Origin
Wheaton, MD
Night in Wheaton on Saturday
Local time
10:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wheaton, 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
49m
Distance
36.4 mi
59 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wheaton, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Annapolis, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Wheaton to Annapolis covers 36.4 miles, making it an efficient trip that typically takes about 45 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight lodging. You can expect to spend roughly $6 on fuel for the journey, keeping it quite budget-friendly. The path takes you through Maryland's northeast corridor, transitioning from the suburban atmosphere of Wheaton toward the historic capital. It is a straightforward drive that prioritizes speed and utility over a leisurely pace, ideal for those looking to reach their destination quickly without unnecessary complications.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John Hanson Highway | 18.7 mi | 21m |
| Capital Beltway | 12.4 mi | 15m |
| Georgia Avenue | 1.6 mi | 4m |
| Roscoe Rowe Boulevard | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Veirs Mill Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Northwest Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| School Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John Hanson Highway
— 18.7 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wheaton, MD and Annapolis, MD.
1
Start on MD 586
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Veirs Mill Road
2
Turn straight onto MD 97
1.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Georgia Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 495 East: Baltimore
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 495
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 19A
Toward US 50 East: Annapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto US 50
19 mi
·
21 min
·
John Hanson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
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.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward MD 70 : Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis South
9
Turn straight onto MD 70
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Roscoe Rowe Boulevard
10
Keep slight right at fork onto Roscoe Rowe Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Roscoe Rowe Boulevard
11
Turn left onto Northwest Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Northwest Street
12
Enter roundabout onto School Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
School Street
13
Continue on School Street
137 ft
·
5 sec
·
School Street
14
Arrive at destination
School Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.2 miles from Wheaton, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 36.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 495 East: Baltimore
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 495 East: Baltimore
7
14.6 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward US 50 East: Annapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 19A
Toward US 50 East: Annapolis
8
34.3 mi into trip
|
~45m 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
34.6 mi into trip
|
~46m 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
36.3 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
School Street
Enter roundabout onto School Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.03 one way
$12.07 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.61 | $13.22 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.06 | $14.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.04 | $16.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.75 |
| Efficient EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.18 | $1.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.10 | $2.33 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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.
Destination
Annapolis, MD
Night in Annapolis on Saturday
Local time
10:44 PM
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
49m 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 that demands your full attention as you navigate away from Wheaton. You will transition onto Georgia Avenue before utilizing I-495 East and the Capital Beltway to bridge the gap toward Annapolis. Since the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a route defined by local roads and frequent adjustments rather than long, monotonous interstate stretches. This personality makes the 45-minute duration feel active, as you are rarely cruising on a single straightaway for very long. Keep your focus sharp, as the technical nature of the roads requires constant navigation through the local Maryland landscape.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.7 mi on John Hanson 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 2 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 36.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.3 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Wheaton, MD and Annapolis, MD, road signs point toward Maryland Fire-Rescue Memorial and Historic Annapolis State Capital.
Maryland Fire-Rescue Memorial
34.3 mi in
|
~45m
Historic Annapolis State Capital
34.3 mi in
|
~45m
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 49m. Total distance: 36.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m 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 18.7 miles on John Hanson 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 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.3 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, 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 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Annapolis, MD
More trips to Annapolis, MD
Explore more options from Wheaton, MD or browse trips ending in Annapolis, MD.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips.