Origin
Annapolis, MD
Late night in Annapolis on Friday
Local time
5:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Annapolis, MD to Damascus, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
51.2 mi
82 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Annapolis, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Damascus, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Annapolis, MD to Damascus, MD covers 51.2 miles and takes about 1h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Patuxent Freeway, Damascus Road, I 97 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.7 miles on Patuxent Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.49 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 51.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Annapolis, MD to Damascus, MD covers 51.2 miles and takes about 1h 16m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Patuxent Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 21.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MD 450 / College Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.2 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (MD 450 / College Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MD 450 / College Avenue
Enter roundabout onto MD 450 / College Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 97 North: Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 21
Toward I 97 North: Baltimore
5
4.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 97 North: Baltimore
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 97 North: Baltimore
9
11.5 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
MD 32 / Patuxent Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 32 / Patuxent Freeway toward MD 32: Columbia, Bowie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 7
Toward MD 32: Columbia, Bowie
7
33.3 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward MD 108: Clarksville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20
Toward MD 108: Clarksville
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 Annapolis, MD to Damascus, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Bowie along the way.
Bowie
11.5 mi in
|
~15m
|
via MD 32
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Patuxent Freeway | 21.7 mi | 29m |
| Damascus Road | 9.2 mi | 13m |
| I 97 | 6 mi | 6m |
| Brighton Dam Road | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| New Hampshire Avenue | 3 mi | 7m |
| John Hanson Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Roscoe Rowe Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Ten Oaks Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Patuxent Freeway
— 21.7 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Annapolis, MD and Damascus, MD.
1
Start on School Street
137 ft
·
6 sec
·
School Street
2
Enter roundabout onto MD 450
77 ft
·
1 sec
·
College Avenue
3
Continue on MD 450
343 ft
·
7 sec
·
College Avenue
4
Turn left onto MD 70
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Bladen Street
5
Continue on MD 70
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Roscoe Rowe Boulevard
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
7
Continue on US 50; US 301; MD 2
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
John Hanson Highway
8
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 21
Toward I 97 North: Baltimore
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 97 North: Baltimore
10
Continue on I 97
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
I 97
11
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 32
22 mi
·
29 min
·
Patuxent Freeway
Exit 7
Toward MD 32: Columbia, Bowie
Use the slight right lane.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 20
Toward MD 108: Clarksville
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto MD 108
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Clarksville Pike
14
Turn right onto Ten Oaks Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Ten Oaks Road
15
Enter roundabout onto Brighton Dam Road
190 ft
·
3 sec
·
Brighton Dam Road
16
Continue on Brighton Dam Road
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Brighton Dam Road
17
Turn right onto MD 650
3.0 mi
·
7 min
·
New Hampshire Avenue
18
Continue on MD 650
9.2 mi
·
13 min
·
Damascus Road
19
Continue on MD 108
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Main Street
20
Turn right
35 ft
·
2 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.6 mi from Annapolis, MD · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.6 miles from Annapolis, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Damascus, MD
The final approach into Damascus, MD usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.49 one way
$16.98 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.30 | $18.59 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.93 | $19.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.30 | $22.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.38 | $2.46 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.48 | $2.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.17 | $3.28 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Damascus, MD
Late night in Damascus on Friday
Local time
5:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Columbia, MD
26 mi in
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
1h 16m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Annapolis, MD to Damascus, MD covers 51.2 miles and takes about 1h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Patuxent Freeway, Damascus Road, I 97. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.6 miles from Annapolis, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.49 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.2 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MD 450 / College Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Annapolis, MD to Damascus, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Bowie along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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