Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 19m
Distance
97.9 mi
158 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Washington, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Cambridge, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Fort Washington, MD to Cambridge, MD is 97.9 miles and takes about 2h 19m via US 50, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, traversing Maryland for its entirety. It's a straightforward, single-day drive that offers a mixed driving experience, making it suitable for a quick getaway or an easy transition to your destination. You'll find it to be a practical route with minimal complexity, ideal if you're looking for a no-fuss journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49 miles from Fort Washington, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 50 | 33.6 mi | 48m |
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | 21.6 mi | 30m |
| John Hanson Highway | 18.6 mi | 21m |
| Capital Beltway | 8.4 mi | 11m |
| Allentown Road | 5.6 mi | 9m |
| Indian Head Highway | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Old Fort Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Palmer Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Washington, MD and Cambridge, MD.
Start on Warburton Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Fort Washington Road
Turn right onto Old Fort Road
Turn left onto MD 210
Turn right onto Palmer Road
Continue on Tucker Road
Continue on Allentown Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 95; I 495
Take the exit
Merge onto US 50
Continue on US 50; US 301; MD 2
Keep slight right at fork onto US 50
Turn right onto East Cedar Street
Turn left onto Race Street
Arrive at destination
Given the relatively short duration of 2h 19m, this drive is easily completed in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. You can leave in the morning and still have plenty of daylight upon arrival. With a fuel cost estimated at $16, it's an economical trip. Consider fueling up before you depart, as there are no designated stops mentioned in the data, and the longest stretch without a break is over 33 miles. Pay attention to signage as you transition between the various named roads, particularly US 50.
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.
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 22 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49 miles or 1h 8m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cambridge, MD than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Fort Washington, 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 Fort Washington, MD
This is one driving day of about 97.9 miles and 2h 19m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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.
A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 49 miles from Fort Washington, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 63.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn right onto Fort Washington Road
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, College Park
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 50 East: Annapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
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
Regular Gas
$16.23 one way
$32.46 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $17.78 | $35.55 |
| premium | $4.93 | $18.99 | $37.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.62 | $43.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.4 | 0 | $10.28 | $4.70 |
| Efficient EV | 24.5 | 0 | $8.57 | $3.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.2 | 0 | $13.71 | $6.27 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Fort Washington on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Late night in Cambridge on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This drive offers a mixed profile, with 34% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on US 50, Blue Star Memorial Highway, and John Hanson Highway, providing a varied driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch measures 33.6 miles on US 50, allowing for a good period of consistent travel. The route transitions between faster-paced highway segments and potentially more local road driving as you progress toward Cambridge.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Fort Washington Road.
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 97.9 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: at 0.3 miles (Fort Washington Road): Navigation decision point; at 14.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.3 miles (I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fort Washington, MD and Cambridge, MD, road signs point toward College Park and Rehoboth.
College Park
Rehoboth
Cambridge is a small town of 10,000 on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland's Eastern Shore.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 19m. Total distance: 97.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (34%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Fort Washington, MD or browse trips ending in Cambridge, MD.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips.
