Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from South Bel Air, MD to North Kensington, MD

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 26m

Distance

62.9 mi

101 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 20m ★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m

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

Best Time
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown South Bel Air, MD, MD

South Bel Air, MD

Da Khatri

Downtown North Kensington, MD, MD

North Kensington, MD

RDNE Stock project

Trip Overview

South Bel Air, MD to North Kensington, MD is 62.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 26 minutes via East MacPhail Road, South Main Street, and Emmorton Road, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maryland, traversing the Northeast region. Since this route primarily uses surface roads with no highway share, expect a more local driving experience. It’s a straightforward, day-trip-friendly drive that will get you from point A to point B 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
Capital Beltway 4.4 mi 5m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway 3.9 mi 5m
Baltimore Harbor Tunnel 1.4 mi 2m
Plyers Mill Road 1.4 mi 3m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 17.7 mi, about 20m

Traffic on I-95

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

7 AM

~6,324 veh/hr typical · worst 8,056

Quietest

2 AM

~710 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

8.9×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 51 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 North Kensington, 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

4.4 mi · 5 min · Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Exit 31 Toward MD 97: Silver Spring, Wheaton Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Keep slight right at fork

348 ft · 8 sec
Toward MD 97 North Use the slight right lane.
23

Turn slight right onto MD 97

1.1 mi · 3 min · Georgia Avenue
24

Turn left onto Plyers Mill Road

1.4 mi · 3 min · Plyers Mill Road
25

Turn right onto Lexington Street

205 ft · 8 sec · Lexington Street
26

Arrive at destination

Lexington Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

census-designated place in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brooklyn Park, MD

31 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

Kingsville, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Baltimore Highlands, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.5 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 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 5.8 and 60.4 — 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
60.2 mi into trip | ~1h 19m in

Take the exit toward MD 97: Silver Spring, Wheaton

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 31 Toward MD 97: Silver Spring, Wheaton
8
60.4 mi into trip | ~1h 19m in

Keep slight right at fork toward MD 97 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward MD 97 North

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.03 one way

$20.06 round trip

$4.05/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.48 $11.10 $22.20
premium $4.81 $11.91 $23.81
diesel $4.80 $11.88 $23.75

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: 22 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.9 0 $6.60 $3.02
Efficient EV 15.7 0 $5.50 $2.52
EV Truck/SUV 25.2 0 $8.81 $4.03

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Jul 14, 2026

Origin

South Bel Air, MD

Late night in South Bel Air on Sunday

Local time

2:45 AM

EDT

Current temp

71°F

Mostly Clear

W 8 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued July 14 at 6:45PM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued July 14 at 6:45PM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC

Destination

North Kensington, MD

Late night in North Kensington on Sunday

Local time

2:45 AM

EDT

Current temp

72°F

Clear

W 7 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued July 14 at 6:45PM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued July 14 at 6:45PM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM 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

1 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 26m 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 is entirely on surface roads, meaning you won't encounter any highway cruising. With 0% highway share, you'll be navigating local streets and main thoroughfares for the entire 62.9 miles. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is not specified, but expect consistent surface road driving for the full 1 hour and 26 minutes. You'll likely notice a steady flow of intersections and local traffic patterns throughout the trip.

Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 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

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 62.9 miles you will encounter 18 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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

359 ft 0 ft

Total Climb

439 ft

Total Descent

478 ft

Highest Point

359 ft

Elevation Range

359 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 North Kensington, 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 26m. Total distance: 62.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads 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.

Yes — we found about 4 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 North Kensington, 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, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Monocacy National Battlefield. 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 North Kensington, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

More from South Bel Air, MD

Delmar, MD 132.6 mi · 2h 51m Hancock, MD 128.7 mi · 2h 34m Boonsboro, MD 92.7 mi · 1h 59m Brunswick, MD 91.4 mi · 1h 56m Brentwood, MD 82.6 mi · 1h 44m Green Valley, MD 74.7 mi · 1h 39m
Escape planner: South Bel Air, MD Scenic drives in MD

Explore more options from South Bel Air, MD or browse trips ending in North Kensington, MD.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips.