / West Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward US 50 West, US 301 South: Washington
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward US 50 West, US 301 South: Washington
7
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward I 97 North: Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 21
Toward I 97 North: Baltimore
8
19.4 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
I 97
Take the exit onto I 97 toward I 695 West: Baltimore, Towson
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 17A
Toward I 695 West: Baltimore, Towson
7
26.9 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward MD 144: Catonsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 13
Toward MD 144: Catonsville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.58 one way
$9.15 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.01 | $10.02 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.35 | $10.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.09 | $12.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.90 | $1.32 |
| Efficient EV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.42 | $1.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11 | 0 | $3.86 | $1.77 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Catonsville, MD
Late night in Catonsville on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
36m 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?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 63% of your time spent navigating major thoroughfares. You will find yourself settling in for a 17.4-mile stretch along I-97, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the trip. The transition from the local environment of West Street onto the faster-paced interstate and Baltimore Beltway defines the experience. Expect a functional, high-speed commute rather than a winding backroads tour. Staying alert is key as you merge onto the Beltway, where the character of the road shifts from regional interstate travel to a more complex urban traffic flow.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.4 mi on I 97.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 97 and Baltimore Beltway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near MD 450 / West Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 27.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (MD 450 / West Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.4 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.
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 Parole, MD to Catonsville, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Towson along the way.
Towson
19.4 mi in
|
~23m
|
via I 97
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 27.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.4 miles on I 97. 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 Catonsville, 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 0.2 miles (MD 450 / West Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Catonsville, 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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