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Trip from Brooklyn, MD to Bowie, MD

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

37m

Distance

24.4 mi

39 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 34m ★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 36m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Brooklyn, MD, MD

Brooklyn, MD

Ramon Perucho

city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States

Bowie, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward drive from Brooklyn, MD to Bowie, MD covers 24.4 miles and should take about 37 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $4, it's an economical choice for a quick journey. The route primarily utilizes major roads like MD 3 and I-97, with Ritchie Highway also playing a part. Given its short length and focus on highway travel, you won't need to split this into an overnight stay. Both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, so expect familiar Maryland landscapes throughout your short but efficient trip.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 24.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

37m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with 81% of the route being on highways. You'll experience stretches of consistent speed, including one uninterrupted segment of 10.8 miles on MD 3. The drive transitions between different main roads like MD 3, I-97, and Ritchie Highway, offering a dynamic feel for a short distance. This route is designed for efficient travel, keeping you moving with minimal slowdowns.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MD 3 is the longest continuous segment at about 10.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MD 3 and I 97. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near MD 2 / Ritchie Highway.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 24.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.7 miles (MD 2 / Ritchie Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.6 miles (MD 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.7 mi into trip | ~2m in | MD 2 / Ritchie Highway

At end of road, turn left onto MD 2 / Ritchie Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
8
2.8 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the exit toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay Bridge

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 4 Toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
8
12.6 mi into trip | ~18m in | MD 3

Keep slight right at fork onto MD 3 toward MD 32 West, MD 3 South: Bowie, Crofton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward MD 32 West, MD 3 South: Bowie, Crofton
4
23.4 mi into trip | ~34m in | MD 197 / Collington Road

Turn right onto MD 197 / Collington Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
24.3 mi into trip | ~36m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

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 Brooklyn, MD to Bowie, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Crofton along the way.

Crofton

12.6 mi in | ~18m | via MD 3

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
MD 3 10.8 mi 16m
I 97 8.9 mi 10m
Ritchie Highway 1.3 mi 2m
Collington Road 0.7 mi 1m
Audrey Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
Baltimore Beltway 0.5 mi <1m
Evergreen Parkway 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: MD 3 — 10.8 mi, about 16m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Brooklyn, MD and Bowie, MD.

1

Start on this road

52 ft · 9 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto Audrey Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Audrey Avenue
3

At end of road, turn left onto MD 2

1.3 mi · 2 min · Ritchie Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward I 695 West: Towson
5

Merge onto I 695

0.5 mi · 41 sec · Baltimore Beltway
6

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Exit 4 Toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay Bridge Use the slight right lane.
7

Continue on I 97

8.9 mi · 10 min · I 97
Use the straight lane.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto MD 3

11 mi · 16 min · MD 3
Toward MD 32 West, MD 3 South: Bowie, Crofton Use the left lane.
9

Turn right onto MD 197

0.7 mi · 1 min · Collington Road
Use the left lane.
10

Turn left onto Evergreen Parkway

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Evergreen Parkway
11

Turn right

259 ft · 20 sec
12

Turn left

110 ft · 8 sec
13

Arrive at destination

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.05 one way

$8.09 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 9 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $4.43 $8.86
premium $4.93 $4.73 $9.46
diesel $5.61 $5.39 $10.77

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$4

Estimated CO2 emission: 8.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7.3 0 $2.56 $1.17
Efficient EV 6.1 0 $2.14 $0.98
EV Truck/SUV 9.8 0 $3.42 $1.56

Gas CO2

9 kg

EV CO2

3 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 Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Brooklyn, MD

Late night in Brooklyn on Friday

Local time

5:26 AM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bowie, MD

Late night in Bowie on Friday

Local time

5:26 AM

EDT

Current temp

68°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

5 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

37m 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 Brooklyn, MD to Bowie, MD covers 24.4 miles and takes about 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are MD 3, I 97, Ritchie Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 12.2 miles from Brooklyn, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.05 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 24.4 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (MD 2 / Ritchie Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.6 miles (MD 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

On the drive from Brooklyn, MD to Bowie, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Crofton along the way.

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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