Origin
Aspen Hill, MD
Late night in Aspen Hill on Tuesday
Local time
4:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Aspen Hill, MD to Saint Charles, MD
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
45 mi
72 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aspen Hill, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Charles, MD
RDNE Stock project
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Aspen Hill to Saint Charles, expect a straightforward 53.9-mile journey across Maryland. You should budget about 1 hour and 11 minutes of driving time, making this an ideal candidate for a quick day trip. With a fuel cost of approximately $9, the route is quite economical for a solo traveler or a small group. Because the entire drive remains within the Northeast region, you will experience a consistent local environment throughout the trip. Since there are no required stops along the way, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. It is a practical, no-nonsense connection between two points in Maryland that focuses on local transit rather than long-distance highway travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 19.7 mi | 25m |
| Branch Avenue | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| Crain Highway | 7.3 mi | 12m |
| Georgia Avenue | 3.2 mi | 7m |
| University Boulevard West | 2.8 mi | 6m |
| MD 337 | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| University Boulevard East | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Forestville Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 19.7 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aspen Hill, MD and Saint Charles, MD.
1
Start on this road
129 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
Turn uturn onto MD 97
139 ft
·
8 sec
·
Georgia Avenue
3
Turn slight left
285 ft
·
17 sec
4
Turn sharp left onto MD 97
3.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Georgia Avenue
5
Turn left onto MD 193
2.8 mi
·
6 min
·
University Boulevard West
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on MD 193
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
University Boulevard East
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 495 East: Capital Beltway East, Baltimore, College Park
8
Merge onto I 495
20 mi
·
25 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 9
Toward MD 337: Andrews Air Force Base Main Gate, Morningside
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto MD 337
426 ft
·
12 sec
·
Forestville Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
11
Turn slight right onto MD 337
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
MD 337
Toward MD 337 South
12
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
Toward MD 5 South: Waldorf
13
Merge onto MD 5
8.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Branch Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto US 301; MD 5
7.3 mi
·
12 min
·
Crain Highway
15
Arrive at destination
US 301
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.5 miles from Aspen Hill, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 26.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MD 97 / Georgia Avenue
Turn uturn onto MD 97 / Georgia Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MD 97 / Georgia Avenue
Turn sharp left onto MD 97 / Georgia Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
6.9 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
I 495 / Capital Beltway
Merge onto I 495 / Capital Beltway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
26.6 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward MD 337: Andrews Air Force Base Main Gate, Morningside
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 9
Toward MD 337: Andrews Air Force Base Main Gate...
6
26.9 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
MD 337 / Forestville Road
Turn right onto MD 337 / Forestville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.46 one way
$14.92 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.17 | $16.34 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.73 | $17.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.94 | $19.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.73 | $2.16 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.94 | $1.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18 | 0 | $6.30 | $2.88 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Destination
Saint Charles, MD
Late night in Saint Charles on Tuesday
Local time
4:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 10m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies entirely on local roads like Georgia Avenue and University Boulevard, meaning your highway share is 0%. You will spend the duration navigating through various intersections and urban corridors rather than cruising at high speeds. Because the route is composed of local arterial roads, there is no single long, uninterrupted stretch to settle into. You should expect a steady, active driving experience that requires your full attention as you transition between the various segments of the route.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.7 mi on Capital Beltway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MD 97 / Georgia Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MD 97 / Georgia Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.1 miles (MD 97 / Georgia Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 6.9 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Aspen Hill, MD and Saint Charles, MD, road signs point toward Baltimore, College Park and Morningside.
Baltimore
6.7 mi in
|
~15m
College Park
6.7 mi in
|
~15m
Morningside
26.6 mi in
|
~42m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 45 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.7 miles on Capital Beltway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Saint Charles, MD before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 97 / Georgia Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.1 miles (MD 97 / Georgia Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 6.9 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Monocacy National Battlefield. 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 Saint Charles, MD before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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