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Trip from Waldorf, MD to Annapolis, MD

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 2m

Distance

42.4 mi

68 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 57m ★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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census designated place in Charles County, Maryland, United States

Waldorf, MD

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States, and Maryland federated state capital city

Annapolis, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 42.4-mile drive from Waldorf, MD to Annapolis, MD takes about 1 hour and 2 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate via Crain Highway, John Hanson Highway, and South East Crain Highway, with a significant portion on local roads. The estimated fuel cost is around $7. This route offers a straightforward journey through the Northeast region of Maryland. Given its short distance and manageable duration, it’s ideal for a spontaneous outing or a relaxed addition to a longer itinerary. There's no need to split this drive or plan for an overnight stay.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Crain Highway 19.2 mi 28m
John Hanson Highway 10.8 mi 12m
South East Crain Highway 8 mi 11m
Roscoe Rowe Boulevard 1.3 mi 2m
Saint Patricks Drive 1 mi 2m
US 301 0.7 mi 1m
Smallwood Drive West 0.3 mi <1m
Lancaster Circle 0.3 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Crain Highway — 19.2 mi, about 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waldorf, MD and Annapolis, MD.

1

Start on Lancaster Circle

0.3 mi · 1 min · Lancaster Circle
2

At end of road, turn left onto Smallwood Drive West

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Smallwood Drive West
3

Turn left onto Saint Patricks Drive

1.0 mi · 2 min · Saint Patricks Drive
4

Turn left onto US 301

6.2 mi · 10 min · Crain Highway
Use the straight lane.
5

Keep slight right at fork onto US 301

13 mi · 18 min · Crain Highway
6

Continue on US 301

8.0 mi · 11 min · South East Crain Highway
Use the straight lane.
7

Take the exit onto US 301

0.1 mi · 17 sec · US 301
Toward US 50, US 301: Annapolis, Washington Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto US 301

0.6 mi · 1 min · US 301
Toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis
9

Merge onto US 50; US 301

11 mi · 12 min · John Hanson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Exit 24 Toward MD 70: Rowe Boulevard, Bestgate Road, Annapolis, Maryland Fire-Rescue Memorial, Historic Annapolis State Capital Use the slight right lane.
11

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Toward MD 70 : Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis South
12

Turn straight onto MD 70

1.1 mi · 1 min · Roscoe Rowe Boulevard
13

Keep slight right at fork onto Roscoe Rowe Boulevard

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Roscoe Rowe Boulevard
14

Turn left onto Northwest Street

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Northwest Street
15

Enter roundabout onto School Street

0.1 mi · 16 sec · School Street
16

Continue on School Street

137 ft · 5 sec · School Street
17

Arrive at destination

School Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

census-designated place in Maryland, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Forestville, MD

21 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Parole, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bowie, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 21.2 miles from Waldorf, 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 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 28.8 and 42.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
28.8 mi into trip | ~44m in | US 301

Take the exit onto US 301 toward US 50, US 301: Annapolis, Washington

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 50, US 301: Annapolis, Washington
6
28.9 mi into trip | ~44m in | US 301

Keep slight right at fork onto US 301 toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis
8
40.3 mi into trip | ~58m in

Take the exit toward MD 70: Rowe Boulevard, Bestgate Road, Annapolis, Maryland Fire-Rescue Memorial, Historic Annapolis State Capital

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 24 Toward MD 70: Rowe Boulevard, Bestgate Road, An...
7
40.6 mi into trip | ~58m in

Keep slight right at fork toward MD 70 : Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward MD 70 : Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis South
6
42.2 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in | School Street

Enter roundabout onto School Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.03 one way

$14.06 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $7.70 $15.40
premium $4.93 $8.22 $16.45
diesel $5.61 $9.36 $18.72

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12.7 0 $4.45 $2.04
Efficient EV 10.6 0 $3.71 $1.70
EV Truck/SUV 17 0 $5.94 $2.71

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (67% 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 17, 2026

Origin

Waldorf, MD

Late night in Waldorf on Sunday

Local time

3:54 AM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Annapolis, MD

Late night in Annapolis on Sunday

Local time

3:54 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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 2m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous highway cruise. While 33% of the route involves highway driving, the majority unfolds on local roads. Your longest uninterrupted stretch will be 19.2 miles on Crain Highway. The road's personality shifts as you progress, transitioning between faster highway segments and more intricate local road networks. This mix means you'll need to stay engaged, especially when navigating intersections and changes in speed limits.

Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.2 mi on 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 28.8 miles in near US 301.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.4 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 28.8 miles (US 301): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.9 miles (US 301): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Waldorf, MD to Annapolis, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Washington along the way.

Washington

28.8 mi in | ~44m | via US 301

About the Cities

Arriving in Annapolis, MD

Full guide →

Annapolis is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland. Annapolis was a thriving, wealthy town in the 1600s and 1700s. Many of the houses and other buildings from the 1800s remain, leaving a thriving, vibrant historic district with shops and restaurants along the waterfront. Brick-lined streets and quaint shops add to the feel. You could easily spend a day walking around the town's downtown harbor area shopping and eating. There is also a lively nighttime scene.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 42.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 2m 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 19.2 miles on 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 Annapolis, 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 28.8 miles (US 301): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.9 miles (US 301): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — 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 Annapolis, MD before heading back.

How this page is built

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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