Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
49.2 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
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.
Rockville, MD
Jonathan Borba
Cape Saint Claire, MD
Jay Johnson
This 49.2-mile drive from Rockville, MD, to Cape Saint Claire, MD, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 7 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via the John Hanson Highway and the Capital Beltway, with a brief stint on I-270. The route has a relatively low highway share of 11%, suggesting a more local driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $8, this is an economical option for a quick getaway. Since both destinations are within Maryland's Northeast region, you won't be crossing state lines, keeping things straightforward for your journey.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John Hanson Highway | 18.7 mi | 21m |
| Capital Beltway | 16.3 mi | 21m |
| I 270 | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| Cape Saint Claire Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Great Falls Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Busch's Frontage Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Hampton Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Rockville, MD and Cape Saint Claire, MD.
Start on South Washington Street
Turn left onto West Montgomery Avenue
Continue on Great Falls Road
Turn right onto MD 189
Continue on MD 189
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 270
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Merge onto US 50
Continue on US 50; US 301; MD 2
Take the exit
Continue on Busch's Frontage Road
Turn left onto MD 179
Continue on MD 179
Turn left onto Hilltop Drive
Turn left onto Blue Ridge Drive
Turn right onto Hampton Road
Turn left onto Dogwood Tree Drive
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 24.6 miles from Rockville, 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 1 and 46.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward I 270 South
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 South: Silver Spring, College Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 495 / Capital Beltway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 50 East: Annapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MD 179: Saint Margarets Road, Busch's Frontage Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$8.16 one way
$16.31 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.93 | $17.87 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.54 | $19.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.86 | $21.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.17 | $2.36 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.31 | $1.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.89 | $3.15 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Rockville on Sunday
Local time
12:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Cape Saint Claire on Sunday
Local time
12:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, rather than a monotonous interstate grind. While it incorporates some highway driving, only 11% of the journey is on major highways, indicating frequent turns and transitions. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 18.7 miles on the John Hanson Highway. This means you'll likely experience a varied driving experience, moving from faster-paced highway sections to more intricate local roads as you approach your destination.
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 1 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.2 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 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.7 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Rockville, MD to Cape Saint Claire, MD, road signs begin pointing toward College Park along the way.
College Park
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 7m. Total distance: 49.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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