South Bel Air, MD to Woodsboro, MD is 67.6 miles and takes about 1h 43m via Liberty Road and Baltimore Beltway, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maryland, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's a straightforward drive primarily on surface roads, making it a convenient option for a local excursion. The estimated fuel cost is quite low, adding to its appeal as an accessible day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.8 miles from South Bel Air, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Liberty Road
22.7 mi
34m
Baltimore Beltway
12.6 mi
17m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
8.8 mi
10m
Woodsboro Road
5 mi
7m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
3.9 mi
5m
White Marsh Boulevard
3.9 mi
6m
Lyons Mill Road
3 mi
5m
McDonogh Road
2.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Liberty Road
— 22.7 mi, about 34m
Traffic on I-695
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 13 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~3,628 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,683
Quietest
2 AM
~254 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Woodsboro, 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 right at fork onto I 95
0.6 mi·42 sec·John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 67Toward MD 43: White Marsh, Middle RiverUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward MD 43 West: White MarshUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto MD 43
3.9 mi·6 min·White Marsh Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
13
Merge onto I 695
13 mi·17 min·Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 20Toward MD 140: Pikesville, GarrisonUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward MD 140 North: Garrison, ReisterstownUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Turn straight onto MD 140
1.1 mi·2 min·Reisterstown Road
17
Turn left onto McDonogh Road
2.2 mi·4 min·McDonogh Road
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto Painters Mill Road
0.3 mi·43 sec·Painters Mill Road
19
Turn left onto Lyons Mill Road
3.0 mi·5 min·Lyons Mill Road
Use the left lane.
20
Turn straight onto MD 26
22 mi·34 min·Liberty Road
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on MD 26
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
22
Turn right onto MD 550
5.0 mi·7 min·Woodsboro Road
23
Continue on Liberty Road
0.2 mi·21 sec·Liberty Road
24
At end of road, turn right onto South Main Street
20 ft·0 sec·South Main Street
25
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
Given this route takes under two hours and is all on surface roads, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the worst of any local rush hour traffic, especially as you begin on Liberty Road. With no major highway stretches, you can easily pull over if you need a break or want to stretch your legs. Since the fuel cost is estimated at only $12, you likely won't need to worry about finding a gas station for this trip, but it's always wise to start with a full tank.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 33.8 miles from South Bel Air, MD, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.7 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 15 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.8 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Woodsboro, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving South Bel Air, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from South Bel Air, MD
This is one driving day of about 67.6 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from South Bel Air, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Liberty Road for about 22.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.8 and 32.4 — 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
8
15.2 mi into trip|~21m in
Take the exit toward MD 43: White Marsh, Middle River
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 67
Toward MD 43: White Marsh, Middle River
7
15.4 mi into trip|~22m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 43 West: White Marsh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MD 43 West: White Marsh
8
32.3 mi into trip|~46m in
Take the exit toward MD 140: Pikesville, Garrison
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 20
Toward MD 140: Pikesville, Garrison
9
32.4 mi into trip|~46m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 140 North: Garrison, Reisterstown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward MD 140 North: Garrison, Reisterstown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.96 one way
$23.91 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$13.09
$26.19
premium
$5.24
$13.96
$27.91
diesel
$5.35
$14.24
$28.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.3
0
$7.10
$3.24
Efficient EV
16.9
0
$5.92
$2.70
EV Truck/SUV
27
0
$9.46
$4.33
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
South Bel Air, MD
Afternoon
in South Bel Air on Wednesday
Local time
4:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Sunny
N 5 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Woodsboro, MD
Afternoon
in Woodsboro on Wednesday
Local time
4:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Sunny
N 2 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 43m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Monocacy National Battlefield
National Battlefield
During the summer of 1864, the Confederacy carried out a bold plan to turn the tide of the Civil War in their favor. They planned to capture Washington, DC and influence the election of 1864. On July...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 62.9
23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of savage combat on September 17, 1862. The Battle of Antietam ended the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia's first invasion into...
23 mi from route
~58 min detour
$20
near mile 67.6
At the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, on the ancestral home of the Tuscarora and Shawnee people, lies Harpers Ferry. Here you can explore John Brown's Raid against slavery. Find your...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
$20
near mile 67.6
The Potomac River corridor is rich in both history and recreation, offering a chance to both explore your heritage and choose your adventure along the way. Start your journey here!
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 62.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is entirely on surface roads, meaning you won't encounter any highway driving. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 22.7 miles on Liberty Road. Expect a more local driving experience with frequent intersections and varying speed limits. You'll be navigating through communities rather than cruising at high speeds.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.7 mi on Liberty Road.
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 Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.6 miles you will encounter 19 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 15.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
782 ft118 ft
Total Climb
750 ft
Total Descent
736 ft
Highest Point
782 ft
~53.1 mi in
Elevation Range
664 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 Woodsboro, MD, road signs point toward Middle River, Garrison and Reisterstown.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 67.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.7 miles on Liberty Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Woodsboro, 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 15.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Monocacy National Battlefield, Antietam National Battlefield and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). 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 Woodsboro, MD before heading back.
