La Plata, MD Road Trips
With 3 routes heading out and 2 heading in, La Plata, MD works well as a modest departure point in the Northeast. Most drives stay under 80 miles, making this area well-suited for day trips and weekend getaways. Most routes from La Plata, MD head north, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
5
Longest Drive
109.1 mi
Hagerstown, MD
Quickest Drive
1h 12m
Annapolis, MD
Plan Around La Plata, MD
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if La Plata, MD is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From La Plata, MD
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from La Plata, MD
Driving from La Plata, MD
Expect an average of 80 miles and about 1h 53m behind the wheel when leaving La Plata, MD. The majority of routes are short drives — quick enough to finish before lunch and be back for dinner. The longest mapped route runs 109 miles (2h 24m), while the shortest is just 63 miles.
Popular Destinations
Drivers leaving La Plata, MD most often head toward Hagerstown, MD (109.1 mi, 2h 24m), Essex, MD (67.7 mi, 1h 42m), and Baltimore, MD (62.8 mi, 1h 33m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in MD currently averages around $4.09 per gallon. For the typical 80-mile trip from La Plata, MD, budget about $13 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
With an average drive under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility — leave whenever it suits you. Routes mostly head north. Summer trips benefit from long daylight hours, while winter departures should start early to maximize visibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 3 mapped routes leaving La Plata, MD and 2 routes heading into La Plata, MD, covering 5 total connections. Distances range from 63 to 109 miles.
The longest mapped route from La Plata, MD covers 109 miles and takes approximately 2h 24m. Shorter options start at just 63 miles.
The average route from La Plata, MD runs about 80 miles with a drive time of roughly 1h 53m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $4.09/gallon for regular), the average 80-mile trip from La Plata, MD costs roughly $13 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from La Plata, MD include Hagerstown, MD, Essex, MD and Baltimore, MD. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
La Plata, MD by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
10,470
Median Income
$121,707
Median Home Value
$405,200
Median Age
41.5
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to La Plata, MD
La Plata is a city in Southern Maryland. It is the county seat of Charles County.
1 Thomas Stone National Historic Site (Habre de Venture), 6655, Rose Hill Rd, Port Tobacco, ☏ +1 301 392-1776. 9AM-5PM daily. This is the house of Thomas Stone, one of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. The National Park Service operates a visitor center with information about the Revolutionary leader's life and the Declaration of Independence, and also offers guided tours of the country estate. Free. Just at the western edge of La Plata is Port Tobacco, Maryland's smallest town (15 people), dating back to 1727. Owing in no part to its extremely small size, the village is well preserved and home to much archaeological research. To get here, take MD-6 (Port Tobacco Rd) west from La Plata and then make a left on Chapel Point Rd. Turn right on small Commerce St for the village itself, while St. Thomas Manor is further south along the same road. Port Tobacco Courthouse (Port Tobacco Museum), Commerce St, Port Tobacco, ☏ +1 301 934-4313. The Courthouse is the centerpiece of the historic village, and upstairs they maintain a small museum with exhibits on local history and archaeological findings. Occasional tours in with costumed docents. 2 St. Thomas Manor (St. Ignatius Church), 8855 Chapel Point Road, Port Tobacco Village, ☏ +1 301 934-8245. The oldest continuously occupied Jesuit residence in the world, the Manor and Church is a pretty place to visit, with a good bit of history to its name. The mission was founded in 1641 to administer to the Potapoco American Indians.
1 Gilbert Run Park, 13140 Charles St, Charlotte Hall, ☏ +1 301 932-1083. April-Oct: sunrise-sunset, daily. March and Nov, weekends only. A good sized wooded county park with hiking and nature trails, playgrounds, and a 60 acre lake for fishing, pedal boating, rowboating, and canoeing. $5/vehicle, weekends and holidays (April 1-Sept 30). (updated Jan 2021)
Marie's Family Restaurant, 6325 Crain Hwy, ☏ +1 301 932-6884. Breakfast-lunch daily. A country diner that is a favorite among locals for breakfast. $4-11.
Best Western, 6900 Crain Hwy, ☏ +1 301 934-4900. A particularly nice franchise, with touches like free bottled waters in the room, cookies on arrival, lobby fireplace, etc. 24 hour gym, outdoor pool, business center. $85-120. Part of Plenty B&B, 8664 Port Tobacco Rd, ☏ +1 301 934-0707. A charming country B&B outside the town towards Port Tobacco, with gardens, three rooms, a separate carriage house, an outdoor pool, and convivial owners. $79-115. Patuxent Inn, 9400 Chesapeake St, ☏ +1 301 934-3465. A small, non-chain hotel, with WiFi, weekly rates available, boat outlets, and microwaves & fridges in all rooms. $70-100.
La Plata is located on US Route 301, a major East coast North-South highway. La Plata does not have an airport or a train service. The easiest way to get to La Plata is by car. Driving time to La Plata is about 1 hour from Washington, D.C., about 1.5 hours from Baltimore, and about one hour and forty-five minutes from Richmond (Virginia).
Travel tips adapted from La Plata (Maryland) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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