Trip from Kensington, MD to Catonsville, MD

Drive Time

45m

Distance

33 mi

53 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 11 min
4 AM
0h 42m ★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 43m

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

Downtown Kensington, MD, MD

Kensington, MD

David Kanigan

Downtown Catonsville, MD, MD

Catonsville, MD

Carly Dernetz

Trip Overview

The drive from Kensington, MD to Catonsville, MD covers 33 miles and takes about 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 95, Capital Beltway, Connecticut Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.1 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.46 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

16.5 miles from Kensington, MD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 23m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 45m highway drive covering 33 miles, with most of the trip on I 95 and Capital Beltway. The longest continuous stretch is about 19.1 miles on I 95.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 19.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Capital Beltway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.7 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 33 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 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

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

7
8.7 mi into trip | ~12m in

Take the exit toward I 95 North: Baltimore

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 27 Toward I 95 North: Baltimore
6
9 mi into trip | ~13m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: Baltimore, New York

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 95 North: Baltimore, New York
8
29.3 mi into trip | ~38m in

Take the exit toward I 195 East, MD 166: BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, Catonsville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 47A-B Toward I 195 East, MD 166: BWI Thurgood Marshal...
8
29.6 mi into trip | ~38m in

Keep slight left at fork toward MD 166: Catonsville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 47B Toward MD 166: Catonsville
8
30.9 mi into trip | ~40m in | MD 166

Keep slight right at fork onto MD 166 toward MD 166: Catonsville, Community College of Baltimore County

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward MD 166: Catonsville, Community College o...

Towns Along This Route

Between Kensington, MD and Catonsville, MD, road signs point toward New York and Community College Of Baltimore County.

New York

9 mi in | ~13m

Community College Of Baltimore County

30.9 mi in | ~40m | via MD 166

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 19.1 mi 22m
Capital Beltway 6.7 mi 8m
Connecticut Avenue 1.8 mi 3m
MD 166 1.1 mi 2m
Bloomsbury Avenue 1 mi 2m
Metropolitan Boulevard 0.9 mi <1m
Frederick Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 19.1 mi, about 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kensington, MD and Catonsville, MD.

1

Start on MD 185

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Connecticut Avenue
2

Continue on MD 185

1.6 mi · 3 min · Connecticut Avenue
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Toward I 495 East: Baltimore Use the right lane.
4

Merge onto I 495

6.7 mi · 8 min · Capital Beltway
Use the none lane.
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 27 Toward I 95 North: Baltimore Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork

1.1 mi · 2 min
Toward I 95 North: Baltimore, New York
7

Merge onto I 95

19 mi · 22 min · I 95
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 22 sec
Exit 47A-B Toward I 195 East, MD 166: BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, Catonsville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Exit 47B Toward MD 166: Catonsville Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10

Merge onto MD 166

0.9 mi · 56 sec · Metropolitan Boulevard
Use the none lane.
11

Keep slight right at fork onto MD 166

1.1 mi · 2 min · MD 166
Toward MD 166: Catonsville, Community College of Baltimore County Use the slight right lane.
12

Turn right onto Bloomsbury Avenue

1.0 mi · 2 min · Bloomsbury Avenue
13

Turn left onto MD 144

153 ft · 6 sec · Frederick Road
14

Turn right

37 ft · 2 sec
15

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

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 16.5 miles from Kensington, MD, or about 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.1 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 33 miles or 45m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 16.5 miles or 23m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 36m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Kensington, 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 Kensington, MD

This is one driving day of about 33 miles and 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kensington, 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 19.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 16.5 mi from Kensington, MD · 23m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

17 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 16.5 miles from Kensington, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Catonsville, MD

The final approach into Catonsville, 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 Catonsville, 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

$5.46 one way

$10.92 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $5.98 $11.95
premium $4.92 $6.39 $12.79
diesel $5.64 $7.33 $14.66

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$5

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$30–$55

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 11.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

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

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 9.9 0 $3.47 $1.58
Efficient EV 8.3 0 $2.89 $1.32
EV Truck/SUV 13.2 0 $4.62 $2.11

Gas CO2

12 kg

EV CO2

4 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 data refreshed 15 hours ago

Origin

Kensington, MD

Night in Kensington on Sunday

Local time

11:10 PM

EDT

Current temp

88°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Catonsville, MD

Night in Catonsville on Sunday

Local time

11:10 PM

EDT

Current temp

85°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

3 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

45m 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 Kensington, MD to Catonsville, MD covers 33 miles and takes about 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Capital Beltway, Connecticut 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 16.5 miles from Kensington, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.46 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 12 significant decision points across 33 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 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Kensington, MD and Catonsville, MD, road signs point toward New York and Community College Of Baltimore County.

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Return Trip

Catonsville, MD to Kensington, MD

Plan the drive back the other way.

32 mi 44m

Explore more options from Kensington, MD or browse trips ending in Catonsville, MD.

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