Origin
Bowie, MD
Morning in Bowie on Friday
Local time
9:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bowie, MD to Arlington, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
37.8 mi
61 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 6m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bowie, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, MD
RDNE Stock project
Trip Overview
The drive from Bowie, MD to Arlington, MD covers 37.8 miles and takes about 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Baltimore Beltway, I 97, Robert Crain Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 12 miles on Baltimore Beltway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.27 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 37.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Bowie, MD to Arlington, MD covers 37.8 miles and takes about 56m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Baltimore Beltway is the longest continuous segment at about 12 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 11.4 miles in near I 97.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 37.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.4 miles (I 97): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.4 miles (I 97): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
11.4 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 97
Merge onto I 97
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
20.4 mi into trip
|
~29m 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
8
33.5 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward MD 26: Liberty Road, Randallstown, Lochearn
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 18A-B
Toward MD 26: Liberty Road, Randallstown, Loche...
10
33.5 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 26 East: Liberty Road, Lochearn
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18A
Toward MD 26 East: Liberty Road, Lochearn
6
35.7 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
West Northern Parkway
Turn left onto West Northern Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bowie, MD and Arlington, MD, road signs point toward Towson, Randallstown and Lochearn.
Towson
20.4 mi in
|
~29m
|
via I 97
Randallstown
33.5 mi in
|
~47m
Lochearn
33.5 mi in
|
~47m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Beltway | 12 mi | 16m |
| I 97 | 10 mi | 11m |
| Robert Crain Highway | 7.1 mi | 11m |
| North East Crain Highway | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Liberty Road | 2 mi | 4m |
| West Northern Parkway | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Collington Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Jonquil Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Baltimore Beltway
— 12 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bowie, MD and Arlington, MD.
1
Start on this road
110 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
259 ft
·
20 sec
3
Turn left onto Evergreen Parkway
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Evergreen Parkway
4
Turn right onto MD 197
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Collington Road
5
Turn left onto US 301
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
North East Crain Highway
6
Continue on MD 3; MD 450
7.1 mi
·
11 min
·
Robert Crain Highway
7
Merge onto I 97
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
I 97
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
Merge onto I 695
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
394 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 18A-B
Toward MD 26: Liberty Road, Randallstown, Lochearn
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 18A
Toward MD 26 East: Liberty Road, Lochearn
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto MD 26
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Liberty Road
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto West Northern Parkway
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
West Northern Parkway
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto Jonquil Avenue
427 ft
·
19 sec
·
Jonquil Avenue
15
Turn left onto West Rogers Avenue
107 ft
·
5 sec
·
West Rogers Avenue
16
Turn right onto Jonquil Avenue
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Jonquil Avenue
17
At end of road, turn left onto Lewiston Avenue
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Lewiston Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Cuthbert Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.9 mi from Bowie, MD · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.9 miles from Bowie, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Arlington, MD
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Arlington, MD if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.27 one way
$12.53 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.86 | $13.73 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.33 | $14.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.35 | $16.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.97 | $1.81 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.31 | $1.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.29 | $2.42 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Arlington, MD
Morning in Arlington on Friday
Local time
9:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°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
3 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
56m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bowie, MD to Arlington, MD covers 37.8 miles and takes about 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Baltimore Beltway, I 97, Robert Crain Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.9 miles from Bowie, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.27 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 37.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.4 miles (I 97): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.4 miles (I 97): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Bowie, MD and Arlington, MD, road signs point toward Towson, Randallstown and Lochearn.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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