Origin
Bowie, MD
Evening in Bowie on Wednesday
Local time
5:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bowie, MD to California, MD
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
56.1 mi
90 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bowie, MD
Wikimedia Commons
California, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Bowie, MD to California, MD covers 56.1 miles and takes about 1h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Evergreen Parkway, Collington Road, North West Crain Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.30 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
28.1 miles from Bowie, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 42m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 24m drive with frequent turns across 56.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Evergreen Parkway is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Bowie, MD to California, MD is easy. At 1h 24m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bowie, MD to California, MD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Evergreen Parkway | — | — |
| Collington Road | — | — |
| North West Crain Highway | — | — |
| Village Drive West | — | — |
| Old Crain Highway | — | — |
| Marlboro Pike | — | — |
| Green Landing Road | — | — |
| MD 4 South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Evergreen Parkway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bowie, MD and California, MD.
1
Start on the route
108 ft
·
8 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right
259 ft
·
21 sec
3
Turn left onto Evergreen Parkway
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Evergreen Parkway
4
Turn right onto Collington Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Collington Road
5
Turn right onto North West Crain Highway
7.1 mi
·
10 min
·
North West Crain Highway
6
Turn left onto Village Drive West
230 ft
·
11 sec
·
Village Drive West
7
Turn right onto Old Crain Highway
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Old Crain Highway
8
Continue on Marlboro Pike
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Marlboro Pike
9
Turn right onto Green Landing Road
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Green Landing Road
10
Take the ramp left toward MD 4 South
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
MD 4 South
11
Merge slight left onto Stephanie Roper Highway
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Stephanie Roper Highway
12
Continue on Southern Maryland Boulevard
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Southern Maryland Boulevard
13
Continue on North Solomons Island Road
9.0 mi
·
13 min
·
North Solomons Island Road
14
Continue on South Solomons Island Road
19 mi
·
26 min
·
South Solomons Island Road
15
Continue on Thomas Johnson Bridge
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Thomas Johnson Bridge
16
Continue on Patuxent Beach Road
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Patuxent Beach Road
17
Turn left onto Three Notch Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Three Notch Road
18
Turn left onto Shady Mile Drive
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
Shady Mile Drive
19
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 28.1 miles from Bowie, MD, or about 42m into the drive.
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 12 miles or 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 28.1 miles or 42m 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 11m
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 Bowie, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bowie, MD
This is one driving day of about 56.1 miles and 1h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 12 miles from Bowie, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.1 mi from Bowie, MD · 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.1 miles from Bowie, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.30 one way
$18.60 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.19 | $20.37 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.88 | $21.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.39 | $24.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.89 | $2.69 |
| Efficient EV | 14 | 0 | $4.91 | $2.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.4 | 0 | $7.85 | $3.59 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Evening in California on Wednesday
Local time
5:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
16 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 24m 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 Bowie, MD to California, MD covers 56.1 miles and takes about 1h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Evergreen Parkway, Collington Road, North West Crain Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.1 miles from Bowie, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.30 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.
The drive from Bowie, MD to California, MD is easy. At 1h 24m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bowie, MD to California, MD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Bowie, MD to California, MD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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