Origin
Ellicott City, MD
Late night in Ellicott City on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ellicott City, MD to Annapolis, 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
48m
Distance
33.9 mi
55 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ellicott City, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Annapolis, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Ellicott City to Annapolis, you are looking at a straightforward 33.9-mile journey across Maryland. The drive typically takes about 48 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. With a fuel budget of approximately $6, this is a very economical excursion. You will navigate a mix of local routes and major highways, transitioning from the inland suburbs toward the state capital. Because the entire route remains within the Northeast region, you will not encounter any major geographic shifts. It is a practical, efficient route that is perfect for those who want to reach their destination quickly without the need for extensive travel planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 97 | 16.7 mi | 19m |
| Baltimore Beltway | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| Frederick Road | 4 mi | 8m |
| John Hanson Highway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Roscoe Rowe Boulevard | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Northwest Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| School Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 97
— 16.7 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ellicott City, MD and Annapolis, MD.
1
Start on Old Columbia Pike
110 ft
·
6 sec
·
Old Columbia Pike
2
Turn right onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Main Street
3
Continue on MD 144
4.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Frederick Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 695 South: Glen Burnie
5
Merge onto I 695
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 4
Toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
Use the slight left lane.
7
Continue on I 97
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
I 97
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 97
7.8 mi
·
8 min
·
I 97
Toward Bay Bridge
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
11
Merge onto US 50; US 301
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
John Hanson Highway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 24
Toward MD 70: Rowe Boulevard, Bestgate Road, Annapolis, Maryland Fire-Rescue Memorial, Historic Annapolis State Capital
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward MD 70 : Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis South
14
Turn straight onto MD 70
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Roscoe Rowe Boulevard
15
Keep slight right at fork onto Roscoe Rowe Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Roscoe Rowe Boulevard
16
Turn left onto Northwest Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Northwest Street
17
Enter roundabout onto School Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
School Street
18
Continue on School Street
137 ft
·
5 sec
·
School Street
19
Arrive at destination
School Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.9 miles from Ellicott City, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 10.9 and 32.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
10.9 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 4
Toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
6
28.4 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis, Bay...
6
29.2 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis, Bay...
8
31.8 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward MD 70: Rowe Boulevard, Bestgate Road, Annapolis, Maryland Fire-Rescue Memorial, Historic Annapolis State Capital
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 24
Toward MD 70: Rowe Boulevard, Bestgate Road, An...
7
32.1 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 70 : Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MD 70 : Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.62 one way
$11.24 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.16 | $12.31 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.57 | $13.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.48 | $14.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.56 | $1.63 |
| Efficient EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.75 | $2.17 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Annapolis, MD
Late night in Annapolis on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
48m 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?
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition between local roads and high-speed transit. You will spend about 49% of your time on highways, utilizing a combination of Frederick Road, the Baltimore Beltway, and I-97. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-97, which spans 16.7 miles of the trip. While the road starts with local navigation, it quickly gives way to the faster pace of the interstate system. This blend of road types keeps the drive from feeling like a monotonous grind while still ensuring you cover the distance in under an hour.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.7 mi on I 97.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 33.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Ellicott City, MD and Annapolis, MD, road signs point toward Maryland Fire-Rescue Memorial, Historic Annapolis State Capital and Annapolis South.
Maryland Fire-Rescue Memorial
31.8 mi in
|
~44m
Historic Annapolis State Capital
31.8 mi in
|
~44m
Annapolis South
32.1 mi in
|
~45m
About the Cities
Starting in Ellicott City, MD
Full guide →Ellicott City is a wealthy suburb of Baltimore, with a long and well-preserved history, and is often ranked one of the top towns to live in the country.
Arriving in Annapolis, MD
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 33.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.7 miles on I 97. 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 Annapolis, 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: at 10.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Annapolis, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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