How far is Baltimore, MD from Kensington, MD?

The driving distance from Baltimore, MD to Kensington, MD is about 36.5 miles (58.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 30.9 miles (49.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 38m 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
36.52 mi
00h 49m
Flight
30.87 mi
49.68 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Baltimore.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
30.87 mi
Kilometers
49.68 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
36.52 mi
Kilometers
58.78 km
Drive Time
00h 49m

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 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Kensington
Tue, May 26, 1:53 AM EDT
Return by in Baltimore
Tue, May 26, 2:43 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Baltimore
2026-05-26T01:04
Arrive Kensington
Tue, May 26, 1:53 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:49 AM to 10:49 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:52 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Baltimore
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
North Laurel
MD

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

From Baltimore
18.3 mi
00h 24m
To Kensington
18.3 mi
00h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Tuesday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 mph NE
Destination
76°F
Tuesday

Patchy Fog then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Baltimore and Kensington.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Baltimore and Kensington.

  1. 1

    Start on East Fayette Street

    149 m · 23 sec · East Fayette Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Saint Paul Street

    95 m · 11 sec · Saint Paul Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Light Street

    1913 ft · 1 min · Light Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto East Conway Street

    1625 ft · 52 sec · East Conway Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Cal Ripken Way

    1.1 km · 2 min · Cal Ripken Way

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 95 South: Washington

    1.2 km · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    24.6 mi · 29 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda, College Park

    1 km · 1 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 495 West: Silver Spring, Bethesda

    1.3 km · 2 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway

    6.4 mi · 8 min · Capital Beltway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward MD 185: Kensington, Chevy Chase

    2221 ft · 54 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on MD 185 North: Connecticut Avenue North, Kensington, Beach Drive

    88 m · 7 sec

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto Connecticut Avenue

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Connecticut Avenue

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Connecticut Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Baltimore and Kensington.

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
14 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
38.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 95 South
25.3 mi · 69%
Capital Beltway
6.4 mi · 18%
I 495 West
1.44 mi · 4%
Connecticut Avenue
1.37 mi · 4%
Cal Ripken Way
0.71 mi · 2%
MD 185
0.42 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 95 South

Merge slight left

24.6 mi · 00h 29m

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 49m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.6 mi
30.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
North Laurel
00h 24m from Baltimore
Leave By
4:52 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Baltimore and Patchy Fog then Chance Rain Showers near Kensington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Baltimore to Kensington?

The road trip is about 36.5 miles (58.8 km) and usually takes 00h 49m 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?

North Laurel is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18.3 miles from Baltimore and 18.3 miles from Kensington.

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

The direct path is about 30.9 miles (49.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.6 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 4:52 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.27 one way or $10.54 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Baltimore and Patchy Fog then Chance Rain Showers near Kensington.

Stop Ideas Near North Laurel

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around North Laurel, 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 North Laurel.

RAIL

BWI Rail Station

16 mi away
7 Amtrak Way
RAIL

New Carrollton station

21 mi away
4300 Garden City Drive
RAIL

Rockville station

25 mi away
251 Hungerford Drive at Park Rd.
RAIL

Washington Union Station

29 mi away
50 Massachusetts Ave NE

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Baltimore and Kensington. Straight-line distance: 30.87 mi (49.68 km).

Baltimore

#1 Baltimore

The thirty-first most populous city in the United States and the center of the Baltimore metropolitan area.

Population586,131
Coordinates39.2903800, -76.6121900
Altitude10
CountryUnited States
Kensington

#2 Kensington

Town in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States

Population2,330
Coordinates39.0256700, -77.0763700
Altitude87
CountryUnited States
Start: Baltimore (-76.61219, 39.29038)
End: Kensington (-77.07637, 39.02567)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 59 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 13m
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
1.29 gal
4.88 L · about $5.27
Round trip
$10.54
2.58 gal · 9.76 L
Estimated CO2
11.5 kg one way
Round trip: 22.9 kg / 50 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $5.27 $10.54
Mid-grade $4.60 $5.93 $11.87
Premium $4.95 $6.39 $12.78
Diesel $5.98 $7.71 $15.43

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 · May 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Baltimore and Kensington. The current time is 01:04:27.

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.