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

The driving distance from Poolesville, MD to South Bel Air, MD is about 84.7 miles (136.3 km), with a travel time of about 01h 39m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 63.6 miles (102.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 18m 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
84.69 mi
01h 39m
Flight
63.58 mi
102.33 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Poolesville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
63.58 mi
Kilometers
102.33 km
Flight Time
00h 07m

Driving Distance

Road route
84.69 mi
Kilometers
136.3 km
Drive Time
01h 39m

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 39m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in South Bel Air
Mon, Jul 27, 2:47 PM EDT
Return by in Poolesville
Mon, Jul 27, 4:26 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Poolesville
2026-07-27T13:07
Arrive South Bel Air
Mon, Jul 27, 2:47 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 39m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:39 AM to 11:39 AM EDT

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

Leave by
3:12 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Poolesville
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
Jessup
MD

Locality in Howard and Anne Arundel counties, Maryland, United States

From Poolesville
42.4 mi
00h 49m
To South Bel Air
42.3 mi
00h 49m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
Today

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, Jul 27 9:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 mph NW
Destination
86°F
Today

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, Jul 27 11:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Elgin Road

    18 m · 5 sec · Elgin Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Fisher Avenue

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Fisher Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on White Ferry Crossing

    1336 ft · 27 sec · White Ferry Crossing

  4. 4

    Continue on Whites Ferry Road

    2.4 mi · 4 min · Whites Ferry Road

  5. 5

    Turn straight onto Darnestown Road

    5.8 mi · 11 min · Darnestown Road

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Quince Orchard Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Quince Orchard Road

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Great Seneca Highway

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Great Seneca Highway

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Sam Eig Highway

    1.5 km · 2 min · Sam Eig Highway

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    2.2 mi · 3 min

  10. 10

    Continue on Intercounty Connector

    16.3 mi · 21 min · Intercounty Connector

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95: Laurel, Burtonsville

    2257 ft · 51 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on MD 198: Konterra Drive

    2986 ft · 39 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on MD 198: Laurel, Burtonsville

    1.5 km · 1 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on MD 198 West: Burtonsville

    2970 ft · 39 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left

    1.2 km · 50 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    11.7 mi · 14 min

  17. 17

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

    5.7 mi · 7 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway

  18. 18

    Continue on Harbor Tunnel Throughway

    1.6 km · 1 min · Harbor Tunnel Throughway

  19. 19

    Continue on Harbor Tunnel Thruway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway

  20. 20

    Continue on Baltimore Harbor Tunnel

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Baltimore Harbor Tunnel

  21. 21

    Continue on Harbor Tunnel Thruway

    3.7 mi · 5 min · Harbor Tunnel Thruway

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on Express Toll Lanes

    8.5 mi · 10 min · Express Toll Lanes

  23. 23

    Keep slight right

    91 m · 4 sec

  24. 24

    Merge slight right onto John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway

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

  25. 25

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

    1781 ft · 38 sec

  26. 26

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

    825 ft · 22 sec

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

    4.3 mi · 6 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

  28. 28

    Turn right onto West Ring Factory Road

    3105 ft · 2 min · West Ring Factory Road

  29. 29

    Turn left onto Emmorton Road

    3158 ft · 1 min · Emmorton Road

  30. 30

    Continue on South Main Street

    151 m · 18 sec · South Main Street

  31. 31

    Turn right onto East MacPhail Road

    1341 ft · 44 sec · East MacPhail Road

  32. 32

    Turn left onto South Shamrock Road

    1811 ft · 1 min · South Shamrock Road

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Shamrock Road

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
33 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
39 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Intercounty Connector
16.3 mi · 19%
MD 198 West
13 mi · 15%
Harbor Tunnel Thruway
8.76 mi · 10%
Express Toll Lanes
8.6 mi · 10%
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
7.34 mi · 9%
Darnestown Road
5.81 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

Intercounty Connector

Continue on Intercounty Connector

16.3 mi · 00h 21m

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 39m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.1 mi
63.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Jessup
00h 49m from Poolesville
Leave By
3:12 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Poolesville and Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near South Bel Air.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 84.7 miles (136.3 km) and usually takes 01h 39m 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?

Jessup is a useful midpoint, sitting about 42.4 miles from Poolesville and 42.3 miles from South Bel Air.

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

The direct path is about 63.6 miles (102.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.1 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 3:12 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $12.22 one way or $24.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 26.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Poolesville and Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near South Bel Air.

Stop Ideas Near Jessup

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Jessup and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 11.2 mi away

City of Bowie

Bowie , MD
8614 Chestnut Ave, Bowie, MD 20715
Museum
Baltimore City Hall
Meeting point 13.5 mi away

Baltimore City Hall

Baltimore , MD
100 Holliday St, Baltimore, MD 21202
Rating 4.0/5 63 reviews City government office
Town Hall Liquor And Bar
Nearby stop 14 mi away

Town Hall Liquor And Bar

College Park , MD
8135 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD 20740
Rating 4.3/5 319 reviews Liquor store,Bar

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

BWI Rail Station

8 mi away
7 Amtrak Way
RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

22 mi away
1515 North Charles Street
RAIL

New Carrollton station

23 mi away
4300 Garden City Drive
RAIL

Rockville station

33 mi away
251 Hungerford Drive at Park Rd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Poolesville and South Bel Air. Straight-line distance: 63.58 mi (102.33 km).

Poolesville

#1 Poolesville

Town in Maryland, United States

Population5,249
Coordinates39.1459400, -77.4169300
Altitude125
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: Elgin Road (-77.416798, 39.145908)
End: South Shamrock Road (-76.337354, 39.533192)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 136 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 49m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 41m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 24m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.99 gal
11.31 L · about $12.22
Round trip
$24.43
5.98 gal · 22.62 L
Estimated CO2
26.6 kg one way
Round trip: 53.1 kg / 117 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $12.22 $24.43
Mid-grade $4.60 $13.75 $27.50
Premium $4.95 $14.81 $29.62
Diesel $5.98 $17.88 $35.76

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 · Jul 27, 2026

There is no time difference between Poolesville and South Bel Air. The current time is 13:07:55.

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.