Origin
South Bel Air, MD
Late night in South Bel Air on Sunday
Local time
12:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Bel Air, MD to Gambrills, 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 1m
Distance
44.9 mi
72 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 59m
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
Gambrills, MD
Joachim Hoholm
Trip Overview
This 44.9-mile drive from South Bel Air to Gambrills, Maryland, is a straightforward, one-day trip that should take about an hour to complete. You'll primarily be on I 97 and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, with a portion on Express Toll Lanes, making it a fairly direct journey within the Northeast region. With an estimated fuel cost of $7, this is an economical option for a quick excursion. The route is best suited for a single day, offering a convenient way to travel between these Maryland locations without needing an overnight stay. Expect a relatively short travel time and manageable expenses.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| MD 3 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Baltimore Harbor Tunnel | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 97
— 8.9 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Bel Air, MD and Gambrills, 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 right at fork onto Harbor Tunnel Throughway
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Exit 6
Toward Annapolis, Glen Burnie
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 97 South: Annapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 97
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
I 97
Use the straight lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 3
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
MD 3
Toward MD 32 West, MD 3 South: Bowie, Crofton
19
Turn right onto MD 175
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Annapolis Road
20
Turn right onto Gambrills Road
475 ft
·
15 sec
·
Gambrills Road
21
Turn right onto Maple Road
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Maple Road
22
Arrive at destination
Maple Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.5 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 5.8 and 31.8 — 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.
6
21 mi into trip
|
~29m 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.
9
30.1 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
Harbor Tunnel Throughway
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 6
Toward Annapolis, Glen Burnie
7
31.8 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 97 South: Annapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 97 South: Annapolis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.44 one way
$14.89 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.15 | $16.31 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.71 | $17.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.91 | $19.83 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.42
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
(6 mi)
$0.42
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$0
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.71 | $2.16 |
| Efficient EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.93 | $1.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18 | 0 | $6.29 | $2.87 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Gambrills, MD
Late night in Gambrills on Sunday
Local time
12:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
SW 3 to 7 mph
15% chance
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
6 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 1m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive presents a "turn-heavy local drive" profile, meaning you'll experience a mix of road types rather than a continuous highway experience. While 24% of the route involves highway driving, including a 8.9-mile stretch on I 97, the overall character leans towards more frequent road changes. You'll likely navigate through various local roads and intersections as you make your way from South Bel Air to Gambrills. This type of route offers a varied driving experience, with less time spent on monotonous interstate travel and more engagement with the local road network.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.9 mi on I 97.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 44.9 miles you will encounter 15 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 21 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between South Bel Air, MD and Gambrills, MD, road signs point toward Annapolis, Glen Burnie and Crofton.
Annapolis
30.1 mi in
|
~42m
|
via Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Glen Burnie
30.1 mi in
|
~42m
|
via Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Crofton
41.7 mi in
|
~56m
|
via MD 3
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 44.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.9 miles on I 97. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.42 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.
Yes — we found about 2 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 Gambrills, 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 21 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gambrills, 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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