Commuting From Arbutus: MARC, I-95, I-695 and BWI

Arbutus is one of the easiest places around Baltimore to commute from. The I-95 and I-695 interchange sits right in the Arbutus area, the Halethorpe MARC station has 928 free parking spaces, and BWI Marshall is just one MARC stop down the line. Here is how getting to work actually looks from here.

This is the next installment in my Living in Arbutus guide series. When I lived in Arbutus, the commute was one of the things friends always envied, and it is still one of the first questions buyers ask me.

Where do Arbutus commuters catch the MARC train?

Most Arbutus commuters use Halethorpe station at 5833 Southwestern Boulevard. It sits on the MARC Penn Line, which runs between Baltimore Penn Station and Washington Union Station, with stops at West Baltimore, Halethorpe, BWI Rail Station, Odenton, Bowie State, Seabrook and New Carrollton along the way.

Neighbors in St. Denis have a second choice. St. Denis station on Arlington Avenue is on the MARC Camden Line, which runs into Camden Station downtown.

Here is the parking picture at the stations closest to us, according to MDOT MTA's MARC station parking list:

How do I buy MARC tickets?

The easiest way is the CharmPass app, which sells one-way, 5-day, 7-day and 31-day passes for the Penn Line right on your phone. MARC ticket vending machines also take Apple Pay, Google Pay, and credit or debit cards.

You can buy a one-way ticket from the conductor, but it is cash only, and there is a $5 surcharge if a ticket machine or ticket office was available. Weekly and monthly MARC tickets also work on MTA Local Bus, Light Rail and Metro Subway, which is handy if your job is across town. Fares depend on which stations you ride between, so check the fare chart on MDOT MTA's website before you buy.

Which highways are closest to Arbutus?

Arbutus sits right where I-95 meets the Baltimore Beltway (I-695). That means downtown Baltimore is a quick hop up I-95, Washington is straight down I-95, and the Beltway connects you to Towson, Owings Mills and the rest of the county.

One heads-up for this season: the Maryland State Highway Administration is patching pavement on Wilkens Avenue (MD 372) from I-95 to the Baltimore City line, according to WMAR-2 News. Crews work overnight, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and the work is expected to continue through late December, weather permitting.

How do I get from Arbutus to BWI Marshall?

Driving to BWI is a short trip from Arbutus. If you would rather skip airport parking, take MARC from Halethorpe to BWI Rail Station, the very next stop south.

From there, BWI Marshall runs a free shuttle between the rail station and the terminal 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Shuttles come about every 10 to 15 minutes, and every 25 minutes between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. For more on what is new at the airport, see my post on BWI's rebuilt runway and new airline.

What about commuting to Fort Meade or UMBC?

I come from a military family, so I always mention this one. Odenton station is on the same Penn Line, just two stops south of Halethorpe, and it has 1,977 free parking spaces and a ticket agent. It is near Fort Meade, which makes Arbutus a realistic home base for families with a Fort Meade assignment. You can read more in my post about the new Fort Meade garrison commander.

UMBC sits right next to Arbutus at 1000 Hilltop Circle. For students, staff and faculty, that is about as short a commute as it gets.

What does an easy commute mean for buyers and sellers?

For first-time buyers, commute time can matter as much as the house itself. Before you make an offer, I always suggest driving the route at rush hour and checking how far the home is from Halethorpe or St. Denis station.

If you are selling, easy access to I-95, I-695, MARC and BWI is worth highlighting, because many buyers search by commute. You can find more on jobs and getting around on my Work and Commute page, and more on settling in on my Moving to Arbutus page.

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