Traveling from College Park to Salisbury covers 112.1 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes. Because this is a relatively short distance, it works perfectly as a one-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize the John Hanson Highway, Blue Star Memorial Highway, and Sussex Highway to navigate the route. Budgeting approximately $19 for fuel should keep you covered for the journey. Since both cities are located within Maryland, you will stay entirely within the Northeast region throughout your travels.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
56.1 miles from College Park, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway
21.6 mi
30m
John Hanson Highway
20.1 mi
23m
Sussex Highway
18.9 mi
25m
Shore Highway
13.5 mi
18m
Seashore Highway
7.5 mi
9m
North Salisbury Boulevard
7.1 mi
11m
US 50
6.9 mi
9m
Queen Anne Highway
6.2 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 21.6 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between College Park, MD and Salisbury, MD.
1
Start on Knox Road
272 ft·14 sec·Knox Road
2
Turn left onto US 1
1.1 mi·3 min·Baltimore Avenue
3
Turn left onto MD 410
1.2 mi·2 min·East-West Highway
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on MD 410
1.1 mi·2 min·Riverdale Road
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn right
388 ft·34 sec
6
Turn left onto Riverdale Road
0.1 mi·18 sec·Riverdale Road
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left onto Veterans Parkway
1.8 mi·3 min·Veterans Parkway
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward US 50 East: Annapolis
9
Merge onto US 50
20 mi·23 min·John Hanson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on US 50; US 301; MD 2
22 mi·30 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 50
6.9 mi·9 min·US 50
Toward US 50 East: Ocean City, Rehoboth
12
Turn left onto MD 404
6.2 mi·8 min·Queen Anne Highway
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on Shore Highway
5.3 mi·7 min·Shore Highway
Use the left lane.
14
Take the exit onto MD 404 Business
1.4 mi·2 min·MD 404 Business
15
Turn slight right onto MD 404 Business
0.4 mi·50 sec·Franklin Street
16
Turn right onto South 5th Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·South 5th Avenue
17
Turn left onto Legion Road
282 ft·7 sec·Legion Road
18
Turn right onto MD 313; MD 404
8.1 mi·11 min·Shore Highway
19
Continue on DE 404
7.5 mi·9 min·Seashore Highway
20
At end of road, turn left onto DE 404 Business
0.4 mi·46 sec·Market Street
21
At end of road, turn right onto US 13 Business; DE 404 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·South Main Street
22
Turn right onto US 13
19 mi·25 min·Sussex Highway
23
Continue on US 13
3.8 mi·5 min·North Salisbury Boulevard
24
Continue on US 13 BUS
3.3 mi·6 min·North Salisbury Boulevard
25
Turn right onto West Vine Street
241 ft·7 sec·West Vine Street
26
Continue on West Vine Street
525 ft·17 sec·West Vine Street
27
Turn right
76 ft·5 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a total duration of 2 hours and 40 minutes, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around local traffic patterns. Since there is only one suggested stop along the way, make sure to plan your break strategically to maximize your comfort. Keep an eye on your fuel levels early in the trip, as you will want to ensure you have enough of your $19 budget allocated for the entire 112.1-mile span. To make the most of your drive, verify your route navigation before heading out to account for the frequent turns inherent in this local path. This approach ensures a smooth transition from the College Park area to the Eastern Shore.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 56.1 miles from College Park, MD, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21.6 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 25 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.1 miles or 1h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salisbury, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving College Park, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from College Park, MD
This is one driving day of about 112.1 miles and 2h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from College Park, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Blue Star Memorial Highway for about 21.6 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.5 and 47.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.5 mi into trip|~9m in|Riverdale Road
Turn left onto Riverdale Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
3.6 mi into trip|~9m in|Veterans Parkway
Turn left onto Veterans Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
5.5 mi into trip|~13m in
Turn left toward US 50 East: Annapolis
Navigation decision point
Toward US 50 East: Annapolis
5
5.6 mi into trip|~13m in|US 50 / John Hanson Highway
Merge onto US 50 / John Hanson Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
47.3 mi into trip|~1h 7m in|US 50
Keep slight right at fork onto US 50 toward US 50 East: Ocean City, Rehoboth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50 East: Ocean City, Rehoboth
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.58 one way
$37.17 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$20.35
$40.71
premium
$4.93
$21.74
$43.48
diesel
$5.61
$24.75
$49.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.6
0
$11.77
$5.38
Efficient EV
28
0
$9.81
$4.48
EV Truck/SUV
44.8
0
$15.69
$7.17
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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
College Park, MD
Late night
in College Park on Sunday
Local time
2:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Salisbury, MD
Late night
in Salisbury on Sunday
Local time
2:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Boonsboro, MD
56 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 40m 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.
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potoma...
Want to live on the edge? Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and waves. Life on Assateague Island has adapted to an existence on the move. Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime for...
29 mi from route
~71 min detour
$25
near mile 112.1
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...
30 mi from route
~75 min detour
Free
near mile 112.1
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 rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route is only 9% highway. You will navigate a variety of road types that shift as you move through the state. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 21.6 miles along the Blue Star Memorial Highway. Because the path relies heavily on local roads, you should prepare for a more engaging, hands-on experience behind the wheel. The changing road conditions mean you will need to remain attentive as you transition between different highway segments.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.6 mi on Blue Star Memorial Highway.
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 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.5 miles in near Riverdale Road.
Driving Effort6/10
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 112.1 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 3.5 miles (Riverdale Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (Veterans Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from College Park, MD to Salisbury, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Rehoboth along the way.
Rehoboth
47.3 mi in|~1h 7m|via US 50
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 40m. Total distance: 112.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.6 miles on Blue Star Memorial Highway. 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 Salisbury, MD before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.5 miles (Riverdale Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (Veterans Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Assateague Island National Seashore and 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 Salisbury, MD before heading back.
