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Trip from Cambridge, MD to Laurel, MD

Drive Time

1h 54m

Distance

79.6 mi

128 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 46m ★
6 AM
1h 54m
8 AM
2h 11m
10 AM
2h 0m
12 PM
1h 58m
3 PM
2h 1m
5 PM
2h 10m
8 PM
1h 49m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Cambridge, MD, MD

Cambridge, MD

Ernie Marquez

Downtown Laurel, MD, MD

Laurel, MD

Wyxina Tresse

Trip Overview

The drive from Cambridge, MD to Laurel, MD covers 79.6 miles and takes about 1h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Ocean Gateway, Patuxent Freeway, I 97 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 53.1 miles on Ocean Gateway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.17 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

39.8 miles from Cambridge, MD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 54m drive with frequent turns across 79.6 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.
Ocean Gateway is the longest continuous segment at about 53.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 57.9 miles in.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 79.6 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 57.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 65.5 miles (MD 32 / Patuxent Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
57.9 mi into trip | ~1h 23m 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
58.9 mi into trip | ~1h 24m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 97 North: Baltimore

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 97 North: Baltimore
9
65.5 mi into trip | ~1h 32m 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
8
73.8 mi into trip | ~1h 43m in

Take the exit toward MD 198: Fort Meade, Laurel

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 8 Toward MD 198: Fort Meade, Laurel
5
74.1 mi into trip | ~1h 44m in | MD 198

Enter roundabout onto MD 198

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Cambridge, MD to Laurel, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Bowie along the way.

Bowie

65.5 mi in | ~1h 32m | via MD 32

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Ocean Gateway 53.1 mi 1h 14m
Patuxent Freeway 8.3 mi 11m
I 97 6 mi 6m
Laurel Fort Meade Road 4.5 mi 7m
John Hanson Highway 1.8 mi 2m
Senator Malkus Junior Bridge 1.6 mi 2m
Fort Meade Road 0.7 mi 1m
Cedar Street 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Ocean Gateway — 53.1 mi, about 1h 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cambridge, MD and Laurel, MD.

1

Start on MD 341

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Race Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
2

Turn right onto Cedar Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Cedar Street
3

Turn left onto US 50

0.6 mi · 1 min · Sunburst Highway
4

Continue on US 50

1.6 mi · 2 min · Senator Malkus Junior Bridge
5

Continue on US 50

53 mi · 1 hr 14 min · Ocean Gateway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Continue on US 50; US 301; MD 2

1.8 mi · 2 min · John Hanson Highway
7

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Exit 21 Toward I 97 North: Baltimore Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 51 sec
Toward I 97 North: Baltimore
9

Continue on I 97

6.0 mi · 6 min · I 97
10

Keep slight right at fork onto MD 32

8.3 mi · 11 min · Patuxent Freeway
Exit 7 Toward MD 32: Columbia, Bowie Use the slight right lane.
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Exit 8 Toward MD 198: Fort Meade, Laurel Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Enter roundabout onto MD 198

259 ft · 4 sec · MD 198
13

Continue on MD 198

0.1 mi · 9 sec · MD 198
14

Enter roundabout onto MD 198

86 ft · 1 sec · Laurel Fort Meade Road
15

Continue on MD 198

4.4 mi · 7 min · Laurel Fort Meade Road
Use the straight lane.
16

Continue on MD 198

0.7 mi · 1 min · Fort Meade Road
17

Continue on MD 198

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Talbott Avenue
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
18

Turn left

86 ft · 2 sec
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
19

Arrive at 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 39.8 miles from Cambridge, MD, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.1 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 79.6 miles or 1h 54m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 39.8 miles or 57m 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 35m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Cambridge, 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 Cambridge, MD

This is one driving day of about 79.6 miles and 1h 54m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cambridge, 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 Ocean Gateway for about 53.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 39.8 mi from Cambridge, MD · 57m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

40 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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 79.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.8 miles from Cambridge, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Laurel, MD

The final approach into Laurel, 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 Laurel, MD.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Harriet Tubman was a deeply spiritual woman who lived her ideals and dedicated her life to freedom. She is the Underground Railroad’s best known conductor and before the Civil War repeatedly risked he...

8 mi from route ~20 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potoma...

23 mi from route ~56 min detour $20 near mile 79.6
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.17 one way

$26.34 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $14.41 $28.83
premium $4.92 $15.42 $30.85
diesel $5.64 $17.68 $35.37

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.9 0 $8.36 $3.82
Efficient EV 19.9 0 $6.96 $3.18
EV Truck/SUV 31.8 0 $11.14 $5.09

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (68% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Cambridge, MD

Morning in Cambridge on Monday

Local time

9:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Laurel, MD

Morning in Laurel on Monday

Local time

9:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

62°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

5 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 54m 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 Cambridge, MD to Laurel, MD covers 79.6 miles and takes about 1h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ocean Gateway, Patuxent Freeway, I 97. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.8 miles from Cambridge, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.17 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 79.6 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 57.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 65.5 miles (MD 32 / Patuxent Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Cambridge, MD to Laurel, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Bowie along the way.

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