Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 42m
Distance
73.9 mi
119 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Bel Air, MD
Da Khatri
Brandywine, MD
Jonathan Borba
The drive from South Bel Air, MD to Brandywine, MD covers 73.9 miles and takes about 1h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on MD 3, Crain Highway, I 97 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.2 miles on MD 3. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.35 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.9 miles from South Bel Air, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MD 3 | 18.2 mi | 26m |
| Crain Highway | 12.7 mi | 17m |
| I 97 | 8.9 mi | 10m |
| 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 | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Harbor Tunnel Throughway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between South Bel Air, MD and Brandywine, MD.
Start on South Shamrock Road
At end of road, turn right onto East MacPhail Road
Turn left onto MD 924
Continue on MD 924
Turn right onto West Ring Factory Road
Turn left onto MD 24
Take the exit
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes
Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes
Merge onto I 895
Continue on I 895
Continue on I 895
Continue on I 895
Keep slight right at fork onto Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on I 97
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 3
Continue on US 301
Turn left onto MD 381
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 16 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.9 miles or 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brandywine, MD than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving South Bel Air, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from South Bel Air, MD
This is one driving day of about 73.9 miles and 1h 42m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 36.9 miles from South 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.8 and 41.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight right at fork toward I 97 South: Annapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Regular Gas
$12.35 one way
$24.70 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $13.59 | $27.18 |
| premium | $5.01 | $14.58 | $29.16 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $16.29 | $32.58 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.42
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.76 | $3.55 |
| Efficient EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.47 | $2.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.6 | 0 | $10.35 | $4.73 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 South Bel Air on Wednesday
Local time
4:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Isolated Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Brandywine on Wednesday
Local time
4:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Cloudy
65°F
Lansdowne, MD
37 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Historical Park
Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potoma...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
73.9 mi in 1h 42m — 37% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: MD 3.
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 5.8 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.9 miles you will encounter 13 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 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.1 miles (Harbor Tunnel Throughway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
380 ft
Total Descent
504 ft
Highest Point
359 ft
Elevation Range
351 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between South Bel Air, MD and Brandywine, MD, road signs point toward Annapolis, Glen Burnie and Crofton.
Annapolis
Glen Burnie
Crofton
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 73.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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