Traveling from Prince Frederick to Gwynn Oak covers 66.6 miles and takes approximately 1 hour and 24 minutes to complete. Because this journey is relatively short, it is easily manageable as a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget about $11 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Maryland locations. Navigating the route involves utilizing Main Street, North Solomons Island Road, and Southern Maryland Boulevard. Since both points are situated within the Northeast region, the transition between them is straightforward and familiar for those accustomed to local Maryland travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
32.5 miles from Prince Frederick, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South East Crain Highway
10.8 mi
15m
Southern Maryland Boulevard
10.2 mi
14m
I 97
10 mi
11m
North Solomons Island Road
8.5 mi
12m
Baltimore Beltway
7.7 mi
10m
Robert Crain Highway
7.1 mi
11m
Stephanie Roper Highway
4 mi
5m
Ingleside Avenue
1.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
South East Crain Highway
— 10.8 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Prince Frederick, MD and Gwynn Oak, MD.
1
Start on this road
160 ft·13 sec·this road
2
Turn right
199 ft·16 sec
3
At end of road, turn right onto MD 765
0.4 mi·57 sec·Main Street
4
Turn right onto MD 2; MD 4
8.5 mi·12 min·North Solomons Island Road
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on MD 4
10 mi·14 min·Southern Maryland Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on MD 4
4.0 mi·5 min·Stephanie Roper Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·1 min
Toward US 301 North: BaltimoreUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto US 301
1.3 mi·1 min·Crain Highway
9
Continue on US 301
11 mi·15 min·South East Crain Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on MD 3; MD 450
7.1 mi·11 min·Robert Crain Highway
11
Merge onto I 97
8.9 mi·10 min·I 97
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto I 97
1.1 mi·1 min·I 97
Exit 17AToward I 695 West: Baltimore, TowsonUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 695
7.7 mi·10 min·Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 15AToward US 40 East: BaltimoreUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn straight onto US 40
0.2 mi·22 sec·Baltimore National Pike
16
Turn left onto Ingleside Avenue
1.6 mi·3 min·Ingleside Avenue
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on North Forest Park Avenue
1.4 mi·3 min·North Forest Park Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn slight left onto Hillsdale Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Hillsdale Road
19
Turn right onto Haddon Avenue
178 ft·11 sec·Haddon Avenue
20
Turn left
60 ft·4 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the lack of highway miles and the turn-heavy nature of the route, plan your departure to avoid peak local traffic hours to keep your travel time closer to the 1 hour and 24-minute estimate. Since the total distance is only 66.6 miles with zero planned stops, you have the flexibility to drive straight through without needing a formal itinerary. Keep in mind that your fuel costs will hover around $11, so filling up before you leave Prince Frederick is a simple way to streamline your arrival in Gwynn Oak. Because this route lacks long highway stretches, stay alert for frequent speed limit changes and intersections along Main Street and North Solomons Island Road to ensure a smooth journey.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 32.5 miles from Prince Frederick, MD, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10.8 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 14 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.5 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gwynn Oak, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Prince Frederick, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Prince Frederick, MD
This is one driving day of about 64.9 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Prince Frederick, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South East Crain Highway for about 10.8 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 60.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|MD 765 / Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto MD 765 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|MD 2; MD 4 / North Solomons Island Road
Turn right onto MD 2; MD 4 / North Solomons Island Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
23.2 mi into trip|~33m in
Take the exit toward US 301 North: Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 301 North: Baltimore
8
51.7 mi into trip|~1h 13m in|I 97
Take the exit onto I 97 toward I 695 West: Baltimore, Towson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17A
Toward I 695 West: Baltimore, Towson
7
60.4 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward US 40 East: Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15A
Toward US 40 East: Baltimore
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.76 one way
$21.52 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$11.78
$23.57
premium
$4.93
$12.59
$25.17
diesel
$5.61
$14.33
$28.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.5
0
$6.81
$3.12
Efficient EV
16.2
0
$5.68
$2.60
EV Truck/SUV
26
0
$9.09
$4.15
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Prince Frederick, MD
Morning
in Prince Frederick on Sunday
Local time
6:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Gwynn Oak, MD
Morning
in Gwynn Oak on Sunday
Local time
6:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Sunny
SE 8 to 13 mph3% chanceLive forecast
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
3 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
1h 36m 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.
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...
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...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
$20
near mile 33.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route relies entirely on surface roads with a highway share of 0%. You will spend the entire 1 hour and 24 minutes navigating local thoroughfares, which requires your full attention behind the wheel. The personality of this drive is defined by consistent turns rather than long, uninterrupted stretches of high-speed transit. Because you are avoiding major highways, the pace remains steady and demands a more active driving style than a standard freeway trek. Prepare for a trip that favors local navigation over long-distance highway cruising.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.8 mi on South East Crain Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 0.1 miles in near MD 765 / Main Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (MD 765 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (MD 2; MD 4 / North Solomons Island Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Prince Frederick, MD to Gwynn Oak, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Towson along the way.
Towson
51.7 mi in|~1h 13m|via I 97
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 64.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.8 miles on South East Crain Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Gwynn Oak, 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 0.1 miles (MD 765 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (MD 2; MD 4 / North Solomons Island Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park and Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park. 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 Gwynn Oak, MD before heading back.
