Trip from Chesapeake Beach, MD to Laurel, MD

Drive Time

1h 3m

Distance

39.4 mi

63 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 58m ★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m

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

Downtown Laurel, MD, MD

Laurel, MD

Wyxina Tresse

Trip Overview

The drive from Chesapeake Beach, MD to Laurel, MD covers 39.4 miles and takes about 1h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Laurel Bowie Road, East Chesapeake Beach Road, South East Crain Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 11.5 miles on Laurel Bowie Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.52 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

19.7 miles from Chesapeake Beach, MD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 31m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 3m drive with frequent turns across 39.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Laurel Bowie Road is the longest continuous segment at about 11.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 17th Street.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 39.4 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (17th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MD 261 / Bayside Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.3 miles (MD 4 / Southern Maryland Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | 17th Street

Turn left onto 17th Street

Navigation decision point

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | MD 261 / Bayside Road

Turn right onto MD 261 / Bayside Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
5
9.3 mi into trip | ~16m in | MD 4 / Southern Maryland Boulevard

Merge onto MD 4 / Southern Maryland Boulevard

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
15.2 mi into trip | ~24m in

Take the exit toward US 301 North: Baltimore

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 301 North: Baltimore
6
24.3 mi into trip | ~37m in

Take the exit toward MD 197 North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward MD 197 North

Towns Along This Route

Between Chesapeake Beach, MD and Laurel, MD, road signs point toward Maryland 4, Prince Frederick and Washington.

Maryland 4

9.1 mi in | ~15m | via MD 260

Prince Frederick

9.1 mi in | ~15m | via MD 260

Washington

9.1 mi in | ~15m | via MD 260

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Laurel Bowie Road 11.5 mi 18m
East Chesapeake Beach Road 8.4 mi 13m
South East Crain Highway 7.4 mi 10m
Stephanie Roper Highway 4 mi 5m
Collington Road 3.1 mi 5m
Southern Maryland Boulevard 1.9 mi 2m
Crain Highway 1.3 mi 1m
Bayside Road 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Laurel Bowie Road — 11.5 mi, about 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on C Street

56 ft · 11 sec · C Street
2

Turn left onto 17th Street

480 ft · 29 sec · 17th Street
3

Turn right onto MD 261

0.6 mi · 1 min · Bayside Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
4

Turn left onto MD 260

8.4 mi · 13 min · East Chesapeake Beach Road
5

Take the ramp onto MD 260

0.2 mi · 30 sec · MD 260
Toward Maryland 4, Prince Frederick, Washington
6

Merge onto MD 4

1.9 mi · 2 min · Southern Maryland Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Continue on MD 4

4.0 mi · 5 min · Stephanie Roper Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 1 min
Toward US 301 North: Baltimore Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto US 301

1.3 mi · 1 min · Crain Highway
10

Continue on US 301

7.4 mi · 10 min · South East Crain Highway
Use the straight lane.
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Toward MD 197 North Use the slight left lane.
12

Turn straight onto MD 197

3.1 mi · 5 min · Collington Road
Use the left lane.
13

Continue on MD 197

11 mi · 18 min · Laurel Bowie Road
Use the straight lane.
14

Turn left onto MD 198

0.3 mi · 45 sec · Fort Meade Road
15

Continue on MD 198

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Talbott Avenue
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16

Turn left

86 ft · 2 sec
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
17

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 19.7 miles from Chesapeake Beach, MD, or about 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 11.5 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 39.4 miles or 1h 3m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 19.7 miles or 31m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 53m

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 Chesapeake Beach, 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 Chesapeake Beach, MD

This is one driving day of about 39.4 miles and 1h 3m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chesapeake Beach, 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 Laurel Bowie Road for about 11.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 19.7 mi from Chesapeake Beach, MD · 31m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

20 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 39.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 19.7 miles from Chesapeake Beach, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.52 one way

$13.04 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $7.13 $14.27
premium $4.92 $7.63 $15.27
diesel $5.64 $8.75 $17.51

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$7

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$32–$57

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.8 0 $4.14 $1.89
Efficient EV 9.9 0 $3.45 $1.58
EV Truck/SUV 15.8 0 $5.52 $2.52

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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 1 day ago

Origin

Chesapeake Beach, MD

Morning in Chesapeake Beach on Monday

Local time

10:23 AM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Laurel, MD

Morning in Laurel on Monday

Local time

10:23 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

2 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 3m 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 Chesapeake Beach, MD to Laurel, MD covers 39.4 miles and takes about 1h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Laurel Bowie Road, East Chesapeake Beach Road, South East Crain Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.7 miles from Chesapeake Beach, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.52 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 demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 39.4 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (17th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MD 261 / Bayside Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.3 miles (MD 4 / Southern Maryland Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Chesapeake Beach, MD and Laurel, MD, road signs point toward Maryland 4, Prince Frederick and Washington.

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