The drive from South Bel Air, MD to Long Beach, MD covers 93.8 miles and takes about 2h 17m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on MD 3, Southern Maryland Boulevard, North Solomons Island Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.9 miles on MD 3.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.55 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
46.9 miles from South Bel Air, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 93.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 17m drive with frequent turns across 93.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 38 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?
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 5.8 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 93.8 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 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.1 miles (Harbor Tunnel Throughway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
5.8 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South: Baltimore
6
14.6 mi into trip|~21m 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
30.1 mi into trip|~42m 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
31.8 mi into trip|~44m 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
41.7 mi into trip|~56m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between South Bel Air, MD and Long Beach, MD, road signs point toward Annapolis, Glen Burnie and Crofton.
Annapolis
30.1 mi in|~42m|via Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Glen Burnie
30.1 mi in|~42m|via Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Crofton
41.7 mi in|~56m|via MD 3
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MD 3
17.9 mi
26m
Southern Maryland Boulevard
10.2 mi
14m
North Solomons Island Road
9 mi
13m
I 97
8.9 mi
10m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
8.1 mi
9m
Express Toll Lanes
7.7 mi
9m
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
6 mi
8m
South Solomons Island Road
5.3 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
MD 3
— 17.9 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Bel Air, MD and Long Beach, MD.
1
Start on South Shamrock Road
0.3 mi·1 min·South Shamrock Road
2
At end of road, turn right onto East MacPhail Road
0.3 mi·44 sec·East MacPhail Road
3
Turn left onto MD 924
496 ft·14 sec·South Main Street
4
Continue on MD 924
0.6 mi·1 min·Emmorton Road
5
Turn right onto West Ring Factory Road
0.6 mi·1 min·West Ring Factory Road
6
Turn left onto MD 24
3.9 mi·5 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the left lane.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 South: BaltimoreUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 95
8.1 mi·9 min·John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes
6.5 mi·7 min·Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto Express Toll Lanes
1.2 mi·1 min·Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 895
3.8 mi·5 min·Harbor Tunnel Thruway
12
Continue on I 895
1.4 mi·2 min·Baltimore Harbor Tunnel
13
Continue on I 895
2.2 mi·3 min·Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 895
0.5 mi·39 sec·Harbor Tunnel Throughway
15
Keep slight right at fork onto Harbor Tunnel Throughway
1.7 mi·2 min·Harbor Tunnel Throughway
Exit 6Toward Annapolis, Glen BurnieUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
1.1 mi·1 min
Toward I 97 South: AnnapolisUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 97
8.9 mi·10 min·I 97
Use the straight lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 3
18 mi·26 min·MD 3
Toward MD 32 West, MD 3 South: Bowie, CroftonUse the left lane.
19
Turn left onto Village Drive West
229 ft·10 sec·Village Drive West
20
Turn right onto Old Crain Highway
1.1 mi·2 min·Old Crain Highway
21
Continue on Marlboro Pike
0.8 mi·1 min·Marlboro Pike
22
Turn right onto Green Landing Road
0.3 mi·37 sec·Green Landing Road
23
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward MD 4 South
24
Merge onto MD 4
3.1 mi·4 min·Stephanie Roper Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on MD 4
10 mi·14 min·Southern Maryland Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Continue on MD 2; MD 4
9.0 mi·13 min·North Solomons Island Road
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on MD 2; MD 4
5.3 mi·7 min·South Solomons Island Road
Use the left lane.
28
Turn left onto West End Boulevard
0.1 mi·20 sec·West End Boulevard
29
Turn right onto MD 765
1.4 mi·2 min·Saint Leonard Road
30
Enter roundabout onto Calvert Beach Road
145 ft·3 sec·Calvert Beach Road
31
Continue on Calvert Beach Road
1.5 mi·3 min·Calvert Beach Road
32
Turn slight right onto Bayview Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Bayview Avenue
33
Continue on Valley Drive
0.2 mi·49 sec·Valley Drive
34
Turn left onto Elm Road
425 ft·18 sec·Elm Road
35
Turn right onto South Harbor Drive
0.1 mi·26 sec·South Harbor Drive
36
Turn left onto Long Beach Drive
0.2 mi·43 sec·Long Beach Drive
37
Turn right onto Bayview Road
141 ft·6 sec·Bayview Road
38
Arrive at destination
Bayview Road
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 46.9 miles from South Bel Air, MD, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.9 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 21 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.9 miles or 1h 3m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Long Beach, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving South Bel Air, 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 South Bel Air, MD
This is one driving day of about 93.8 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from South Bel Air, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on MD 3 for about 17.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 46.9 mi from South Bel Air, MD
· 1h 3m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Harriet Tubman was a deeply spiritual woman who lived her ideals and dedicated her life to freedom. She is the Underground Railroad’s best known conductor and before the Civil War repeatedly risked he...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 93.8
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...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
$20
near mile 51.7
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.1
0
$9.85
$4.50
Efficient EV
23.5
0
$8.21
$3.75
EV Truck/SUV
37.5
0
$13.13
$6.00
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
South Bel Air, MD
Night
in South Bel Air on Thursday
Local time
9:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Long Beach, MD
Night
in Long Beach on Thursday
Local time
9:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°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
33 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
2h 17m 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 South Bel Air, MD to Long Beach, MD covers 93.8 miles and takes about 2h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MD 3, Southern Maryland Boulevard, North Solomons Island Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 46.9 miles from South Bel Air, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.55 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 24 significant decision points across 93.8 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 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles (Express Toll Lanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.1 miles (Harbor Tunnel Throughway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between South Bel Air, MD and Long Beach, MD, road signs point toward Annapolis, Glen Burnie and Crofton.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park and Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
