Origin
Thurmont, MD
Night in Thurmont on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Thurmont, MD to Catonsville, 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 10m
Distance
53.8 mi
87 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thurmont, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Catonsville, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Thurmont, MD to Catonsville, MD is 53.8 miles and takes about 1h 10m via I 70, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maryland, moving from the Northeast region towards the Northeast region. It's a straightforward journey primarily utilizing I-70, making it a convenient option for a quick drive. The relatively short duration means you can easily fit it into a single day, offering flexibility for your schedule. Consider this route when you need to cover a moderate distance without a long commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 28.4 mi | 30m |
| Green Valley Road | 7.4 mi | 11m |
| Woodsboro Road | 5 mi | 7m |
| Creagerstown Road | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Woodsboro Creagerstown Road | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Baltimore Beltway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Jimtown Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| East Main Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 28.4 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thurmont, MD and Catonsville, MD.
1
Start on MD 77; MD 550
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
2
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 550
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Jimtown Road
3
Turn left onto MD 550
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Creagerstown Road
4
Continue on MD 550
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Woodsboro Creagerstown Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto MD 550
44 ft
·
0 sec
·
Woodsboro Pike
6
Continue on MD 194; MD 550
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Woodsboro Pike
7
Turn left onto MD 550
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Woodsboro Road
8
Turn left onto MD 26
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Main Street
9
Turn right onto MD 75
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Walnut Street
10
Continue on MD 75
7.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Green Valley Road
11
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 70 East
12
Merge onto I 70; US 40
13 mi
·
13 min
·
I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
6.5 mi
·
6 min
·
I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
9.1 mi
·
9 min
·
I 70
Toward Baltimore
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 91B-A
Toward I 695 North, I 695 South: New York, Towson, Baltimore, Glen Burnie
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 91A
Toward I 695 South: Baltimore, Glen Burnie
Use the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 695
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Baltimore Beltway
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 13
Toward MD 144: Catonsville
Use the slight right lane.
19
Turn right onto MD 144
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Frederick Road
Use the right lane.
20
Turn right
37 ft
·
2 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.9 miles from Thurmont, 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 8.2 and 53.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
8.2 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
MD 550 / Woodsboro Pike
At end of road, turn left onto MD 550 / Woodsboro Pike
Navigation decision point
7
41.4 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
I 70
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 toward Baltimore
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Baltimore
8
50.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 695 North, I 695 South: New York, Towson, Baltimore, Glen Burnie
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 91B-A
Toward I 695 North, I 695 South: New York, Tows...
9
50.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 695 South: Baltimore, Glen Burnie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 91A
Toward I 695 South: Baltimore, Glen Burnie
7
53.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward MD 144: Catonsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 13
Toward MD 144: Catonsville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.92 one way
$17.84 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.77 | $19.54 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.43 | $20.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.88 | $23.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.65 | $2.58 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.71 | $2.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.53 | $3.44 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Catonsville, MD
Night in Catonsville on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Mount Airy, MD
27 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
2 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 10m 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 drive features a mixed profile, with 53% of the journey on highways, primarily I-70. You'll encounter a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 28.4 miles on I-70, offering a period of consistent driving. While the majority is highway, the inclusion of roads like Green Valley Road and Woodsboro Road suggests some variation from the interstate. Expect periods of faster travel interspersed with potentially more local road driving as you approach your destination. The overall feel is one of efficient travel with a touch of local character.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.4 mi on I 70.
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 8.2 miles in near MD 550 / Woodsboro Pike.
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 53.8 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 8.2 miles (MD 550 / Woodsboro Pike): Navigation decision point; at 41.4 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.5 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Thurmont, MD and Catonsville, MD, road signs point toward Baltimore, Towson and Glen Burnie.
Baltimore
41.4 mi in
|
~54m
|
via I 70
Towson
50.5 mi in
|
~1h 4m
Glen Burnie
50.5 mi in
|
~1h 4m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 53.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). 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 28.4 miles on I 70. 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 Catonsville, 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 8.2 miles (MD 550 / Woodsboro Pike): Navigation decision point; at 41.4 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Monocacy National Battlefield, Antietam National Battlefield and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (5 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 Catonsville, 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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