I drive this route frequently. I take the ICC to 29. Then 29 to 40 and then 695. I go to Towson so I'm not sure how long it would take to go to JHU.

The bottleneck is 40 to 695. The on ramp merges to one lane. It takes me about 1:15min to get to Towson at 6:30am or 3pm. It takes about 2 hrs if I leave Rockville at 4pm because of the traffic on 695.

Columbia and N Silver Spring traffic can get heavy depending on the time.

29 speed limit is probably 50mph. It will probably take you an 1:30 vs an hour.

Yeah, the obvious option is the main roads--495 to 95--but I was curious how 29 to 40 was, thanks for your input!

It's for a vet appointment, so our route may depend on how distressed the pet is by the travel. Maybe we will take the interstates up and the more leisurely route back. It's helpful to know that I have a couple of options that would work, thank you!

Are you headed to Hopkins hospital or university?

29 to 40 would get you there, but not sure how traffic is. Will you be traveling during rush hour?

29 is more relaxing but you have traffic lights, just allow extra time

Are you willing to drive on 495? Because you could take that to 95 north to MLK parkway and then through the city to Hopkins. 29 would take you to 40. Or you could take 70 to 83?

29 is much more relaxing than the other option.

695 is not bad

I’ve never done 40

I’d do 29, to 200 to 95 N
Or
29 to 695

I have to drive to Baltimore (Hopkins) in a few weeks. It's been many years since I drove on the Beltway or interstate and I'm dreading it. I've never driven in Baltimore.

For folks who know the drive, Google Maps shows a possible route that goes 495 from VA to 29 in MD up to Baltimore. How is that route? And it looks like you can take 40 into the city, or is 695 much better? Any insight a driver with more experience can give me would be appreciated!