Origin
North East, MD
Afternoon in North East on Saturday
Local time
3:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North East, MD to Bowie, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 36m
Distance
73.8 mi
119 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 29m
★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 42m
5 PM
1h 50m
8 PM
1h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North East, MD
Kelly
Bowie, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from North East, MD to Bowie, MD covers 73.8 miles and takes about 1h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, MD 3, I 97 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 31.2 miles on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.24 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.
Midpoint
36.9 miles from North East, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway | 31.2 mi | 36m |
| MD 3 | 10.8 mi | 16m |
| I 97 | 8.9 mi | 10m |
| Express Toll Lanes | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| Harbor Tunnel Thruway | 6 mi | 8m |
| Harbor Tunnel Throughway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| North East Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Baltimore Harbor Tunnel | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
— 31.2 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North East, MD and Bowie, MD.
1
Start on MD 272
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Mauldin Avenue
2
Continue on MD 272
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
North East Road
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 95 South: Baltimore
Use the slight right lane.
4
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
this road
Toward I 95 South: Baltimore
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
6
Merge onto I 95
31 mi
·
36 min
·
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 895
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
10
Continue on I 895
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Baltimore Harbor Tunnel
11
Continue on I 895
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 895
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
Harbor Tunnel Throughway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto Harbor Tunnel Throughway
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Exit 6
Toward Annapolis, Glen Burnie
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 97 South: Annapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 97
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
I 97
Use the straight lane.
16
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.
17
Turn right onto MD 197
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Collington Road
Use the left lane.
18
Turn left onto Evergreen Parkway
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Evergreen Parkway
19
Turn right
259 ft
·
20 sec
20
Turn left
110 ft
·
8 sec
21
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 36.9 miles from North East, MD, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.2 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 16 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.9 miles or 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bowie, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving North East, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from North East, MD
This is one driving day of about 73.8 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from North East, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway for about 31.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.9 miles from North East, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 34.8 and 62 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
34.8 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
Express Toll Lanes
Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
41.3 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
Express Toll Lanes
Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
9
50.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Keep slight right at fork onto Harbor Tunnel Throughway toward Annapolis, Glen Burnie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 6
Toward Annapolis, Glen Burnie
7
52.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 97 South: Annapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 97 South: Annapolis
8
62 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.24 one way
$24.47 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $13.40 | $26.80 |
| premium | $4.93 | $14.31 | $28.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.29 | $32.59 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.42
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
(6 mi)
$0.42
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.75 | $3.54 |
| Efficient EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.46 | $2.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.5 | 0 | $10.33 | $4.72 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Bowie, MD
Afternoon in Bowie on Saturday
Local time
3:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°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
2 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
1h 36m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potoma...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
$20
near mile 73.8
Caution: DC Water Sewer Overflow
Caution: Hiking in Gold Mine Tract
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 1h 36m drive with frequent turns across 73.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 31.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 34.8 miles in near Express Toll Lanes.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 34.8 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.3 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.4 miles (Harbor Tunnel Throughway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between North East, MD and Bowie, MD, road signs point toward Annapolis, Glen Burnie and Crofton.
Annapolis
50.4 mi in
|
~1h 3m
|
via Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Glen Burnie
50.4 mi in
|
~1h 3m
|
via Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Crofton
62 mi in
|
~1h 17m
|
via MD 3
About the Cities
Arriving in Bowie, MD
Full guide →Bowie is a suburban bedroom community of Washington, D.C. in Prince George's County, Maryland.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 73.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from North East, MD to Bowie, MD covers 73.8 miles and takes about 1h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, MD 3, I 97. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.9 miles from North East, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.24 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 73.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 34.8 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.3 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.4 miles (Harbor Tunnel Throughway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between North East, MD and Bowie, MD, road signs point toward Annapolis, Glen Burnie and Crofton.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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