This 60-mile drive from Annapolis to California, Maryland, is a manageable one-day adventure, taking approximately 1 hour and 34 minutes. With no highway driving, expect a more local feel throughout the journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $10, making it an economical trip. This route is perfect for a leisurely day trip, allowing you to enjoy the drive without feeling rushed. Since both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region and the state of Maryland, you'll be staying within familiar territory for this short excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
30 miles from Annapolis, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Solomons Island Road
34.1 mi
53m
South Solomons Island Road
18.6 mi
26m
West Street
2.5 mi
6m
Patuxent Beach Road
2.4 mi
3m
Thomas Johnson Bridge
1.4 mi
2m
Three Notch Road
0.8 mi
1m
Shady Mile Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
School Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Solomons Island Road
— 34.1 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Annapolis, MD and California, MD.
1
Start on School Street
137 ft·6 sec·School Street
2
Enter roundabout onto MD 450
392 ft·12 sec·West Street
3
Continue on MD 450
0.6 mi·1 min·West Street
4
Enter roundabout onto MD 450
116 ft·2 sec·West Street
5
Continue on MD 450
1.7 mi·4 min·West Street
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left onto MD 2
12 mi·20 min·Solomons Island Road
Use the left lane.
7
Enter roundabout onto MD 2
164 ft·2 sec·Solomons Island Road
8
Continue on MD 2
6.8 mi·10 min·Solomons Island Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Enter roundabout onto MD 2
152 ft·1 sec·Solomons Island Road
10
Continue on MD 2
15 mi·22 min·Solomons Island Road
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on MD 2; MD 4
19 mi·26 min·South Solomons Island Road
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on MD 4
1.4 mi·2 min·Thomas Johnson Bridge
13
Continue on MD 4
2.4 mi·3 min·Patuxent Beach Road
14
Turn left onto MD 235
0.8 mi·1 min·Three Notch Road
15
Turn left onto Shady Mile Drive
0.2 mi·47 sec·Shady Mile Drive
16
Arrive at destination
Shady Mile Drive
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 34-minute duration, this drive offers great flexibility; you can leave Annapolis at your leisure. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid the busiest local traffic. With only 60 miles, you won't need extensive rest stops, but keep an eye on your fuel, especially before heading out, as the estimated cost is just $10. A practical tip for this route is to familiarize yourself with the frequent turns on Solomons Island Road and South Solomons Island Road using your GPS, as these will be the primary navigational points.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 30 miles from Annapolis, MD, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.1 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 13 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near California, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Annapolis, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Annapolis, MD
This is one driving day of about 60 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Annapolis, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Solomons Island Road for about 34.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 15 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MD 450 / West Street
Enter roundabout onto MD 450 / West Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|MD 450 / West Street
Enter roundabout onto MD 450 / West Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
2.5 mi into trip|~6m in|MD 2 / Solomons Island Road
Turn left onto MD 2 / Solomons Island Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
15 mi into trip|~26m in|MD 2 / Solomons Island Road
Enter roundabout onto MD 2 / Solomons Island Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
15 mi into trip|~26m in|MD 2 / Solomons Island Road
Right onto MD 2 / Solomons Island Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.95 one way
$19.89 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg21 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$10.89
$21.79
premium
$4.93
$11.64
$23.27
diesel
$5.61
$13.25
$26.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18
0
$6.30
$2.88
Efficient EV
15
0
$5.25
$2.40
EV Truck/SUV
24
0
$8.40
$3.84
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Annapolis, MD
Night
in Annapolis on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
California, MD
Night
in California on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 34m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Harriet Tubman was a deeply spiritual woman who lived her ideals and dedicated her life to freedom. She is the Underground Railroad’s best known conductor and before the Civil War repeatedly risked he...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 49.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with no highway mileage to speak of. You'll primarily be navigating Solomons Island Road and South Solomons Island Road, with West Street also playing a role. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 34.1 miles on Solomons Island Road. This means you'll experience a consistent local road feel for a significant portion of your journey, with frequent turns and varied road conditions as you progress through different communities.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.1 mi on Solomons Island Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MD 450 / West Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 34m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MD 450 / West Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.7 miles (MD 450 / West Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.5 miles (MD 2 / Solomons Island Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Annapolis is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland. Annapolis was a thriving, wealthy town in the 1600s and 1700s. Many of the houses and other buildings from the 1800s remain, leaving a thriving, vibrant historic district with shops and restaurants along the waterfront. Brick-lined streets and quaint shops add to the feel. You could easily spend a day walking around the town's downtown harbor area shopping and eating. There is also a lively nighttime scene.
One of the most diverse states in the Union, California has a culture ranging from the easygoing surf spots on the beaches of Southern California to the glamor of Hollywood, and the counterculture and thriving businesses of the Bay Area. The state, which is on the west coast of the U.S., also varies greatly in natural beauty, from redwood forests on the North Coast to the ski resorts of the rugged Sierra Nevada mountains and the harsh desert of Death Valley. The largest state in the U.S. by population and the third largest by area, California boasts world-famous attractions and sights: Disneyland, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Napa Valley wine country, and the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.1 miles on Solomons Island Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MD 450 / West Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.7 miles (MD 450 / West Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.5 miles (MD 2 / Solomons Island Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at California, MD before heading back.
