Origin
Waldorf, MD
Night in Waldorf on Saturday
Local time
10:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waldorf, MD to Baltimore, 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 24m
Distance
56.2 mi
90 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waldorf, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to head from Waldorf to Baltimore, you are looking at a 56.2-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 24 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a quick day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. Budgeting around $9 for fuel should cover your travel costs, making this an economical excursion within Maryland. By utilizing a combination of Crain Highway, South East Crain Highway, and I-97, you can navigate between these two Northeast locations efficiently. Because the trip is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your personal schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Crain Highway | 19.2 mi | 28m |
| South East Crain Highway | 10.8 mi | 15m |
| I 97 | 10 mi | 11m |
| Robert Crain Highway | 7.1 mi | 11m |
| Baltimore-Washington Parkway | 4 mi | 5m |
| Baltimore Beltway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Russell Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Saint Patricks Drive | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Crain Highway
— 19.2 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waldorf, MD and Baltimore, MD.
1
Start on Lancaster Circle
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Lancaster Circle
2
At end of road, turn left onto Smallwood Drive West
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Smallwood Drive West
3
Turn left onto Saint Patricks Drive
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Saint Patricks Drive
4
Turn left onto US 301
6.2 mi
·
10 min
·
Crain Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 301
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Crain Highway
6
Continue on US 301
11 mi
·
15 min
·
South East Crain Highway
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on MD 3; MD 450
7.1 mi
·
11 min
·
Robert Crain Highway
8
Merge onto I 97
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
I 97
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto I 97
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 97
Exit 17A
Toward I 695 West: Baltimore, Towson
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 695
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Baltimore Beltway
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 7B
Toward MD 295 North: North Baltimore
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto MD 295
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on MD 295
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Russell Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on MD 295
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
South Paca Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn right onto West Baltimore Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Baltimore Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn left
281 ft
·
25 sec
17
At end of road, turn left onto East Fayette Street
212 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Fayette Street
18
Arrive at destination
East Fayette Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 28.1 miles from Waldorf, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 38.8 and 56.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
38.8 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
I 97
Merge onto I 97
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
47.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
I 97
Take the exit onto I 97 toward I 695 West: Baltimore, Towson
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 17A
Toward I 695 West: Baltimore, Towson
7
49.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward MD 295 North: North Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 7B
Toward MD 295 North: North Baltimore
5
50.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
|
MD 295 / Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Merge onto MD 295 / Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
56.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
|
East Fayette Street
At end of road, turn left onto East Fayette Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.32 one way
$18.63 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.20 | $20.41 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.90 | $21.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.41 | $24.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.90 | $2.70 |
| Efficient EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.92 | $2.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.87 | $3.60 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Baltimore, MD
Night in Baltimore on Saturday
Local time
10:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 24m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local driving experience as you transition away from Waldorf. Only about 25% of this trip is spent on highways, so you will spend most of your time navigating local roads rather than cruising on an interstate. Your longest uninterrupted stretch is a 19.2-mile segment on Crain Highway, which provides the most consistent pace of the entire drive. As you progress toward Baltimore, the road character shifts from local thoroughfares to the faster, more structured flow of I-97. Be prepared for a hands-on driving experience that requires more attention to turns than a typical highway-heavy commute.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.2 mi on Crain Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 38.8 miles in near I 97.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 38.8 miles (I 97): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.7 miles (I 97): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
235 ft
36 ft
Total Climb
170 ft
Total Descent
344 ft
Highest Point
235 ft
~8 mi in
Elevation Range
199 ft
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.
On the drive from Waldorf, MD to Baltimore, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Towson along the way.
Towson
47.7 mi in
|
~1h 9m
|
via I 97
About the Cities
Arriving in Baltimore, MD
Full guide →“Bodymore, Murderland” · Founded 1729
Slices of American history are around every corner in Baltimore. Maryland's largest city is a gritty old seaport town that's perhaps most famous as the site of Fort McHenry, where, at the height of the War of 1812, the sight of a tattered but defiant American flag flying over the harbor, despite a furious British bombardment, inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that was later adapted into the U.S. national anthem "Star-Spangled Banner". Nowadays, Baltimore's nonstop nightlife, temperate climate, tradition of hospitality (they don't call this place "Charm City" for nothing), and cultural attractions — not to mention its prime location on the juncture of Chesapeake Bay — made it one of the major tourist destinations of the Mid-Atlantic region.
Top landmarks
- • Johns Hopkins Hospital — hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- • Walters Art Museum — art museum in Baltimore, Maryland, US
- • Baltimore Museum of Art — art museum in Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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 24m. Total distance: 56.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.2 miles on Crain Highway. 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 Baltimore, 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 38.8 miles (I 97): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.7 miles (I 97): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Baltimore, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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