Frederick, MD to Crisfield, MD is 183.1 miles and takes about 4h 5m via I 70 and Blue Star Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maryland, moving from the Northeast region down to the Eastern Shore. The drive offers a mixed profile, incorporating both interstate highway and surface roads. With only one recommended stop and a drive time under five hours, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
91.5 miles from Frederick, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 70
32.1 mi
34m
Blue Star Memorial Highway
19.1 mi
27m
Sussex Highway
18.9 mi
25m
MD 100
17.5 mi
23m
Shore Highway
13.5 mi
18m
Crisfield Highway
13 mi
18m
Ocean Highway
11.9 mi
16m
Salisbury Bypass
10.6 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 32.1 mi, about 34m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,260 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,751
Quietest
2 AM
~203 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 93 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Frederick, MD and Crisfield, MD.
1
Start on MD 144
122 ft·7 sec·East Patrick Street
2
Turn right onto North Market Street
435 ft·18 sec·North Market Street
3
Turn right onto East Church Street
0.3 mi·47 sec·East Church Street
4
Turn right onto North East Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North East Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Enter roundabout onto East Street
101 ft·1 sec·East Street
6
Continue on East Street
0.1 mi·14 sec·East Street
7
Continue on MD 85
0.2 mi·17 sec·Buckeystown Pike
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 70 East, US 40 East
9
Merge onto I 70; US 40
21 mi·22 min·I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
6.5 mi·6 min·I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
4.6 mi·4 min·I 70
Toward Baltimore
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 87AToward US 29 South: Columbia, WashingtonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto US 29
2.3 mi·2 min·Columbia Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·43 sec
Exit 22Toward MD 100 East: Glen BurnieUse the slight left / straight lanes.
15
Continue on MD 100
18 mi·23 min·MD 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto MD 10; MD 100
0.3 mi·25 sec·Arundel Expressway
17
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 10
0.7 mi·1 min·Arundel Expressway
Toward MD 10 South: Severna ParkUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn left onto MD 2
2.4 mi·3 min·Ritchie Highway
19
Continue on MD 2
6.1 mi·8 min·Governor Ritchie Highway
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Bay Bridge
21
Merge onto US 50; US 301
19 mi·27 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto US 50
6.9 mi·9 min·US 50
Toward US 50 East: Ocean City, Rehoboth
23
Turn left onto MD 404
6.2 mi·8 min·Queen Anne Highway
Use the left lane.
24
Continue on Shore Highway
5.3 mi·7 min·Shore Highway
Use the left lane.
25
Take the exit onto MD 404 Business
1.4 mi·2 min·MD 404 Business
26
Turn slight right onto MD 404 Business
0.4 mi·50 sec·Franklin Street
27
Turn right onto South 5th Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·South 5th Avenue
28
Turn left onto Legion Road
282 ft·7 sec·Legion Road
29
Turn right onto MD 313; MD 404
8.1 mi·11 min·Shore Highway
30
Continue on DE 404
7.5 mi·9 min·Seashore Highway
31
At end of road, turn left onto DE 404 Business
0.4 mi·46 sec·Market Street
32
At end of road, turn right onto US 13 Business; DE 404 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·South Main Street
33
Turn right onto US 13
19 mi·25 min·Sussex Highway
34
Continue on US 13
3.8 mi·5 min·North Salisbury Boulevard
35
Take the exit onto US 13
270 ft·6 sec·US 13
Toward US 13, US 50
36
Keep slight left at fork onto US 13
0.8 mi·1 min·US 13
Toward US 13, US 50 East: Norfolk, Ocean City
37
Merge onto US 13; US 50
11 mi·12 min·Salisbury Bypass
38
Continue on US 13
0.6 mi·40 sec·South Fruitland Boulevard
39
Continue on US 13
12 mi·16 min·Ocean Highway
40
Take the exit onto MD 413
13 mi·18 min·Crisfield Highway
41
Continue on MD 413
1.0 mi·1 min·Maryland Avenue
42
Turn left onto North 4th Street
164 ft·10 sec·North 4th Street
43
Continue on North 4th Street
400 ft·17 sec·North 4th Street
44
Arrive at destination
North 4th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour drive time, leaving Frederick, MD in the morning should allow you to reach Crisfield, MD with plenty of daylight to spare. Plan for one stop along the way to break up the 183.1 miles, perhaps around the halfway point. The fuel cost is estimated at $31, so ensure your tank is full before departing. Since this is a manageable one-day trip, you have flexibility in your departure time and stop duration. Keep an eye out for the transition from interstate to state highways, as this often signals a change in road conditions and traffic patterns.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 91.5 miles from Frederick, MD, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.1 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 40 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.5 miles or 1h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Crisfield, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Frederick, 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 Frederick, MD
This is one driving day of about 183.1 miles and 4h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Frederick, 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 I 70 for about 32.1 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 26
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 83.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|North East Street
Turn right onto North East Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
33.8 mi into trip|~38m in
Take the exit toward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington
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 87A
Toward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington
7
36.9 mi into trip|~42m in
Take the exit toward MD 100 East: Glen Burnie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 22
Toward MD 100 East: Glen Burnie
7
55.3 mi into trip|~1h 7m in|MD 10 / Arundel Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 10 / Arundel Expressway toward MD 10 South: Severna Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MD 10 South: Severna Park
6
83.7 mi into trip|~1h 48m 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
$32.22 one way
$64.45 round trip
$4.47/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.89
$35.24
$70.47
premium
$5.23
$37.67
$75.34
diesel
$6.18
$44.54
$89.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.9
0
$19.23
$8.79
Efficient EV
45.8
0
$16.02
$7.32
EV Truck/SUV
73.2
0
$25.63
$11.72
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Frederick, MD
Morning
in Frederick on Sunday
Local time
10:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Partly Sunny
N 14 to 17 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 8:09AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 17 at 5:51AM EDT until October 20 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Crisfield, MD
Morning
in Crisfield on Sunday
Local time
10:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Cambridge, MD
92 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
7 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
4h 5m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Monocacy National Battlefield
National Battlefield
During the summer of 1864, the Confederacy carried out a bold plan to turn the tide of the Civil War in their favor. They planned to capture Washington, DC and influence the election of 1864. On July...
23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of savage combat on September 17, 1862. The Battle of Antietam ended the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia's first invasion into...
At the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, on the ancestral home of the Tuscarora and Shawnee people, lies Harpers Ferry. Here you can explore John Brown's Raid against slavery. Find your...
The Potomac River corridor is rich in both history and recreation, offering a chance to both explore your heritage and choose your adventure along the way. Start your journey here!
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
$20
near mile 18.9
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...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
$25
near mile 170.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About one-third of this 183.1-mile drive is on highways, with the remaining portion on surface roads. You'll encounter a 32.1-mile stretch on I 70 early in your trip. After leaving the interstate, expect a more rural cruising experience as you transition to surface roads for the majority of the route. The change from highway to surface roads will be noticeable as you encounter more local traffic and varied speed limits.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
44 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.1 mi on I 70.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 0.4 miles in near North East Street.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 183.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (North East Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 33.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
592 ft2 ft
Total Climb
379 ft
Total Descent
659 ft
Highest Point
592 ft
~13.1 mi in
Elevation Range
591 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Frederick, MD and Crisfield, MD, road signs point toward Baltimore, Washington, Rehoboth and Ocean City.
Frederick is a charming city of approximately 80,000 people (2020) in Maryland. It is a major antique center with many shops, eateries, galleries and antique dealers.
Top landmarks
•Frederick Armory — drill hall in Frederick, United States of America
•Frederick Historic District — historic district in Maryland, United States
•Hessian Barracks — historic barracks building in Frederick, Maryland, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 5m. Total distance: 183.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.1 miles on I 70. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Crisfield, 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 0.4 miles (North East Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 33.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Monocacy National Battlefield, Antietam National Battlefield and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Crisfield, MD, but most travelers stay overnight.
