Origin
Catonsville, MD
Late night in Catonsville on Friday
Local time
3:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Catonsville, MD to Dunkirk Town Center, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
45.7 mi
74 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Catonsville, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Dunkirk Town Center, MD
Irina Iriser
Trip Overview
The drive from Catonsville, MD to Dunkirk Town Center, MD covers 45.7 miles and takes about 1h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on MD 3, I 97, Baltimore Beltway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.9 miles on MD 3. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.58 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 45.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Catonsville, MD to Dunkirk Town Center, MD covers 45.7 miles and takes about 1h 6m, 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 20 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 17.9 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 0.7 miles in near I 695 / Baltimore Beltway.
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 45.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 (I 695 / Baltimore Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.8 miles (MD 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 695 / Baltimore Beltway
Merge onto I 695 / Baltimore Beltway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
8
16.8 mi into trip
|
~21m 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
6
36.9 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the ramp toward MD 4 South
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward MD 4 South
6
45.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
Ward Road
Turn left onto Ward Road
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.
On the drive from Catonsville, MD to Dunkirk Town Center, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Crofton along the way.
Crofton
16.8 mi in
|
~21m
|
via MD 3
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MD 3 | 17.9 mi | 26m |
| I 97 | 8.9 mi | 10m |
| Baltimore Beltway | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| Southern Maryland Boulevard | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| Stephanie Roper Highway | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Old Crain Highway | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Marlboro Pike | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Frederick Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
MD 3
— 17.9 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Catonsville, MD and Dunkirk Town Center, 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 right at fork onto MD 3
18 mi
·
26 min
·
MD 3
Toward MD 32 West, MD 3 South: Bowie, Crofton
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left onto Village Drive West
229 ft
·
10 sec
·
Village Drive West
9
Turn right onto Old Crain Highway
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Old Crain Highway
10
Continue on Marlboro Pike
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Marlboro Pike
11
Turn right onto Green Landing Road
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Green Landing Road
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward MD 4 South
13
Merge onto MD 4
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Stephanie Roper Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on MD 4
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Southern Maryland Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto Ward Road
115 ft
·
8 sec
·
Ward Road
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto MD 4
441 ft
·
8 sec
·
Southern Maryland Boulevard
17
Turn slight right
171 ft
·
17 sec
18
Turn left
196 ft
·
16 sec
19
Turn right
467 ft
·
34 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.8 mi from Catonsville, MD · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.8 miles from Catonsville, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Dunkirk Town Center, MD
The final approach into Dunkirk Town Center, MD usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.58 one way
$15.15 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.30 | $16.60 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.86 | $17.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.09 | $20.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.80 | $2.19 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $4.00 | $1.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.40 | $2.92 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Dunkirk Town Center, MD
Late night in Dunkirk Town Center on Friday
Local time
3:50 AM
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
1h 6m 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 Dunkirk Town Center, MD covers 45.7 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MD 3, I 97, Baltimore Beltway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.8 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 $7.58 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 45.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 (I 695 / Baltimore Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.8 miles (MD 3): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Catonsville, MD to Dunkirk Town Center, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Return Trip
Dunkirk Town Center, MD to Catonsville, MDPlan the drive back the other way.
46 mi
1h 6m
Continue From Dunkirk Town Center, MD
More trips to Dunkirk Town Center, MD
Explore more options from Catonsville, MD or browse trips ending in Dunkirk Town Center, MD.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips.