The drive from Westphalia, MD to South Bel Air, MD covers 65.6 miles and takes about 1h 33m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Baltimore-Washington Parkway, Express Toll Lanes, Capital Beltway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.3 miles on Baltimore-Washington Parkway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.88 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
32.8 miles from Westphalia, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 65.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Westphalia, MD to South Bel Air, MD covers 65.6 miles and takes about 1h 33m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Baltimore-Washington Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 21.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 65.6 miles you will encounter 20 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 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2.7 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 North, I 495 North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 95 North, I 495 North
8
11.5 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the exit toward MD 295 North: BWI Marshall Airport, Baltimore North, Baltimore-Washington Parkway
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 22A
Toward MD 295 North: BWI Marshall Airport, Balt...
9
11.8 mi into trip|~19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 295 North: Baltimore, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward MD 295 North: Baltimore, Baltimore/Washi...
8
58.9 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward MD 24: Bel Air, Edgewood
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 77A
Toward MD 24: Bel Air, Edgewood
7
59.2 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 24 North: Bel Air
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward MD 24 North: Bel Air
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Westphalia, MD and South Bel Air, MD, road signs point toward Baltimore North, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Edgewood.
Baltimore North
11.5 mi in|~18m
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
11.8 mi in|~19m
Edgewood
58.9 mi in|~1h 21m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Baltimore-Washington Parkway
21.3 mi
29m
Express Toll Lanes
8.5 mi
9m
Capital Beltway
8.3 mi
11m
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
7.3 mi
8m
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
7 mi
10m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
4.3 mi
6m
Ritchie Marlboro Road
2.3 mi
4m
Baltimore Harbor Tunnel
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Baltimore-Washington Parkway
— 21.3 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Westphalia, MD and South Bel Air, MD.
1
Start on Altair Lane
0.2 mi·42 sec·Altair Lane
2
Turn left onto Polaris Drive
0.1 mi·34 sec·Polaris Drive
3
Turn left onto Orion Lane
0.2 mi·42 sec·Orion Lane
4
Turn right onto Ritchie Marlboro Road
1.9 mi·3 min·Ritchie Marlboro Road
5
Turn left onto Ritchie Marlboro Road
0.3 mi·40 sec·Ritchie Marlboro Road
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 North, I 495 NorthUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 95; I 495
8.3 mi·11 min·Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 22AToward MD 295 North: BWI Marshall Airport, Baltimore North, Baltimore-Washington ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward MD 295 North: Baltimore, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall AirportUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto Baltimore-Washington Parkway
21 mi·29 min·Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 895 North: Baltimore Harbor Tunnel ThruwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 895
1.1 mi·1 min·Harbor Tunnel Thruway
13
Continue on I 895
1.0 mi·1 min·Harbor Tunnel Throughway
14
Continue on I 895
2.2 mi·3 min·Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 895
1.4 mi·2 min·Baltimore Harbor Tunnel
16
Continue on I 895
3.7 mi·5 min·Harbor Tunnel Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 895
8.5 mi·9 min·Express Toll Lanes
Use the slight left lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork
297 ft·3 sec
19
Merge onto I 95
7.3 mi·8 min·John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 77AToward MD 24: Bel Air, EdgewoodUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward MD 24 North: Bel AirUse the slight left lane.
22
Turn left onto MD 24
4.3 mi·6 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto West Ring Factory Road
0.6 mi·1 min·West Ring Factory Road
Use the right lane.
24
Turn left onto MD 924
0.6 mi·1 min·Emmorton Road
25
Continue on MD 924
496 ft·17 sec·South Main Street
26
Turn right onto East MacPhail Road
0.3 mi·44 sec·East MacPhail Road
27
Turn left onto South Shamrock Road
0.3 mi·1 min·South Shamrock Road
28
Arrive at destination
South Shamrock 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 32.8 miles from Westphalia, MD, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21.3 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 14 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.8 miles or 47m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Bel Air, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Westphalia, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Westphalia, MD
This is one driving day of about 65.6 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Westphalia, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Baltimore-Washington Parkway for about 21.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 32.8 mi from Westphalia, MD
· 47m 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.
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...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
$20
near mile 11.3
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.7
0
$6.89
$3.15
Efficient EV
16.4
0
$5.74
$2.62
EV Truck/SUV
26.2
0
$9.18
$4.20
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Forecast as of Apr 12, 2026
Origin
Westphalia, MD
Night
in Westphalia on Thursday
Local time
9:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
South Bel Air, MD
Night
in South Bel Air on Thursday
Local time
9:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°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
38 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 33m 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 Westphalia, MD to South Bel Air, MD covers 65.6 miles and takes about 1h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Baltimore-Washington Parkway, Express Toll Lanes, Capital Beltway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32.8 miles from Westphalia, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.88 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 65.6 miles you will encounter 20 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 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Westphalia, MD and South Bel Air, MD, road signs point toward Baltimore North, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Edgewood.
