Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
71.8 mi
116 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hagerstown, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Fort George G Mead Junction, MD
Esteban Carriazo
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.
| 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 |
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
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Hagerstown, MD and Fort George G Mead Junction, MD.
Start on US 40
Continue on US 40
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 70
Continue on I 70; US 40
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto MD 32
Continue on MD 32
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto Dorsey Run Road
Turn right onto Guilford Road
Turn left onto Brock Bridge Road
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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.
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.
Merge onto I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward Dorsey Run Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
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
Regular Gas
$12.70 one way
$25.40 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $13.91 | $27.82 |
| premium | $5.24 | $14.82 | $29.65 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $15.12 | $30.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Hagerstown on Wednesday
Local time
4:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Fort George G Mead Junction on Wednesday
Local time
4:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Sunny
60°F
Mount Airy, MD
36 mi in
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.
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.
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.
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.
Gently rolling terrain
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
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.
Clarksville
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
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.
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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