South Mountain Welcome Center
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Hagerstown, MD to Cambridge, MD
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 7m
Distance
143.3 mi
231 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 56m
★
6 AM
3h 8m
8 AM
3h 31m
10 AM
3h 16m
12 PM
3h 14m
3 PM
3h 17m
5 PM
3h 30m
8 PM
3h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hagerstown, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Cambridge, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Hagerstown to Cambridge is 143.3 miles and takes about 3h 7m via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway and US 50, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maryland, starting in the Northeast region and ending in the same region. The route offers a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving, making it a straightforward day trip. You'll likely find it a practical way to travel between these two points without extensive planning.
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
71.6 miles from Hagerstown, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D Eisenhower Highway | 43.8 mi | 47m |
| US 50 | 33.6 mi | 48m |
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | 19.1 mi | 27m |
| MD 100 | 17.5 mi | 23m |
| I 70 | 11.1 mi | 11m |
| Governor Ritchie Highway | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| Dual Highway | 3.3 mi | 6m |
| Ritchie Highway | 2.4 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 43.8 mi, about 47m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 11 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,926 veh/hr typical · worst 3,417
Quietest
2 AM
~241 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 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 Hagerstown, MD and Cambridge, MD.
1
Start on US 40
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Washington Street
2
Continue on US 40
3.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Dual Highway
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 70 East: Frederick
4
Merge onto I 70
44 mi
·
47 min
·
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 70; US 40
6.5 mi
·
6 min
·
I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
I 70
Toward Baltimore
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 87A
Toward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto US 29
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Columbia Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 22
Toward MD 100 East: Glen Burnie
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on MD 100
18 mi
·
23 min
·
MD 100
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto MD 10; MD 100
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Arundel Expressway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 10
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Arundel Expressway
Toward MD 10 South: Severna Park
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto MD 2
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Ritchie Highway
14
Continue on MD 2
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Governor Ritchie Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Bay Bridge
16
Merge onto US 50; US 301
19 mi
·
27 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 50
34 mi
·
48 min
·
US 50
Toward US 50 East: Ocean City, Rehoboth
18
Turn right onto East Cedar Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Cedar Street
19
Turn left onto Race Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Race Street
20
Arrive at destination
MD 341
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour 7 minute estimated drive time, leaving Hagerstown in the morning should allow you to reach Cambridge with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $26, this is a comfortable one-day trip. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading into any longer stretches on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. Since the route is under 150 miles, you have flexibility with your departure time and stop duration, allowing for spontaneous detours if you discover something interesting along US 50.
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 71.6 miles from Hagerstown, MD, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.8 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 32 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.6 miles or 1h 24m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cambridge, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hagerstown, 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 Hagerstown, MD
This is one driving day of about 143.3 miles and 3h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Hagerstown, 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 Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for about 43.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
72 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 71.6 miles from Hagerstown, 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.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
South Mountain Welcome Center
0.1 mi from route
Truck Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
TA
2.1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 4 and 108.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
58.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m 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
61.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m 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
80.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m 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
108.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 17m 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
$25.34 one way
$50.69 round trip
$4.49/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $27.76 | $55.51 |
| premium | $5.24 | $29.59 | $59.17 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $30.18 | $60.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43 | 0 | $15.05 | $6.88 |
| Efficient EV | 35.8 | 0 | $12.54 | $5.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 57.3 | 0 | $20.06 | $9.17 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Hagerstown, MD
Afternoon in Hagerstown on Wednesday
Local time
2:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 2 to 7 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 1 at 6:59PM EDT until June 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Cambridge, MD
Afternoon in Cambridge on Wednesday
Local time
2:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 8 to 14 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 1 at 6:59PM EDT until June 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
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
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
3h 7m on the road
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.
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 24.7
View on nps.gov
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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 143.3
View on nps.gov
Antietam National Battlefield
National Battlefield
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
$20
near mile 9.9
View on nps.gov
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
$20
near mile 14.8
View on nps.gov
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
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!
18 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 24.7
View on nps.gov
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
$20
near mile 39.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 44% of your time on the highway, with the longest continuous stretch of highway driving being 43.8 miles on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. After that, expect the profile to shift to mixed highway and surface roads. The prevalence of highway driving suggests you'll encounter a number of exits in certain sections. The transition from primarily highway to surface roads will be noticeable as you cover the 143.3 miles.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.8 mi on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
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 4 miles in near I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 13 significant decision points across 143.3 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 4 miles (I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 61.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,142 ft
14 ft
Total Climb
928 ft
Total Descent
1,451 ft
Highest Point
1,142 ft
~10.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,129 ft
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 Hagerstown, MD and Cambridge, MD, road signs point toward Baltimore, Washington and Rehoboth.
Baltimore
54.3 mi in
|
~1h 2m
|
via I 70
Washington
58.9 mi in
|
~1h 7m
Rehoboth
108.8 mi in
|
~2h 17m
|
via US 50
About the Cities
Starting in Hagerstown, MD
Full guide →Founded 1762
Hagerstown, nicknamed The Hub City, is a charming city on the edge of the Appalachian Mountains and near the Potomac River in northwestern Maryland, United States.
Top landmarks
- • Washington County Museum of Fine Arts — art museum in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States
- • Hager House — historic house in Maryland, United States
- • Hagerstown City Park — historic public urban park in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States
Arriving in Cambridge, MD
Full guide →Founded 1793
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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 7m. Total distance: 143.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.8 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Cambridge, 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. There are 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles (I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 61.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Monocacy National Battlefield, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park and Antietam National Battlefield (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Cambridge, MD, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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