Hagerstown, MD to Fort George G Mead Junction, MD is 71.8 miles and takes about 1h 28m via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Maryland, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a route with a higher number of turns, so keep your attention on the road. With its relatively short distance and duration, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
43.8 mi
47m
Patuxent Freeway
10.1 mi
13m
Sykesville Road
8.1 mi
11m
I 70
4 mi
4m
Dual Highway
3.3 mi
6m
Guilford Road
0.5 mi
<1m
East Washington Street
0.4 mi
1m
Dorsey Run Road
0.3 mi
<1m
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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Fort George G Mead Junction, 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
4.0 mi·4 min·I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Exit 80Toward MD 32: Sykesville, ClarksvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·25 sec
8
Merge onto MD 32
8.1 mi·11 min·Sykesville Road
9
Continue on MD 32
10 mi·13 min·Patuxent Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 11Toward Dorsey Run RoadUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
411 ft·17 sec
Toward Dorsey Run Road, Guilford Road, National Bus Parkway, Henkels Lane
12
Turn left onto Dorsey Run Road
0.3 mi·38 sec·Dorsey Run Road
13
Turn right onto Guilford Road
0.5 mi·58 sec·Guilford Road
14
Turn left onto Brock Bridge Road
223 ft·9 sec·Brock Bridge Road
15
Turn left
106 ft·7 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 35.9 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 4 and 71 — 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
51.8 mi into trip|~59m in
Take the exit toward MD 32: Sykesville, Clarksville
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 80
Toward MD 32: Sykesville, Clarksville
4
52.2 mi into trip|~1h in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
70.5 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward Dorsey Run Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11
Toward Dorsey Run Road
6
71 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Dorsey Run Road, Guilford Road, National Bus Parkway, Henkels Lane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Dorsey Run Road, Guilford Road, National...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.45 one way
$22.90 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$12.67
$25.34
premium
$4.81
$13.59
$27.18
diesel
$4.80
$13.56
$27.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.5
0
$7.54
$3.45
Efficient EV
18
0
$6.28
$2.87
EV Truck/SUV
28.7
0
$10.05
$4.60
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 15, 2026
Origin
Hagerstown, MD
Late night
in Hagerstown on Sunday
Local time
2:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
102°F
Sunny
W 6 to 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 15 at 11:06AM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 15 at 8:24AM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Destination
Fort George G Mead Junction, MD
Late night
in Fort George G Mead Junction on Sunday
Local time
2:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
101°F
Sunny
W 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 15 at 11:06AM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 15 at 8:24AM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 28m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route presents a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll encounter frequent changes in direction. While 20% of the journey utilizes highway driving, the majority involves navigating local roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll experience is 43.8 miles on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel before transitioning back to more winding sections. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience with many adjustments needed.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 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?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 4 miles (I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,147 ft187 ft
Total Climb
1,230 ft
Total Descent
1,582 ft
Highest Point
1,147 ft
~10.3 mi in
Elevation Range
960 ft
Notable High Points
1,147 ft at ~10.3 miles+516 ft prominence
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 Hagerstown, MD to Fort George G Mead Junction, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Clarksville along the way.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 71.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads 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 6 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 Fort George G Mead Junction, 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 4 miles (I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Monocacy National Battlefield, Antietam National Battlefield and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (5 total within detour distance). 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 Fort George G Mead Junction, MD before heading back.
