How far is Towson, MD from Frederick, MD?

The driving distance from Towson, MD to Frederick, MD is about 52.7 miles (84.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 43.2 miles (69.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 54m 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
52.69 mi
00h 57m
Flight
43.18 mi
69.49 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Towson.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
43.18 mi
Kilometers
69.49 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
52.69 mi
Kilometers
84.79 km
Drive Time
00h 57m

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 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Frederick
Wed, Apr 22, 10:09 PM EDT
Return by in Towson
Wed, Apr 22, 11:06 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Towson
2026-04-22T21:12
Arrive Frederick
Wed, Apr 22, 10:09 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:57 AM to 10:57 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:36 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Towson
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
Sykesville
MD

Town in Carroll County, Maryland, United States

From Towson
26.5 mi
00h 28m
To Frederick
26.2 mi
00h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Today

Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 11:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 mph W
Destination
71°F
Wednesday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Towson and Frederick.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Towson and Frederick.

  1. 1

    Start on Shealy Avenue

    60 m · 9 sec · Shealy Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Delaware Avenue

    81 m · 15 sec · Delaware Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East Pennsylvania Avenue

    109 m · 17 sec · East Pennsylvania Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto York Road

    145 m · 8 sec · York Road

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward Towson Roundabout

    87 m · 5 sec · York Road

  6. 6

    Exit the rotary onto York Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · York Road

  7. 7

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 695 West: Pikesville

    3034 ft · 2 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Baltimore Beltway

    12.4 mi · 17 min · Baltimore Beltway

  9. 9

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

    829 ft · 17 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 70 West: Frederick

    2891 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    14.1 mi · 15 min

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    11.8 mi · 13 min

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    10.8 mi · 12 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward MD 85: Buckeystown, Downtown Frederick

    758 ft · 19 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on Downtown Frederick, East Street

    128 m · 10 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto Buckeystown Pike

    130 m · 9 sec · Buckeystown Pike

  17. 17

    Continue on East Street

    773 ft · 15 sec · East Street

  18. 18

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward East Street

    36 m · 2 sec · East Street

  19. 19

    Exit the roundabout onto East Street

    1640 ft · 33 sec · East Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto East South Street

    610 ft · 24 sec · East South Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto South Carroll Street

    1280 ft · 43 sec · South Carroll Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto East Patrick Street

    812 ft · 25 sec · East Patrick Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Patrick Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Towson and Frederick.

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
23 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
2 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
43.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 70 West
37.2 mi · 71%
Baltimore Beltway
12.4 mi · 24%
York Road
1.1 mi · 2%
I 695 West
0.57 mi · 1%
East Street
0.48 mi · 1%
South Carroll Street
0.24 mi
Longest Stretch

I 70 West

Merge slight left

14.1 mi · 00h 15m

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 57m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.5 mi
43.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Sykesville
00h 28m from Towson
Leave By
4:36 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Towson and Rain Showers Likely near Frederick.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Towson to Frederick?

The road trip is about 52.7 miles (84.8 km) and usually takes 00h 57m 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?

Sykesville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 26.5 miles from Towson and 26.2 miles from Frederick.

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

The direct path is about 43.2 miles (69.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.5 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 4:36 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.60 one way or $15.20 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 16.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Towson and Rain Showers Likely near Frederick.

Stop Ideas Near Sykesville

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

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

RAIL

Pennsylvania Station

31 mi away
1515 North Charles Street
RAIL

BWI Rail Station

31 mi away
7 Amtrak Way
BUS

Frederick Airport, MD

36 mi away
1341 Hughes Ford Road
RAIL

Rockville station

36 mi away
251 Hungerford Drive at Park Rd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Towson and Frederick. Straight-line distance: 43.18 mi (69.49 km).

Towson

#1 Towson

Suburb of Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Population55,197
Coordinates39.4015000, -76.6019100
Altitude141
CountryUnited States
Frederick

#2 Frederick

The second most populous city in Frederick County, Maryland.

Population73,308
Coordinates39.4142700, -77.4105400
Altitude87
CountryUnited States
Start: Shealy Avenue (-76.601898, 39.401255)
End: East Patrick Street (-77.410551, 39.414165)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 85 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 19m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.86 gal
7.04 L · about $7.60
Round trip
$15.20
3.72 gal · 14.08 L
Estimated CO2
16.5 kg one way
Round trip: 33.1 kg / 73 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $7.60 $15.20
Mid-grade $4.60 $8.55 $17.11
Premium $4.95 $9.21 $18.43
Diesel $5.98 $11.12 $22.25

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Towson and Frederick. The current time is 21:12:21.

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.