South Bel Air, MD to Kettering, MD is 61.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 27 minutes via MD 3 and I-97, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maryland, primarily traversing the Northeast region. It's a fairly straightforward drive that mixes interstate cruising with surface road travel, making it suitable for a single-day excursion. Consider this route if you need a direct connection between these two points without extensive detours.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MD 3
13.7 mi
20m
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
Central Avenue
4.6 mi
7m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
3.9 mi
5m
Harbor Tunnel Throughway
2.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
MD 3
— 13.7 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Bel Air, MD and Kettering, 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 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 6Toward Annapolis, Glen BurnieUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
1.1 mi·1 min
Toward I 97 South: AnnapolisUse 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
14 mi·20 min·MD 3
Toward MD 32 West, MD 3 South: Bowie, CroftonUse the left lane.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward MD 214 West
20
Turn straight onto MD 214
4.6 mi·7 min·Central Avenue
21
Turn left onto Kettering Drive
1.1 mi·2 min·Kettering Drive
22
Turn right onto MD 202
77 ft·1 sec·Largo Road
23
Arrive at destination
MD 202
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 30.7 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
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.
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.
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
8
41.7 mi into trip|~56m in|MD 3
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
Use the left lane.
Toward MD 32 West, MD 3 South: Bowie, Crofton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.77 one way
$19.55 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg21 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$10.82
$21.63
premium
$4.81
$11.60
$23.21
diesel
$4.80
$11.57
$23.15
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
$10
Tolls
$0
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18.4
0
$6.44
$2.94
Efficient EV
15.3
0
$5.36
$2.45
EV Truck/SUV
24.5
0
$8.58
$3.92
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 Jul 10, 2026
Origin
South Bel Air, MD
Late night
in South Bel Air on Sunday
Local time
2:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
NW 1 to 7 mph42% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 10 at 6:02PM EDT until July 10 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Destination
Kettering, MD
Late night
in Kettering on Sunday
Local time
2:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
W 1 to 6 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 10 at 6:02PM EDT until July 10 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
86°F
Brooklyn Park, MD
31 mi in
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
3 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 27m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is a mixed highway and surface road experience, with 37% of the drive on highways. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch on surface roads at 13.7 miles on MD 3 before transitioning to limited-access highways. Expect a noticeable increase in exit density as you approach and navigate the interstate sections.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.7 mi on MD 3.
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 Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.3 miles you will encounter 14 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
359 ft9 ft
Total Climb
231 ft
Total Descent
454 ft
Highest Point
359 ft
Elevation Range
349 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 Kettering, 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 27m. Total distance: 61.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). 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 13.7 miles on MD 3. 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 Kettering, 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 30.1 miles (Harbor Tunnel Throughway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park. 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 Kettering, MD before heading back.
