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

The driving distance from Beltsville, MD to South Bel Air, MD is about 53.6 miles (86.2 km), with a travel time of about 01h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 46 miles (74 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 07m 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
53.57 mi
01h 03m
Flight
45.99 mi
74.01 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Beltsville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
45.99 mi
Kilometers
74.01 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
53.57 mi
Kilometers
86.21 km
Drive Time
01h 03m

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 01h 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in South Bel Air
Thu, Oct 15, 2:08 PM EDT
Return by in Beltsville
Thu, Oct 15, 3:12 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Beltsville
2026-10-15T13:05
Arrive South Bel Air
Thu, Oct 15, 2:08 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:04 AM to 11:04 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:22 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Beltsville
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
Dundalk
MD

Census-designated place in Maryland, United States

From Beltsville
27.5 mi
00h 31m
To South Bel Air
26.1 mi
00h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
65°F
Thursday

Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph NE
Destination
66°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny then Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Powder Mill Road

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Powder Mill Road

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Powder Mill Road

    911 ft · 27 sec · Powder Mill Road

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 95 North: Baltimore

    1.2 km · 1 min

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    15.9 mi · 18 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 895 North: Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thruway

    5.7 mi · 7 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway

  6. 6

    Continue on Harbor Tunnel Throughway

    1.6 km · 1 min · Harbor Tunnel Throughway

  7. 7

    Continue on Harbor Tunnel Thruway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway

  8. 8

    Continue on Baltimore Harbor Tunnel

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Baltimore Harbor Tunnel

  9. 9

    Continue on Harbor Tunnel Thruway

    3.7 mi · 5 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Express Toll Lanes

    8.5 mi · 10 min · Express Toll Lanes

  11. 11

    Keep slight right

    91 m · 4 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight right onto John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway

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

  13. 13

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

    1781 ft · 38 sec

  14. 14

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

    825 ft · 22 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

    4.3 mi · 6 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

  16. 16

    Turn right onto West Ring Factory Road

    3105 ft · 2 min · West Ring Factory Road

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Emmorton Road

    3158 ft · 1 min · Emmorton Road

  18. 18

    Continue on South Main Street

    151 m · 18 sec · South Main Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto East MacPhail Road

    1341 ft · 44 sec · East MacPhail Road

  20. 20

    Turn left onto South Shamrock Road

    1811 ft · 1 min · South Shamrock Road

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Shamrock Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Beltsville 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
21 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
39.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 95 North
16.7 mi · 31%
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
8.76 mi · 16%
Express Toll Lanes
8.6 mi · 16%
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
7.34 mi · 14%
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
4.33 mi · 8%
I 895 North
2.85 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

I 95 North

Merge slight left

15.9 mi · 00h 18m

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
01h 03m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.6 mi
46 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Dundalk
00h 31m from Beltsville
Leave By
4:22 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Rain Showers leaving Beltsville and Mostly Sunny then Rain Showers Likely near South Bel Air.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 53.6 miles (86.2 km) and usually takes 01h 03m 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?

Dundalk is a useful midpoint, sitting about 27.5 miles from Beltsville and 26.1 miles from South Bel Air.

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

The direct path is about 46 miles (74 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.6 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 4:22 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $8.01 one way or $16.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 16.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers around Beltsville and Mostly Sunny then Rain Showers Likely near South Bel Air.

Stop Ideas Near Dundalk

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

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

RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

11 mi away
1515 North Charles Street
RAIL

BWI Rail Station

16 mi away
7 Amtrak Way
BUS

Kent Island, MD

40 mi away
3206 Main Street
RAIL

Aberdeen

42 mi away
18 East Bel Air Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Beltsville and South Bel Air. Straight-line distance: 45.99 mi (74.01 km).

Beltsville

#1 Beltsville

Census designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States

Population16,772
Coordinates39.0348300, -76.9074700
Altitude41
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: Powder Mill Road (-76.907439, 39.034851)
End: South Shamrock Road (-76.337354, 39.533192)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 86 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 40m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.89 gal
7.16 L · about $8.01
Round trip
$16.03
3.78 gal · 14.32 L
Estimated CO2
16.8 kg one way
Round trip: 33.6 kg / 74 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.24 $8.01 $16.03
Mid-grade $4.84 $9.15 $18.30
Premium $5.15 $9.73 $19.45
Diesel $6.36 $12.02 $24.05

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 · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Beltsville and South Bel Air. The current time is 13:05:14.

Distance to Other Cities

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