Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
53.4 mi
86 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
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.
South Bel Air, MD
Da Khatri
Edgewater, MD
Jonathan Borba
South Bel Air, MD to Edgewater, MD is 53.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 12 minutes via I 97, John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, and Express Toll Lanes, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, covering a moderate distance. It's a straightforward drive that shouldn't present many challenges, making it a good option for a quick day trip or a simple leg of a longer journey. You'll find it easy to plan for, given its short duration and clear route.
| 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 | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Harbor Tunnel Throughway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Baltimore Harbor Tunnel | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Solomons Island Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between South Bel Air, MD and Edgewater, 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 left at fork onto I 97
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on MD 665
Take the exit
Turn right onto MD 2
Continue on MD 2
Turn right onto Poplar Point Road
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 26.7 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 51.6 — 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
Take the exit toward MD 2: Parole, Edgewater
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$9.40 one way
$18.80 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.89 | $10.28 | $20.55 |
| premium | $5.23 | $10.99 | $21.97 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $12.99 | $25.98 |
Estimated Tolls: $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: 18.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16 | 0 | $5.61 | $2.56 |
| Efficient EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.67 | $2.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.48 | $3.42 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Afternoon in South Bel Air on Saturday
Local time
4:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Edgewater on Saturday
Local time
4:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Partly 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.
About 31% of this 53.4-mile drive is on highways like I 97. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 16.7 miles on I 97 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a mixed driving experience, starting with more highway cruising and then shifting to navigating local streets as you approach your destination. You'll notice the change from higher-speed travel to more frequent intersections and potentially slower traffic.
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 53.4 miles you will encounter 17 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
194 ft
Total Descent
504 ft
Highest Point
359 ft
Elevation Range
359 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between South Bel Air, MD and Edgewater, MD, road signs point toward Annapolis and Glen Burnie.
Annapolis
Glen Burnie
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 53.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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