Origin
Annapolis, MD
Afternoon in Annapolis on Wednesday
Local time
3:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Annapolis, MD to California, MD
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 34m
Distance
60 mi
96 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 27m
★
6 AM
1h 34m
8 AM
1h 49m
10 AM
1h 39m
12 PM
1h 38m
3 PM
1h 40m
5 PM
1h 48m
8 PM
1h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Annapolis, MD
Wikimedia Commons
California, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 60-mile drive from Annapolis to California, Maryland, is a manageable one-day adventure, taking approximately 1 hour and 34 minutes. With no highway driving, expect a more local feel throughout the journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $10, making it an economical trip. This route is perfect for a leisurely day trip, allowing you to enjoy the drive without feeling rushed. Since both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region and the state of Maryland, you'll be staying within familiar territory for this short excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
30 miles from Annapolis, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with no highway mileage to speak of. You'll primarily be navigating Solomons Island Road and South Solomons Island Road, with West Street also playing a role. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 34.1 miles on Solomons Island Road. This means you'll experience a consistent local road feel for a significant portion of your journey, with frequent turns and varied road conditions as you progress through different communities.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Solomons Island Road is the longest continuous segment at about 34.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MD 450 / West Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 34m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MD 450 / West Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.7 miles (MD 450 / West Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.5 miles (MD 2 / Solomons Island Road): Lane positioning matters here.
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 / West Street
Enter roundabout onto MD 450 / West Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
MD 450 / West Street
Enter roundabout onto MD 450 / West Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
2.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
MD 2 / Solomons Island Road
Turn left onto MD 2 / Solomons Island Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
15 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
MD 2 / Solomons Island Road
Enter roundabout onto MD 2 / Solomons Island Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
15 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
MD 2 / Solomons Island Road
Right onto MD 2 / Solomons Island Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Solomons Island Road | 34.1 mi | 53m |
| South Solomons Island Road | 18.6 mi | 26m |
| West Street | 2.5 mi | 6m |
| Patuxent Beach Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Thomas Johnson Bridge | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Three Notch Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Shady Mile Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| School Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Solomons Island Road
— 34.1 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Annapolis, MD and California, MD.
1
Start on School Street
137 ft
·
6 sec
·
School Street
2
Enter roundabout onto MD 450
392 ft
·
12 sec
·
West Street
3
Continue on MD 450
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Street
4
Enter roundabout onto MD 450
116 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Street
5
Continue on MD 450
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
West Street
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left onto MD 2
12 mi
·
20 min
·
Solomons Island Road
Use the left lane.
7
Enter roundabout onto MD 2
164 ft
·
2 sec
·
Solomons Island Road
8
Continue on MD 2
6.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Solomons Island Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Enter roundabout onto MD 2
152 ft
·
1 sec
·
Solomons Island Road
10
Continue on MD 2
15 mi
·
22 min
·
Solomons Island Road
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on MD 2; MD 4
19 mi
·
26 min
·
South Solomons Island Road
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on MD 4
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Thomas Johnson Bridge
13
Continue on MD 4
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Patuxent Beach Road
14
Turn left onto MD 235
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Three Notch Road
15
Turn left onto Shady Mile Drive
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
Shady Mile Drive
16
Arrive at destination
Shady Mile Drive
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 34-minute duration, this drive offers great flexibility; you can leave Annapolis at your leisure. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid the busiest local traffic. With only 60 miles, you won't need extensive rest stops, but keep an eye on your fuel, especially before heading out, as the estimated cost is just $10. A practical tip for this route is to familiarize yourself with the frequent turns on Solomons Island Road and South Solomons Island Road using your GPS, as these will be the primary navigational points.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 30 miles from Annapolis, MD, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.1 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 60 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near California, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Annapolis, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Annapolis, MD
This is one driving day of about 60 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Annapolis, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Solomons Island Road for about 34.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30 mi from Annapolis, MD · 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30 miles from Annapolis, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in California, MD
The final approach into California, MD usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around California, MD.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.95 one way
$19.89 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.89 | $21.79 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.64 | $23.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.25 | $26.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18 | 0 | $6.30 | $2.88 |
| Efficient EV | 15 | 0 | $5.25 | $2.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24 | 0 | $8.40 | $3.84 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
California, MD
Afternoon in California on Wednesday
Local time
3:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 34m 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 California, MD covers 60 miles and takes about 1h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Solomons Island Road, South Solomons Island Road, West Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30 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 $9.95 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 is a straightforward 1h 34m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MD 450 / West Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.7 miles (MD 450 / West Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.5 miles (MD 2 / Solomons Island Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Annapolis, MD to California, MD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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