Origin
California, MD
Afternoon in California on Wednesday
Local time
3:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from California, MD to Frederick, MD
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 9m
Distance
110.1 mi
177 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 0m
★
6 AM
2h 9m
8 AM
2h 28m
10 AM
2h 16m
12 PM
2h 14m
3 PM
2h 17m
5 PM
2h 27m
8 PM
2h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
California, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Frederick, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from California, MD to Frederick, MD covers 110.1 miles and takes about 2h 9m 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, Leonardtown Road, Mattawoman Beantown Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.25 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
55 miles from California, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 9m drive with frequent turns across 110.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 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.
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 California, MD to Frederick, MD is easy. At 2h 9m 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 California, MD to Frederick, MD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Three Notch Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Leonardtown Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Mattawoman Beantown Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Crain Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Branch Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 95 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Capital Beltway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 270 North | 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.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between California, MD and Frederick, MD.
1
Start on Shady Mile Drive
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
Shady Mile Drive
2
Turn right onto Three Notch Road
22 mi
·
30 min
·
Three Notch Road
3
Continue on Leonardtown Road
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Leonardtown Road
4
Turn right onto Mattawoman Beantown Road
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Mattawoman Beantown Road
5
Merge slight left onto Crain Highway
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Crain Highway
6
Keep slight left to continue on Branch Avenue
9.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Branch Avenue
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, College Park
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, College Park
8
Merge slight left onto Capital Beltway
18 mi
·
24 min
·
Capital Beltway
9
Keep slight left to continue on Capital Beltway
9.5 mi
·
12 min
·
Capital Beltway
10
Keep slight right to continue on I 270 North: Frederick
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
I 270 North: Frederick
11
Keep slight right to continue on I 270 North
27 mi
·
34 min
·
I 270 North
12
Take the exit slight right toward MD 85: Frederick, Buckeystown
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
MD 85: Frederick, Buckeystown
13
Turn right onto Buckeystown Pike
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Buckeystown Pike
14
Continue on Buckeystown Pike
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Buckeystown Pike
15
Continue on East Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
East Street
16
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward East Street
118 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Street
17
Exit the roundabout onto East Street
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
East Street
18
Turn left onto East South Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
East South Street
19
Turn right onto South Carroll Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
South Carroll Street
20
Turn left onto East Patrick Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
East Patrick Street
21
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 55 miles from California, MD, or about 1h 4m 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55 miles or 1h 4m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Frederick, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from California, MD
This is one driving day of about 110.1 miles and 2h 9m.
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 55 mi from California, MD · 1h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
55 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 55 miles from California, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Frederick, MD
The final approach into Frederick, 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 Frederick, 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
$18.25 one way
$36.51 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $19.99 | $39.98 |
| premium | $4.93 | $21.35 | $42.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.31 | $48.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33 | 0 | $11.56 | $5.28 |
| Efficient EV | 27.5 | 0 | $9.63 | $4.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44 | 0 | $15.41 | $7.05 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Frederick, MD
Afternoon in Frederick on Wednesday
Local time
3:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°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
15 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
2h 9m 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 California, MD to Frederick, MD covers 110.1 miles and takes about 2h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Three Notch Road, Leonardtown Road, Mattawoman Beantown Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 55 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 $18.25 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 California, MD to Frederick, MD is easy. At 2h 9m 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 California, MD to Frederick, MD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from California, MD to Frederick, MD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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