How far is Arbutus, MD from South Bel Air, MD?

The driving distance from Arbutus, MD to South Bel Air, MD is about 36.4 miles (58.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 27.3 miles (43.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 32m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
36.38 mi
00h 46m
Flight
27.3 mi
43.93 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Arbutus.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
27.3 mi
Kilometers
43.93 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
36.38 mi
Kilometers
58.54 km
Drive Time
00h 46m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in South Bel Air
Thu, Apr 30, 10:50 AM EDT
Return by in Arbutus
Thu, Apr 30, 11:36 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Arbutus
2026-04-30T10:04
Arrive South Bel Air
Thu, Apr 30, 10:50 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:46 AM to 10:46 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:58 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Arbutus
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Rossville
MD

City in Walker County, Georgia, USA

From Arbutus
18.2 mi
00h 23m
To South Bel Air
18.1 mi
00h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
67°F
Today

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 9:00 AM EDT
Wind
13 mph NW
Destination
66°F
Today

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 9:00 AM EDT
Wind
13 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Arbutus and South Bel Air.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Arbutus and South Bel Air.

  1. 1

    Start on Shelbourne Road

    23 m · 6 sec · Shelbourne Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Linden Avenue

    2405 ft · 1 min · Linden Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East Drive

    1231 ft · 36 sec · East Drive

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Sulphur Spring Road

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Sulphur Spring Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Washington Boulevard

    960 ft · 30 sec · Washington Boulevard

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 695 West: Towson

    963 ft · 41 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Baltimore Beltway

    1313 ft · 20 sec · Baltimore Beltway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95 North: Baltimore

    3218 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    4.7 mi · 6 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    6.4 mi · 9 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Express Toll Lanes

    8.3 mi · 10 min · Express Toll Lanes

  12. 12

    Keep slight right

    91 m · 4 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight right onto John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway

    7.3 mi · 8 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward MD 24: Bel Air, Edgewood

    1781 ft · 38 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on MD 24 North: Bel Air

    825 ft · 22 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

    4.3 mi · 6 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

  17. 17

    Turn right onto West Ring Factory Road

    3105 ft · 2 min · West Ring Factory Road

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Emmorton Road

    3158 ft · 1 min · Emmorton Road

  19. 19

    Continue on South Main Street

    151 m · 18 sec · South Main Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto East MacPhail Road

    1341 ft · 44 sec · East MacPhail Road

  21. 21

    Turn left onto South Shamrock Road

    1811 ft · 1 min · South Shamrock Road

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Shamrock Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Arbutus and South Bel Air.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
22 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
60.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 95 North
11.7 mi · 32%
Express Toll Lanes
8.33 mi · 23%
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
7.34 mi · 20%
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
4.33 mi · 12%
Sulphur Spring Road
1.13 mi · 3%
Emmorton Road
0.6 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Express Toll Lanes

Keep slight left to continue on Express Toll Lanes

8.27 mi · 00h 10m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 46m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.1 mi
27.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rossville
00h 23m from Arbutus
Leave By
4:58 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Arbutus and Partly Sunny near South Bel Air.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Arbutus to South Bel Air?

The road trip is about 36.4 miles (58.5 km) and usually takes 00h 46m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Rossville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18.2 miles from Arbutus and 18.1 miles from South Bel Air.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 27.3 miles (43.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:58 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.23 one way or $10.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Arbutus and Partly Sunny near South Bel Air.

Stop Ideas Near Rossville

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Rossville, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Rossville.

RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

12 mi away
1515 North Charles Street
RAIL

BWI Rail Station

25 mi away
7 Amtrak Way
RAIL

Aberdeen

33 mi away
18 East Bel Air Ave.
BUS

Kent Island, MD

46 mi away
3206 Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Arbutus and South Bel Air. Straight-line distance: 27.3 mi (43.93 km).

Arbutus

#1 Arbutus

Census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States

Population20,483
Coordinates39.2545500, -76.6999700
Altitude46
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 South Bel Air

A census-designated place in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

Population48,828
Coordinates39.5331600, -76.3374600
Altitude109
CountryUnited States
Start: Shelbourne Road (-76.700117, 39.254645)
End: South Shamrock Road (-76.337354, 39.533192)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 59 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 43m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.28 gal
4.86 L · about $5.23
Round trip
$10.46
2.56 gal · 9.72 L
Estimated CO2
11.4 kg one way
Round trip: 22.8 kg / 50 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $5.23 $10.46
Mid-grade $4.60 $5.89 $11.77
Premium $4.95 $6.34 $12.68
Diesel $5.98 $7.65 $15.31

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Maryland · Apr 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Arbutus and South Bel Air. The current time is 10:04:09.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.