Origin
Catonsville, MD
Afternoon in Catonsville on Saturday
Local time
12:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Catonsville, MD to Annapolis, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
40m
Distance
30 mi
48 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Catonsville, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Annapolis, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Catonsville, MD to Annapolis, MD is 30 miles and takes about 40m via I 97, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, connecting two points in Maryland. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major highways, making it an easy option for a quick excursion or a convenient way to reach your destination without a significant time commitment. You'll find this route generally efficient for getting you from point A to point B.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 40m. Total distance: 30 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 55% of the journey on highways. You'll spend a good portion of your time on I 97 and the Baltimore Beltway, which are designed for faster travel. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 16.7 miles on I 97, offering a period of uninterrupted driving. As you approach Annapolis, the road character might shift slightly, but the primary feel is that of a consistent, accessible drive.
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.
I 97 is the longest continuous segment at about 16.7 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 7.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 30 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
7.1 mi into trip
|
~10m 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 left lane.
Exit 4
Toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
6
24.6 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis, Bay...
6
25.4 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis, Bay...
8
28 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward MD 70: Rowe Boulevard, Bestgate Road, Annapolis, Maryland Fire-Rescue Memorial, Historic Annapolis State Capital
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 24
Toward MD 70: Rowe Boulevard, Bestgate Road, An...
7
28.2 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 70 : Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MD 70 : Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis South
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Catonsville, MD and Annapolis, MD, road signs point toward Maryland Fire-Rescue Memorial, Historic Annapolis State Capital and Annapolis South.
Maryland Fire-Rescue Memorial
28 mi in
|
~36m
Historic Annapolis State Capital
28 mi in
|
~36m
Annapolis South
28.2 mi in
|
~36m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 97 | 16.7 mi | 19m |
| Baltimore Beltway | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| John Hanson Highway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Roscoe Rowe Boulevard | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Frederick Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Northwest Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| School Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 97
— 16.7 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Catonsville, MD and Annapolis, MD.
1
Start on this road
37 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto MD 144
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Frederick Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 695 South: Glen Burnie
4
Merge onto I 695
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 4
Toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
Use the slight left lane.
6
Continue on I 97
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
I 97
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 97
7.8 mi
·
8 min
·
I 97
Toward Bay Bridge
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
10
Merge onto US 50; US 301
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
John Hanson Highway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 24
Toward MD 70: Rowe Boulevard, Bestgate Road, Annapolis, Maryland Fire-Rescue Memorial, Historic Annapolis State Capital
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward MD 70 : Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis South
13
Turn straight onto MD 70
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Roscoe Rowe Boulevard
14
Keep slight right at fork onto Roscoe Rowe Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Roscoe Rowe Boulevard
15
Turn left onto Northwest Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Northwest Street
16
Enter roundabout onto School Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
School Street
17
Continue on School Street
137 ft
·
5 sec
·
School Street
18
Arrive at destination
School Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.97 one way
$9.95 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.45 | $10.89 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.82 | $11.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.62 | $13.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9 | 0 | $3.15 | $1.44 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12 | 0 | $4.20 | $1.92 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (60% 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
Annapolis, MD
Afternoon in Annapolis on Saturday
Local time
12:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
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
40m 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 Catonsville, MD to Annapolis, MD covers 30 miles and takes about 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 97, Baltimore Beltway, John Hanson Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15 miles from Catonsville, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.97 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 14 decision points packed into just 30 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Catonsville, MD and Annapolis, MD, road signs point toward Maryland Fire-Rescue Memorial, Historic Annapolis State Capital and Annapolis South.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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