Origin
South Bel Air, MD
Late night in South Bel Air on Monday
Local time
5:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Bel Air, MD to Thurmont, MD
Drive Time
1h 56m
Distance
76.2 mi
123 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 48m
★
6 AM
1h 57m
8 AM
2h 14m
10 AM
2h 3m
12 PM
2h 1m
3 PM
2h 3m
5 PM
2h 13m
8 PM
1h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Bel Air, MD
Da Khatri
Thurmont, MD
RDNE Stock project
Trip Overview
The drive from South Bel Air, MD to Thurmont, MD covers 76.2 miles and takes about 1h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East MacPhail Road, South Main Street, Emmorton Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.61 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
38.1 miles from South Bel Air, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 56m drive with frequent turns across 76.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East MacPhail Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from South Bel Air, MD to Thurmont, MD is easy. At 1h 56m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from South Bel Air, MD to Thurmont, MD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East MacPhail Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Emmorton Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Ring Factory Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 95 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| John F | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MD 43 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East MacPhail Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Bel Air, MD and Thurmont, MD.
1
Start on South Shamrock Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South Shamrock Road
2
At the end of the road, turn right onto East MacPhail Road
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
East MacPhail Road
3
Turn left onto South Main Street
495 ft
·
14 sec
·
South Main Street
4
Continue on Emmorton Road
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 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South: Baltimore
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95 South: Baltimore
8
Merge slight left onto John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
8.1 mi
·
9 min
·
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
9
Keep slight right to continue on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit slight right toward MD 43: White Marsh, Middle River
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
MD 43: White Marsh, Middle River
11
Keep slight right to continue on MD 43 West: White Marsh
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
MD 43 West: White Marsh
12
Merge slight left onto White Marsh Boulevard
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
White Marsh Boulevard
13
Merge slight right onto Baltimore Beltway
13 mi
·
17 min
·
Baltimore Beltway
14
Take the exit slight right toward MD 140: Pikesville, Garrison
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
MD 140: Pikesville, Garrison
15
Keep slight right to continue on MD 140 North: Garrison, Reisterstown
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
MD 140 North: Garrison, Reisterstown
16
Turn straight onto Reisterstown Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Reisterstown Road
17
Turn left onto McDonogh Road
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
McDonogh Road
18
Turn right onto Painters Mill Road
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Painters Mill Road
19
Turn left onto Lyons Mill Road
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Lyons Mill Road
20
Turn straight onto Liberty Road
22 mi
·
34 min
·
Liberty Road
21
Continue on Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
22
Turn right onto Woodsboro Road
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Woodsboro Road
23
Turn right onto Woodsboro Pike
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Woodsboro Pike
24
Continue on Woodsboro Pike
197 ft
·
5 sec
·
Woodsboro Pike
25
Turn right onto Woodsboro Creagerstown Road
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Woodsboro Creagerstown Road
26
Continue on Creagerstown Road
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Creagerstown Road
27
Turn right onto Jimtown Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Jimtown Road
28
Continue on East Main Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
29
Arrive at your 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 38.1 miles from South Bel Air, MD, or about 58m into the drive.
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 76.2 miles or 1h 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.1 miles or 58m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thurmont, 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 76.2 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from South Bel Air, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.1 mi from South Bel Air, MD · 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 76.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.1 miles from South Bel Air, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Thurmont, MD
The final approach into Thurmont, 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 Thurmont, 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
$12.61 one way
$25.22 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $13.80 | $27.59 |
| premium | $4.92 | $14.77 | $29.53 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $16.93 | $33.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.00 | $3.66 |
| Efficient EV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.67 | $3.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.5 | 0 | $10.67 | $4.88 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Destination
Thurmont, MD
Late night in Thurmont on Monday
Local time
5:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°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
21 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 56m 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 Thurmont, MD covers 76.2 miles and takes about 1h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East MacPhail Road, South Main Street, Emmorton Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.1 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 $12.61 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.
The drive from South Bel Air, MD to Thurmont, MD is easy. At 1h 56m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from South Bel Air, MD to Thurmont, MD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from South Bel Air, MD to Thurmont, MD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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