Trip from California, MD to Annapolis, MD

Drive Time

1h 22m

Distance

61.8 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Quick day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from California, MD to Annapolis, MD covers 61.8 miles and takes about 1h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Three Notch Road, Patuxent Beach Road, Thomas Johnson Bridge for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.94 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

30.9 miles from California, MD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 41m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 22m drive with frequent turns across 61.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Three Notch Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Three Notch Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
Patuxent Beach Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
Thomas Johnson Bridge	Unavailable	Refreshing
South Solomons Island Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
North Solomons Island Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
Solomons Island Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
New Solomoms Island Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 301 East	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Three Notch Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on Shady Mile Drive

2

Turn right onto Three Notch Road

3

Turn right onto Patuxent Beach Road

4

Continue on Thomas Johnson Bridge

5

Continue on South Solomons Island Road

6

Continue on North Solomons Island Road

7

Take the exit slight right

8

Merge slight left onto North Solomons Island Road

9

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Solomons Island Road

10

Exit the roundabout onto Solomons Island Road

11

Continue on New Solomoms Island Road

12

Continue on Solomons Island Road

13

Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Solomons Island Road

14

Exit the roundabout onto Solomons Island Road

15

Take the exit slight right toward US 301 East, US 50 East: Bay Bridge

16

Merge slight left onto John Hanson Highway

17

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

18

Keep slight right to continue on MD 70 : Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis South

19

Turn straight onto Roscoe Rowe Boulevard

20

Keep slight right to continue on Roscoe Rowe Boulevard

21

Turn left onto Northwest Street

22

Enter the roundabout and take exit 5 toward Church Circle

23

Exit the rotary onto School Street

24

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 30.9 miles from California, MD, or about 41m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 61.8 miles or 1h 22m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 30.9 miles or 41m 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 10m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Annapolis, MD than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving California, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from California, MD

This is one driving day of about 61.8 miles and 1h 22m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from California, 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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

31 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Annapolis, 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 Annapolis, MD.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 30.9 mi from California, MD

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 61.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30.9 miles from California, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$4.09	$9.94	$19.88
midgrade	$4.60	$11.19	$22.38
premium	$4.95	$12.05	$24.11
diesel	$5.98	$14.55	$29.10

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from California, MD to Annapolis, MD covers 61.8 miles and takes about 1h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Three Notch Road, Patuxent Beach Road, Thomas Johnson Bridge. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 30.9 miles from California, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.94 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.