Saint Charles, MD to Travilah, MD is 54.1 miles and takes about 1h 19m via Capital Beltway and Indian Head 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 towards the Northeast region. Expect a drive primarily on surface roads, so it's a good option for when you want to avoid extensive highway time. Given its manageable length and estimated duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip without feeling rushed.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Capital Beltway
17.4 mi
20m
Indian Head Highway
9.5 mi
13m
Capital Beltway (Thru)
8 mi
10m
River Road
5.1 mi
9m
Berry Road
3.9 mi
6m
Glen Road
2.2 mi
3m
McDaniel Road
1.9 mi
3m
Crain Highway
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 17.4 mi, about 20m
Traffic on I-495
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 44 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,181 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~310 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Saint Charles, MD and Travilah, MD.
1
Start on US 301
0.3 mi·29 sec·Crain Highway
2
Continue on US 301
1.3 mi·2 min·Crain Highway
3
Turn left onto Smallwood Drive West
1.2 mi·2 min·Smallwood Drive West
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto McDaniel Road
1.9 mi·3 min·McDaniel Road
5
Turn right onto Middletown Road
0.3 mi·30 sec·Middletown Road
6
Turn left onto MD 228
3.9 mi·6 min·Berry Road
7
Continue on MD 210
9.5 mi·13 min·Indian Head Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 95, I 495: Richmond, BaltimoreUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 95 South, I 495 South, I 295 North: Washington, RichmondUse the slight left lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 South, I 495 South: RichmondUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 95; I 495
8.0 mi·10 min·Capital Beltway (Thru)
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 495
0.7 mi·47 sec·Capital Beltway
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on I 495
2.4 mi·2 min·Capital Beltway
Exit 170AToward I 495 North: Tysons CornerUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 495
14 mi·17 min·Capital Beltway
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Exit 39Toward MD 190: Washington, PotomacUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 39AToward MD 190 West: River Road, Potomac
17
Turn straight onto MD 190
5.1 mi·9 min·River Road
18
Turn right onto Piney Meetinghouse Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Piney Meetinghouse Road
19
Turn left onto Glen Road
2.2 mi·3 min·Glen Road
20
Turn right onto Travilah Road
99 ft·1 sec·Travilah Road
21
Arrive at destination
Travilah Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 27.1 miles from Saint Charles, 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 18.3 and 45.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
18.3 mi into trip|~28m in
Take the exit toward I 95, I 495: Richmond, Baltimore
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.
Toward I 95, I 495: Richmond, Baltimore
9
18.5 mi into trip|~29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, I 495 South, I 295 North: Washington, Richmond
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 95 South, I 495 South, I 295 North: Wa...
8
18.7 mi into trip|~29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South, I 495 South: Richmond
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, I 495 South: Richmond
8
44.8 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward MD 190: Washington, Potomac
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 39
Toward MD 190: Washington, Potomac
7
45.2 mi into trip|~1h 3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 190 West: River Road, Potomac
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 39A
Toward MD 190 West: River Road, Potomac
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.45 one way
$18.90 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg19 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$10.35
$20.69
premium
$5.20
$11.07
$22.13
diesel
$6.28
$13.37
$26.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
16.2
0
$5.68
$2.60
Efficient EV
13.5
0
$4.73
$2.16
EV Truck/SUV
21.6
0
$7.57
$3.46
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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 Oct 20, 2026
Origin
Saint Charles, MD
Late night
in Saint Charles on Saturday
Local time
12:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Clear
NW 3 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Coastal Flood Watch
The Coastal Flood Watch has been replaced. Please see the latest information from NWS Wakefield VA on this developing si...
Coastal Flood Watch
The Coastal Flood Watch has been replaced. Please see the latest information from NWS Wakefield VA on this developing si...
Destination
Travilah, MD
Late night
in Travilah on Saturday
Local time
12:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Clear
N 3 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Coastal Flood Watch
The Coastal Flood Watch has been replaced. Please see the latest information from NWS Wakefield VA on this developing si...
Coastal Flood Watch
The Coastal Flood Watch has been replaced. Please see the latest information from NWS Wakefield VA on this developing si...
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
4 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 19m 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 drive is mostly on surface roads, with 0% highway mileage. You'll encounter your longest stretch of continuous driving on the Capital Beltway, covering 17.4 miles. Be prepared for frequent intersections and traffic signals as you transition between main roads and local streets. The route involves navigating through a mix of developed areas and potentially less congested stretches.
Only 0% 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: 17.4 mi on Capital Beltway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 18.3 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.1 miles you will encounter 15 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 18.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
455 ft20 ft
Total Climb
763 ft
Total Descent
619 ft
Highest Point
455 ft
~38.6 mi in
Elevation Range
435 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Saint Charles, MD and Travilah, MD, road signs point toward Baltimore, Richmond and Potomac.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 54.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m 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 17.4 miles on Capital Beltway. 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 Travilah, 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 18.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Monocacy National Battlefield. 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 Travilah, MD before heading back.
