South Bel Air, MD to Brunswick, MD is 91.4 miles and takes about 1h 56m via I-95 and I-70, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maryland, moving from the Northeast region towards its western edge. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads as you make your way across the state. Given the relatively short duration, it's an easy day trip for most.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.7 miles from South Bel Air, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
38.6 mi
41m
I 95
10.9 mi
14m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
8.1 mi
9m
Jefferson National Pike
8 mi
9m
Express Toll Lanes
7.6 mi
9m
Baltimore Beltway
4.6 mi
6m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
3.9 mi
5m
Petersville Road
2.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 38.6 mi, about 41m
Traffic on I-695
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,922 veh/hr typical
· worst 7,433
Quietest
2 AM
~346 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 50 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Bel Air, MD and Brunswick, MD.
1
Start on South Shamrock Road
0.3 mi·1 min·South Shamrock Road
2
At end of road, turn right onto East MacPhail Road
0.3 mi·44 sec·East MacPhail Road
3
Turn left onto MD 924
496 ft·14 sec·South Main Street
4
Continue on MD 924
0.6 mi·1 min·Emmorton Road
5
Turn right onto West Ring Factory Road
0.6 mi·1 min·West Ring Factory Road
6
Turn left onto MD 24
3.9 mi·5 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the left lane.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 South: BaltimoreUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 95
8.1 mi·9 min·John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes
6.5 mi·7 min·Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto Express Toll Lanes
1.2 mi·1 min·Express Toll Lanes
11
Merge onto I 95
3.9 mi·5 min·I 95
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
7.0 mi·9 min·I 95
Use the slight right lane.
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 49BToward I 695 West: TowsonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 695
4.6 mi·6 min·Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 16A-BToward I 70: Frederick, Local TrafficUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 16AToward I 70 West: FrederickUse the slight left lane.
17
Merge onto I 70
14 mi·15 min·I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 70; US 40
12 mi·12 min·I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 70; US 40
13 mi·13 min·I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit onto I 70 Exit 5A
0.3 mi·26 sec·I 70 Exit 5A
Exit 52Toward US 340 West, US 15 South: Charles Town, LeesburgUse the right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 15 South, US 340 West: Charles Town, LeesburgUse the slight left lane.
22
Merge onto US 15; US 340
3.9 mi·4 min·Jefferson National Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto US 340
4.2 mi·4 min·Jefferson National Pike
Toward US 340 West: Charles TownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward MD 180: PetersvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork
176 ft·5 sec
26
Turn left onto MD 180
1.7 mi·3 min·Jefferson Pike
27
Turn left onto MD 79
2.3 mi·4 min·Petersville Road
28
Enter roundabout onto MD 17
182 ft·6 sec·Petersville Road
29
Continue on MD 17
0.4 mi·51 sec·Petersville Road
30
Enter roundabout onto Petersville Road
192 ft·3 sec·Petersville Road
31
Continue on Petersville Road
90 ft·10 sec·Petersville Road
32
Continue on Petersville Road
72 ft·2 sec·Petersville Road
33
Arrive at destination
Petersville Road
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 1h 56m drive, consider leaving mid-morning to avoid peak rush hour traffic around the Baltimore-Washington corridor. With only 91.4 miles, you have the flexibility to stop if needed, though no specific stops are indicated on this route. Keep an eye on your fuel, budgeting around $16 for the trip, and be aware that the longest stretch without a major exit is 38.6 miles on I-70, so plan any brief pauses accordingly. Transitioning from the interstate to surface roads will require adjusting your speed and awareness.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 45.7 miles from South Bel Air, MD, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.6 miles.
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 20 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.7 miles or 1h 2m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brunswick, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 91.4 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from South Bel Air, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 70 for about 38.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 27
5 decision points cluster between mile 33.1 and 78.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
33.1 mi into trip|~45m in
Take the exit toward I 695 West: Towson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 49B
Toward I 695 West: Towson
8
38.3 mi into trip|~53m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Frederick, Local Traffic
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 16A-B
Toward I 70: Frederick, Local Traffic
8
38.5 mi into trip|~53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 West: Frederick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 16A
Toward I 70 West: Frederick
8
78 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|I 70 Exit 5A
Take the exit onto I 70 Exit 5A toward US 340 West, US 15 South: Charles Town, Leesburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 52
Toward US 340 West, US 15 South: Charles Town,...
8
78.3 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 15 South, US 340 West: Charles Town, Leesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 15 South, US 340 West: Charles Town,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.16 one way
$32.33 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$17.70
$35.41
premium
$5.24
$18.87
$37.74
diesel
$5.35
$19.25
$38.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.4
0
$9.60
$4.39
Efficient EV
22.9
0
$8.00
$3.66
EV Truck/SUV
36.6
0
$12.80
$5.85
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
South Bel Air, MD
Afternoon
in South Bel Air on Wednesday
Local time
2:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Clear
NW 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Brunswick, MD
Afternoon
in Brunswick on Wednesday
Local time
2:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Clear
N 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 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 56m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Monocacy National Battlefield
National Battlefield
During the summer of 1864, the Confederacy carried out a bold plan to turn the tide of the Civil War in their favor. They planned to capture Washington, DC and influence the election of 1864. On July...
At the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, on the ancestral home of the Tuscarora and Shawnee people, lies Harpers Ferry. Here you can explore John Brown's Raid against slavery. Find your...
23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of savage combat on September 17, 1862. The Battle of Antietam ended the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia's first invasion into...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
$20
near mile 88.2
The Potomac River corridor is rich in both history and recreation, offering a chance to both explore your heritage and choose your adventure along the way. Start your journey here!
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 91.4
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 55% of your time on highways like I-95 and I-70. The longest uninterrupted stretch on a highway is 38.6 miles on I-70. After the highway sections, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of the trip. Expect a noticeable shift from high-speed cruising to more local traffic conditions as you approach your destination.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.6 mi on I 70.
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 33.1 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.4 miles you will encounter 27 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 33.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
706 ft15 ft
Total Climb
929 ft
Total Descent
1,009 ft
Highest Point
706 ft
~58.7 mi in
Elevation Range
690 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between South Bel Air, MD and Brunswick, MD, road signs point toward Local Traffic and Leesburg.
Local Traffic
38.3 mi in|~53m
Leesburg
78 mi in|~1h 37m|via I 70 Exit 5A
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Brunswick is a very small town in Frederick County, Maryland, on the Potomac River. It is an excellent place for hikers and bicyclists to access the C&O Canal towpath.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 91.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.6 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Brunswick, 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 33.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Monocacy National Battlefield, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and Antietam National Battlefield (5 total within detour distance). 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 Brunswick, MD before heading back.
