Trip from College Park, MD to Elkridge, MD

Drive Time

35m

Distance

24.2 mi

39 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min
4 AM
0h 33m ★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 34m

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

Downtown College Park, MD, MD

College Park, MD

Styves Exantus

Downtown Elkridge, MD, MD

Elkridge, MD

Jonathan Borba

Trip Overview

Driving from College Park to Elkridge is a quick, straightforward 24.2-mile journey that typically takes about 35 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this trip works perfectly as a simple day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate via I-95, Baltimore Avenue, and Washington Boulevard. With a fuel budget of approximately $4, it is an economical route for commuters or weekend travelers alike. Both locations are situated within Maryland’s Northeast region, meaning you will remain in a familiar geographic area throughout the drive. It is a highly practical connection that gets you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

12.1 miles from College Park, MD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience, as roughly 67% of this route involves interstate travel. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel will be the 15.9-mile stretch on I-95, which serves as the backbone of the trip. While the interstate segments provide a fast, consistent pace, you will also navigate Baltimore Avenue and Washington Boulevard to reach your destination. This mix creates a functional drive that transitions from urban arterial roads to the higher speeds of the interstate. You won't find many technical turns or winding backroads here, making it a predictable and efficient path for those looking to avoid unnecessary complexity.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 15.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Washington Boulevard. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 1 / Baltimore Avenue.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 24.2 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 1 / Baltimore Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.8 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 1 / Baltimore Avenue

Turn right onto US 1 / Baltimore Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
6
2.8 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the ramp toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Silver Spring

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Silv...
7
3.8 mi into trip | ~9m in | I 95

Keep slight right at fork onto I 95 toward I-95 North: Baltimore

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left / none lanes. Toward I-95 North: Baltimore
7
19.7 mi into trip | ~27m in

Take the exit toward MD 100 East: Glen Burnie

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 43A Toward MD 100 East: Glen Burnie
7
20.7 mi into trip | ~28m in

Take the exit toward US 1 North: Elkridge

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Exit 6B Toward US 1 North: Elkridge

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from College Park, MD to Elkridge, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Silver Spring along the way.

Silver Spring

2.8 mi in | ~7m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 15.9 mi 18m
Washington Boulevard 3 mi 5m
Baltimore Avenue 2.7 mi 7m
Capital Beltway 0.8 mi <1m
MD 100 0.4 mi <1m
Old Washington Road 0.2 mi <1m
Knox Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 15.9 mi, about 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between College Park, MD and Elkridge, MD.

1

Start on Knox Road

272 ft · 15 sec · Knox Road
2

Turn right onto US 1

2.7 mi · 7 min · Baltimore Avenue
Use the none lane.
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Silver Spring Use the right lane.
4

Merge onto I 95; I 495

0.8 mi · 57 sec · Capital Beltway
5

Keep slight right at fork onto I 95

16 mi · 18 min · I 95
Toward I-95 North: Baltimore Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 53 sec
Exit 43A Toward MD 100 East: Glen Burnie Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Merge onto MD 100

0.4 mi · 29 sec · MD 100
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Exit 6B Toward US 1 North: Elkridge Use the right lane.
9

Turn straight onto US 1

3.0 mi · 5 min · Washington Boulevard
Use the none lane.
10

Turn right onto Old Washington Road

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Old Washington Road
11

Arrive at destination

Old Washington Road

Trip Plan

Since this is a short 35-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire distance without needing to plan for any stops, allowing you to head straight to your destination. Keep in mind that traffic patterns on I-95 can fluctuate, so checking real-time conditions before you leave is a smart move. With the fuel cost estimated at only $4, you don't need to worry about complex refueling logistics along the way. Prioritize a departure that avoids peak rush hours to ensure you maintain that 35-minute transit time, as the highway portions can become congested during morning and evening commutes.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 12.1 miles from College Park, MD, or about 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.9 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 24.2 miles or 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 12.1 miles or 18m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elkridge, MD than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving College Park, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from College Park, MD

This is one driving day of about 24.2 miles and 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from College Park, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 15.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 12.1 mi from College Park, MD · 18m into the drive

Downtown Vestal, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Vestal, NY

12 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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 12.1 miles from College Park, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Elkridge, MD

The final approach into Elkridge, MD usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Elkridge, MD.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.00 one way

$8.01 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 9 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $4.38 $8.76
premium $4.92 $4.69 $9.38
diesel $5.64 $5.38 $10.75

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 8.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7.3 0 $2.54 $1.16
Efficient EV 6.1 0 $2.12 $0.97
EV Truck/SUV 9.7 0 $3.39 $1.55

Gas CO2

8 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (63% 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 data refreshed 11 hours ago

Origin

College Park, MD

Evening in College Park on Sunday

Local time

6:50 PM

EDT

Current temp

88°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Elkridge, MD

Evening in Elkridge on Sunday

Local time

6:50 PM

EDT

Current temp

87°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

1 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

35m 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 College Park, MD to Elkridge, MD covers 24.2 miles and takes about 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Washington Boulevard, Baltimore Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.1 miles from College Park, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.00 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 demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 24.2 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 1 / Baltimore Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.8 miles (I 95): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from College Park, MD to Elkridge, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Silver Spring along the way.

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Return Trip

Elkridge, MD to College Park, MD

Plan the drive back the other way.

23.6 mi 38m

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