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Trip from South Bel Air, MD to Four Corners, 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 18m

Distance

58.9 mi

95 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 12m ★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 14m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown South Bel Air, MD, MD

South Bel Air, MD

Da Khatri

Downtown Four Corners, MD, MD

Four Corners, MD

Gabriel Ramos

Trip Overview

South Bel Air to Four Corners is 58.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 18 minutes via I 95, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maryland, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. You'll encounter a mixed drive profile, meaning it's not all highway but also not entirely winding backroads. With a recommended one-day duration and a modest fuel cost, this is a straightforward journey for anyone looking to cover a moderate distance efficiently.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 17.7 mi 20m
Harbor Tunnel Thruway 12 mi 15m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway 8.1 mi 9m
Express Toll Lanes 7.7 mi 9m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway 3.9 mi 5m
Capital Beltway 2.3 mi 2m
Baltimore Harbor Tunnel 1.4 mi 2m
Harbor Tunnel Throughway 1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 17.7 mi, about 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between South Bel Air, MD and Four Corners, 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: Baltimore Use 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 left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes

1.2 mi · 1 min · Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
11

Merge onto I 895

3.8 mi · 5 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
12

Continue on I 895

1.4 mi · 2 min · Baltimore Harbor Tunnel
13

Continue on I 895

2.2 mi · 3 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Continue on I 895

0.5 mi · 39 sec · Harbor Tunnel Throughway
15

Keep slight left at fork onto I 895

0.5 mi · 41 sec · Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on I 895

6.0 mi · 7 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / right lanes.
17

Merge onto I 95

18 mi · 20 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 27 Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, College Park Use the slight right lane.
19

Keep slight right at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda
20

Merge onto I 495

2.3 mi · 2 min · Capital Beltway
21

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Exit 29 Toward MD 193: Wheaton, Langley Park Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Keep slight right at fork

267 ft · 9 sec
Toward MD 193 West: University Boulevard, Wheaton Use the right lane.
23

Turn right onto MD 193

0.5 mi · 1 min · University Boulevard East
Use the right lane.
24

Arrive at destination

MD 193

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

29 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

Essex, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Baltimore, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 29.4 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 5.8 and 58.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
5.8 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
6
14.6 mi into trip | ~21m in | Express Toll Lanes

Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane.
8
54.3 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in

Take the exit toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, College Park

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 27 Toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, Col...
8
58.1 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in

Take the exit toward MD 193: Wheaton, Langley Park

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 29 Toward MD 193: Wheaton, Langley Park
9
58.3 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in

Keep slight right at fork toward MD 193 West: University Boulevard, Wheaton

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

Use the right lane. Toward MD 193 West: University Boulevard, Wheat...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.76 one way

$19.53 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $10.69 $21.39
premium $4.93 $11.42 $22.85
diesel $5.61 $13.00 $26.01

Estimated Tolls: $0.84

Harbor Tunnel Thruway (12 mi) $0.84

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

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Tolls

$1

Total

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 17.7 0 $6.18 $2.83
Efficient EV 14.7 0 $5.15 $2.36
EV Truck/SUV 23.6 0 $8.25 $3.77

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (67% 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

South Bel Air, MD

Late night in South Bel Air on Sunday

Local time

12:23 AM

EDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Four Corners, MD

Late night in Four Corners on Sunday

Local time

12:23 AM

EDT

Current temp

76°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

4 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 18m 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 route features a 30% highway share, so expect a blend of faster travel and more localized roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll drive without a significant change in road type is 17.7 miles on I 95. The drive offers a mixed profile, transitioning between efficient interstate travel and potentially more varied road conditions. You'll experience the practical feel of American infrastructure, with segments designed for speed and others that offer a more grounded connection to the landscape.

30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.7 mi on I 95.

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 5.8 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 58.9 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 54.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Four Corners, MD, road signs point toward Bethesda and College Park.

Bethesda

54.3 mi in | ~1h 10m

College Park

54.3 mi in | ~1h 10m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 58.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 18m 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 with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 17.7 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.84 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 Four Corners, 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 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 54.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. 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 Four Corners, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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