How far is South Bel Air, MD from La Vale, MD?

The driving distance from South Bel Air, MD to La Vale, MD is about 170.3 miles (274.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 131.9 miles (212.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 44m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
170.3 mi
03h 22m
Flight
131.94 mi
212.34 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from South Bel Air.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
131.94 mi
Kilometers
212.34 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
170.3 mi
Kilometers
274.07 km
Drive Time
03h 22m

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 03h 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in La Vale
Wed, Sep 23, 4:12 PM EDT
Return by in South Bel Air
Wed, Sep 23, 7:34 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave South Bel Air
2026-09-23T12:50
Arrive La Vale
Wed, Sep 23, 4:12 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:22 AM to 11:22 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:16 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in South Bel Air
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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
Braddock Heights
MD

Town in Frederick County, Maryland, United States

From South Bel Air
84.9 mi
01h 41m
To La Vale
85.4 mi
01h 41m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
65°F
Wednesday

Chance Light Rain then Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Sep 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
14 mph NE
Destination
60°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Light Rain then Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Sep 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South Shamrock Road

    1811 ft · 1 min · South Shamrock Road

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto East MacPhail Road

    1341 ft · 45 sec · East MacPhail Road

  3. 3

    Turn left onto South Main Street

    151 m · 14 sec · South Main Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Emmorton Road

    3158 ft · 1 min · Emmorton Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto West Ring Factory Road

    3105 ft · 2 min · West Ring Factory Road

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

    3.9 mi · 6 min · Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South: Baltimore

    1 km · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway

    8.1 mi · 9 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Express Toll Lanes

    6.5 mi · 8 min · Express Toll Lanes

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Express Toll Lanes

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Express Toll Lanes

  11. 11

    Merge slight right

    3.9 mi · 5 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right

    7 mi · 9 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 695 West: Towson

    3248 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Baltimore Beltway

    4.6 mi · 6 min · Baltimore Beltway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 70: Frederick, Local Traffic

    951 ft · 23 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 70 West: Frederick

    1.3 km · 2 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    14.1 mi · 15 min

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    11.8 mi · 13 min

  19. 19

    Continue straight

    64.3 mi · 1 hr 9 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on US 40, I 68: Cumberland

    36.8 mi · 40 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown

    943 ft · 23 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight right

    46 m · 6 sec

  23. 23

    Turn slight right onto West Harrison Street

    13 m · 6 sec · West Harrison Street

  24. 24

    Turn left onto South Centre Street

    1.1 mi · 3 min · South Centre Street

  25. 25

    Turn slight right onto North Mechanic Street

    114 m · 15 sec · North Mechanic Street

  26. 26

    Continue on National Highway

    1.1 mi · 3 min · National Highway

  27. 27

    Keep slight left to continue on National Highway

    1.6 mi · 3 min · National Highway

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Bridge Street

    23 m · 3 sec · Bridge Street

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Bridge Street

Car Route Details

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

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
29 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
4 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 70 West
91 mi · 53%
US 40
36.8 mi · 22%
Express Toll Lanes
18.5 mi · 11%
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
8.15 mi · 5%
Baltimore Beltway
4.6 mi · 3%
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
3.91 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 70 West

Continue straight

64.3 mi · 01h 09m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 22m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+38.4 mi
131.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Braddock Heights
01h 41m from South Bel Air
Leave By
10:16 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Light Rain then Cloudy leaving South Bel Air and Slight Chance Light Rain then Cloudy near La Vale.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 170.3 miles (274.1 km) and usually takes 03h 22m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Braddock Heights is a useful midpoint, sitting about 84.9 miles from South Bel Air and 85.4 miles from La Vale.

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

The direct path is about 131.9 miles (212.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.4 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:16 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.37 one way or $50.75 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 53.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain then Cloudy around South Bel Air and Slight Chance Light Rain then Cloudy near La Vale.

Stop Ideas Near Braddock Heights

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

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

RAIL

Frederick, MD

8 mi away
100 South East Street
BUS

Frederick Airport, MD

10 mi away
1341 Hughes Ford Road
RAIL

Harpers Ferry

22 mi away
Potomac St. & Shenandoah St.
BUS

Hagerstown, MD

31 mi away
123 West Franklin Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between South Bel Air and La Vale. Straight-line distance: 131.94 mi (212.34 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 South Bel Air

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

Population48,828
Coordinates39.5331600, -76.3374600
Altitude109
CountryUnited States
La Vale

#2 La Vale

Census designated place

Population3,551
Coordinates39.6556400, -78.8105800
Altitude239
CountryUnited States
Start: South Bel Air (-76.33746, 39.53316)
End: La Vale (-78.81058, 39.65564)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 274 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 40m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 15m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 50m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 07m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.01 gal
22.75 L · about $25.37
Round trip
$50.75
12.02 gal · 45.5 L
Estimated CO2
53.4 kg one way
Round trip: 106.8 kg / 235 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.22 $25.37 $50.75
Mid-grade $4.84 $29.06 $58.13
Premium $5.18 $31.11 $62.23
Diesel $6.49 $39.03 $78.06

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 · Sep 23, 2026

There is no time difference between South Bel Air and La Vale. The current time is 12:50:45.

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.