Hagerstown, MD to Potomac, MD is 56.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 15 minutes via Eisenhower Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maryland, moving from the Northeast region down towards the DC metro area. Expect a drive that primarily uses surface roads after a short highway segment. It's a straightforward, relatively quick drive that doesn't require an overnight stay, making it a good option for a single-day excursion.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
22.9 mi
29m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
21.1 mi
22m
Falls Road
4.7 mi
8m
I 270
3.6 mi
4m
Dual Highway
3.3 mi
6m
East Washington Street
0.4 mi
1m
I 70 Exit 53
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
— 22.9 mi, about 29m
Traffic on I-270
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~6,085 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~400 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 96 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 Potomac, 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
21 mi·22 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
5
Take the exit onto I 70 Exit 53
0.4 mi·51 sec·I 70 Exit 53
Exit 53Toward I 270 South: WashingtonUse the slight right lane.
6
Continue on I 270
23 mi·29 min·Eisenhower Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
3.6 mi·4 min·I 270
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi·25 sec
Exit 5Toward MD 189: Falls RoadUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
432 ft·10 sec
Toward MD 189 South: Falls Road South, PotomacUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn straight onto MD 189
4.7 mi·8 min·Falls Road
11
Turn left
81 ft·6 sec
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 28.5 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 25.1 and 56.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
25.1 mi into trip|~30m in|I 70 Exit 53
Take the exit onto I 70 Exit 53 toward I 270 South: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 53
Toward I 270 South: Washington
6
48.4 mi into trip|~1h in|I 270
Keep slight right at fork onto I 270
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
52 mi into trip|~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward MD 189: Falls Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward MD 189: Falls Road
9
52.1 mi into trip|~1h 6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 189 South: Falls Road South, Potomac
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MD 189 South: Falls Road South, Potomac
6
56.9 mi into trip|~1h 15m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.01 one way
$20.03 round trip
$4.47/gal25.4 MPG avg20 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.89
$10.95
$21.90
premium
$5.23
$11.71
$23.41
diesel
$6.18
$13.84
$27.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
17.1
0
$5.97
$2.73
Efficient EV
14.2
0
$4.98
$2.28
EV Truck/SUV
22.8
0
$7.97
$3.64
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Hagerstown, MD
Afternoon
in Hagerstown on Saturday
Local time
2:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 15 mph60% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued October 16 at 5:09PM EDT until October 16 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington...
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 4:42PM EDT until October 18 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Destination
Potomac, MD
Afternoon
in Potomac on Saturday
Local time
2:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 13 mph56% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued October 16 at 5:09PM EDT until October 16 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington...
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 4:42PM EDT until October 18 at 8:00AM 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 15m 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 involves about 7% highway driving, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest stretch on a highway is 22.9 miles on the Eisenhower Memorial Highway before transitioning to local streets. You'll notice the shift as exit ramps become less frequent and traffic lights become more common. The profile is mostly surface roads, so anticipate navigating through towns and suburban areas.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.9 mi on Eisenhower Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 25.1 miles in near I 70 Exit 53.
Driving Effort6/10
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 56.9 miles you will encounter 7 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 25.1 miles (I 70 Exit 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.4 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 52 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 15m. Total distance: 56.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m 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 22.9 miles on Eisenhower Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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 Potomac, 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 25.1 miles (I 70 Exit 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.4 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 52 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Monocacy National Battlefield, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Antietam National Battlefield (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 Potomac, MD before heading back.
