Origin
Towson, MD
Morning in Towson on Tuesday
Local time
8:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Towson, MD to Frederick, MD
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
53 mi
85 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Towson, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Frederick, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward connection between Towson and Frederick, this 53-mile journey is a practical choice for a quick getaway. The trip typically takes about 1 hour and 5 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a simple day trip that requires no overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $9 on fuel for the one-way trek. By utilizing the Baltimore Beltway, I-70, and York Road, you navigate through the heart of Maryland’s Northeast region. This route is designed for efficiency rather than leisure, serving as a direct link between the two areas. Since the entire drive is manageable in just over an hour, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your schedule without worrying about complex logistics.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 36.7 mi | 39m |
| Baltimore Beltway | 12.4 mi | 16m |
| York Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| East Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Carroll Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Patrick Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East South Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Buckeystown Pike | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 36.7 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Towson, MD and Frederick, MD.
1
Start on Shealy Avenue
198 ft
·
9 sec
·
Shealy Avenue
2
Turn right onto Delaware Avenue
265 ft
·
14 sec
·
Delaware Avenue
3
Turn right onto East Pennsylvania Avenue
356 ft
·
16 sec
·
East Pennsylvania Avenue
4
Turn right onto MD 45
476 ft
·
9 sec
·
York Road
5
Enter roundabout onto MD 45
287 ft
·
5 sec
·
York Road
6
Continue on MD 45
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
York Road
7
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 695 West: Pikesville
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 695
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 16A; 16B
Toward I 70 East, I 70 West: Local Traffic, Frederick
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 16A
Toward I 70 West: Frederick
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 70
14 mi
·
15 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
12 mi
·
12 min
·
I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 54
Toward MD 85: Buckeystown, Downtown Frederick
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
419 ft
·
10 sec
Toward Downtown Frederick, East Street
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn straight onto MD 85
426 ft
·
9 sec
·
Buckeystown Pike
17
Continue on East Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
East Street
18
Enter roundabout onto East Street
119 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Street
19
Continue on East Street
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
East Street
20
Turn left onto MD 144
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
East South Street
21
Turn right onto South Carroll Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
South Carroll Street
22
Turn left onto MD 144
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
East Patrick Street
23
Arrive at destination
MD 144
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 26.5 miles from Towson, 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 0.1 and 51.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Pennsylvania Avenue
Turn right onto East Pennsylvania Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
14.3 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward I 70 East, I 70 West: Local Traffic, Frederick
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 16A; 16B
Toward I 70 East, I 70 West: Local Traffic, Fre...
8
14.5 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 70 West: Frederick
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 16A
Toward I 70 West: Frederick
8
51.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward MD 85: Buckeystown, Downtown Frederick
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 54
Toward MD 85: Buckeystown, Downtown Frederick
9
51.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Downtown Frederick, East Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Downtown Frederick, East Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.79 one way
$17.57 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.62 | $19.25 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.28 | $20.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.70 | $23.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.5 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 | 15.9 | 0 | $5.56 | $2.54 |
| Efficient EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.64 | $2.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.42 | $3.39 |
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
Frederick, MD
Morning in Frederick on Tuesday
Local time
8:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
64°F
Columbia, 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
1 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 5m 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 trip is heavily highway-focused, with 69% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will quickly find yourself settling into a steady rhythm, particularly during the longest stretch of 36.7 miles along I-70. While the drive begins with local navigation via York Road and the Baltimore Beltway, the character of the road shifts once you merge onto the interstate. Expect a consistent, functional driving experience that prioritizes speed and directness over winding backroads. Because the majority of the route consists of high-speed highway travel, it feels more like a commuters' corridor than a scenic byway. Keep your focus sharp as you transition from local surface streets to the faster-paced interstate environment.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.7 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Baltimore Beltway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Pennsylvania Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53 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 0.1 miles (East Pennsylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Towson, MD
Full guide →Towson is an unincorporated city in Central Maryland. It is located directly north of Baltimore City and is the county seat of Baltimore County.
Arriving in Frederick, MD
Full guide →Frederick is a charming city of approximately 80,000 people (2020) in Maryland. It is a major antique center with many shops, eateries, galleries and antique dealers.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 53 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.7 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 Frederick, 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 0.1 miles (East Pennsylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Monocacy National Battlefield, Antietam National Battlefield and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (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 Frederick, 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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