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Trip from College Park, MD to Brunswick, MD

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 21m

Distance

58.4 mi

94 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 16m ★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 35m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m

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

Downtown College Park, MD, MD

College Park, MD

Wikimedia Commons

city in Frederick County, Maryland, United States

Brunswick, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from College Park, MD to Brunswick, MD covers 58.4 miles and takes about 1h 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 270, Jefferson National Pike, Capital Beltway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 31.8 miles on I 270. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.68 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 21m. Total distance: 58.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from College Park, MD to Brunswick, MD covers 58.4 miles and takes about 1h 21m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 270 is the longest continuous segment at about 31.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.4 miles you will encounter 24 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 4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.9 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 24 key points

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

8
4 mi into trip | ~9m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 West: Northern Virginia, Silver Spring

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 495 West: Northern Virginia, Silver Sp...
8
11.9 mi into trip | ~20m in | I 270

Keep slight right at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 North: Frederick

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 35 Toward I 270 North: Frederick
8
43.7 mi into trip | ~1h in

Take the exit toward I 70: Hagerstown, Baltimore

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 32 Toward I 70: Hagerstown, Baltimore
8
45 mi into trip | ~1h 2m in | I 70 Exit 5A

Take the exit onto I 70 Exit 5A toward US 340 West, US 15 South: Charles Town, Leesburg

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

Use the right lane. Exit 52 Toward US 340 West, US 15 South: Charles Town,...
8
45.3 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 15 South, US 340 West: Charles Town, Leesburg

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward US 15 South, US 340 West: Charles Town,...

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between College Park, MD and Brunswick, MD, road signs point toward Silver Spring, Baltimore and Leesburg.

Silver Spring

3.8 mi in | ~9m

Baltimore

3.8 mi in | ~9m

Leesburg

45 mi in | ~1h 2m | via I 70 Exit 5A

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 270 31.8 mi 40m
Jefferson National Pike 8 mi 9m
Capital Beltway 7.6 mi 9m
Petersville Road 2.8 mi 5m
Adelphi Road 2.3 mi 4m
Jefferson Pike 1.7 mi 3m
I 70 0.5 mi <1m
Mowatt Lane 0.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 270 — 31.8 mi, about 40m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between College Park, MD and Brunswick, MD.

1

Start on Knox Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · Knox Road
2

Turn right onto Mowatt Lane

0.4 mi · 1 min · Mowatt Lane
3

Enter roundabout onto Campus Drive

172 ft · 5 sec · Campus Drive
4

Continue on Campus Drive

0.4 mi · 1 min · Campus Drive
5

Turn right onto Adelphi Road

2.3 mi · 4 min · Adelphi Road
6

Turn right onto MD 650

0.3 mi · 36 sec · New Hampshire Avenue
7

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 19 sec
Toward I 495: Northern Virginia, Silver Spring, Baltimore, College Park Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward I 495 West: Northern Virginia, Silver Spring Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto I 495

7.6 mi · 9 min · Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 270

3.6 mi · 4 min · I 270
Exit 35 Toward I 270 North: Frederick Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork onto I 270

28 mi · 35 min · I 270
Toward I 270 North Use the slight right lane.
12

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 30 sec
Exit 32 Toward I 70: Hagerstown, Baltimore Use the slight right lane.
13

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 29 sec
Toward I 70 West: Hagerstown Use the slight left lane.
14

Merge onto I 70

0.5 mi · 37 sec · I 70
15

Take the exit onto I 70 Exit 5A

0.3 mi · 26 sec · I 70 Exit 5A
Exit 52 Toward US 340 West, US 15 South: Charles Town, Leesburg Use the right lane.
16

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward US 15 South, US 340 West: Charles Town, Leesburg Use the slight left lane.
17

Merge onto US 15; US 340

3.9 mi · 4 min · Jefferson National Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight right at fork onto US 340

4.2 mi · 4 min · Jefferson National Pike
Toward US 340 West: Charles Town Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward MD 180: Petersville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Keep slight left at fork

176 ft · 5 sec
21

Turn left onto MD 180

1.7 mi · 3 min · Jefferson Pike
22

Turn left onto MD 79

2.3 mi · 4 min · Petersville Road
23

Enter roundabout onto MD 17

182 ft · 6 sec · Petersville Road
24

Continue on MD 17

0.4 mi · 51 sec · Petersville Road
25

Enter roundabout onto Petersville Road

192 ft · 3 sec · Petersville Road
26

Continue on Petersville Road

90 ft · 10 sec · Petersville Road
27

Continue on Petersville Road

72 ft · 2 sec · Petersville Road
28

Arrive at destination

Petersville Road

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 29.2 mi from College Park, MD · 42m into the drive

census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Germantown, MD

29 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

North Bethesda, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Germantown, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 29.2 miles from College Park, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Brunswick, MD

The final approach into Brunswick, 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

$9.68 one way

$19.36 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 20 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $10.60 $21.21
premium $4.93 $11.33 $22.65
diesel $5.61 $12.89 $25.79

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.4 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 17.5 0 $6.13 $2.80
Efficient EV 14.6 0 $5.11 $2.34
EV Truck/SUV 23.4 0 $8.18 $3.74

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

College Park, MD

Afternoon in College Park on Thursday

Local time

2:42 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Brunswick, MD

Afternoon in Brunswick on Thursday

Local time

2:42 PM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

74°F

Germantown, MD

29 mi in

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 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 21m 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 College Park, MD to Brunswick, MD covers 58.4 miles and takes about 1h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 270, Jefferson National Pike, Capital Beltway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29.2 miles from College Park, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.68 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 58.4 miles you will encounter 24 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 4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.9 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between College Park, MD and Brunswick, MD, road signs point toward Silver Spring, Baltimore and Leesburg.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Monocacy National Battlefield, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. There are 5 parks within detour distance of this route.

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