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Maryland · Chesapeake Bay Bridge

Find a quieter time to cross the Bay Bridge.

Compare recorded travel-time estimates from the last 30 days, hour by hour. Plan the trip toward Kent Island or the drive back to Annapolis, then check conditions before you leave.

Eastbound → Kent Island

US 50: west approach to MD 8

9min

Westbound → Annapolis

US 50: Kent Island to west approach

7min

Traffic measured · Includes approaches.

Full traffic update →

Explore travel times by hour

Choose a day and direction. Times are Eastern; values include the approaches to the bridge.

Mon–Thu: hourly median travel times
Lowest hourly median
10min
Highest hourly median
14min

Mon–Thu · Eastbound toward Kent Island · 24 of 24 hours have enough observations.

Hourly travel-time table · 24 hours
Hourly medians of recorded route estimates in minutes. Missing observations are marked as not enough data.
Hour (Eastern)Travel time
12:00 AM10 min
1:00 AM10 min
2:00 AM10 min
3:00 AM10 min
4:00 AM10 min
5:00 AM10 min
6:00 AM10 min
7:00 AM10 min
8:00 AM10 min
9:00 AM11 min
10:00 AM11 min
11:00 AM11 min
12:00 PM11 min
1:00 PM11 min
2:00 PM11 min
3:00 PM14 min
4:00 PM12 min
5:00 PM11 min
6:00 PM11 min
7:00 PM10 min
8:00 PM10 min
9:00 PM10 min
10:00 PM10 min
11:00 PM10 min

MDTA’s recommended weekend windows

These are MDTA’s general weekend recommendations, with all times Eastern. For holiday weekends, check the latest MDTA advisory: the recommended windows can differ.

Recommended weekend travel windows, all times Eastern.
DayEastbound → Kent IslandWestbound → Annapolis
FridayBefore 9 AM or after 8 PMBefore 9 AM or after 7 PM
SaturdayBefore 7 AM or after 7 PMBefore 9 AM or after 7 PM
SundayBefore 10 AM or after 7 PMBefore 11 AM or after 10 PM

Source: MDTA best times to travel. Reviewed September 7, 2026. Stay on US 50 and follow posted traffic instructions.

What the numbers mean

Each value is the median of recorded Mapbox traffic estimates for that hour over a rolling 30-day window, rounded to a whole minute. These are route estimates, not timed trips by individual drivers. Monday–Thursday are grouped; Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are separate. Times include the approach roads, not just the bridge span. They show total travel time, not extra minutes of delay.

A pattern, not a prediction

An hour needs at least four samples to appear; those samples may come from the same day. They are collected when traffic data is requested, so busy periods can be overrepresented. Patterns refresh about every 30 minutes. If a day has fewer than six usable hours in your direction, the chart uses all days combined and labels that change. Missing hours stay blank.

Crashes, holiday traffic, and wind restrictions can change your trip. Check live traffic cameras and the latest bridge report before setting off.