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Trip from College Park, MD to Chestertown, MD

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 43m

Distance

71.5 mi

115 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 36m ★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
1h 59m
10 AM
1h 49m
12 PM
1h 48m
3 PM
1h 50m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 39m

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 College Park, MD, MD

College Park, MD

Wikimedia Commons

town in Maryland, United States

Chestertown, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from College Park, MD to Chestertown, MD covers 71.5 miles and takes about 1h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Blue Star Memorial Highway, John Hanson Highway, Church Hill Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.3 miles on Blue Star Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.85 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.

Midpoint

35.7 miles from College Park, MD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 71.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 43m drive with frequent turns across 71.5 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.
Blue Star Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 27.3 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 3.5 miles in near Riverdale Road.

Driving Effort 6/10

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

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.5 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 3.5 miles (Riverdale Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (Veterans Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles: Navigation decision point.

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
3.5 mi into trip | ~9m in | Riverdale Road

Turn left onto Riverdale Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
3.6 mi into trip | ~9m in | Veterans Parkway

Turn left onto Veterans Parkway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
5.5 mi into trip | ~13m in

Turn left toward US 50 East: Annapolis

Navigation decision point

Toward US 50 East: Annapolis
5
5.6 mi into trip | ~13m in | US 50 / John Hanson Highway

Merge onto US 50 / John Hanson Highway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
47.3 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in | US 301 / Blue Star Memorial Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 301 / Blue Star Memorial Highway toward US 301 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward US 301 North

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway 27.3 mi 38m
John Hanson Highway 20.1 mi 23m
Church Hill Road 14.9 mi 22m
Centreville Road 2 mi 3m
Veterans Parkway 1.8 mi 3m
East-West Highway 1.2 mi 2m
Riverdale Road 1.2 mi 2m
Baltimore Avenue 1.1 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Blue Star Memorial Highway — 27.3 mi, about 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Knox Road

272 ft · 14 sec · Knox Road
2

Turn left onto US 1

1.1 mi · 3 min · Baltimore Avenue
3

Turn left onto MD 410

1.2 mi · 2 min · East-West Highway
Use the left lane.
4

Continue on MD 410

1.1 mi · 2 min · Riverdale Road
Use the straight lane.
5

Turn right

388 ft · 34 sec
6

Turn left onto Riverdale Road

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Riverdale Road
Use the left lane.
7

Turn left onto Veterans Parkway

1.8 mi · 3 min · Veterans Parkway
Use the left lane.
8

Turn left

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward US 50 East: Annapolis
9

Merge onto US 50

20 mi · 23 min · John Hanson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on US 50; US 301; MD 2

22 mi · 30 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto US 301

5.7 mi · 8 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
Toward US 301 North
12

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 49 sec
Toward MD 213 North
13

Turn straight onto MD 213

2.0 mi · 3 min · Centreville Road
14

Continue on MD 213

0.6 mi · 1 min · South Commerce Street
15

Continue on MD 213

15 mi · 22 min · Church Hill Road
16

Continue on MD 213

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Chestertown Church Hill Road
17

Continue on MD 213

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Maple Avenue
18

Turn left onto MD 289

0.1 mi · 22 sec · North Cross Street
19

Arrive at destination

MD 289

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 35.7 miles from College Park, MD, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.3 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 16 miles or 25m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 35.7 miles or 51m 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 27m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving College Park, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from College Park, MD

This is one driving day of about 71.5 miles and 1h 43m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from College Park, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Blue Star Memorial Highway for about 27.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 35.7 mi from College Park, MD · 51m into the drive

city in and county seat of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States, and Maryland federated state capital city

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Annapolis, MD

36 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

Bowie, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Stevensville, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 35.7 miles from College Park, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Chestertown, MD

The final approach into Chestertown, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

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...

17 mi from route ~42 min detour $20
Caution: DC Water Sewer Overflow
Caution: Hiking in Gold Mine Tract
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.85 one way

$23.71 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $12.98 $25.97
premium $4.93 $13.87 $27.73
diesel $5.61 $15.79 $31.57

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 25 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

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

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.5 0 $7.51 $3.43
Efficient EV 17.9 0 $6.26 $2.86
EV Truck/SUV 28.6 0 $10.01 $4.58

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

College Park, MD

Afternoon in College Park on Thursday

Local time

4:52 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Chestertown, MD

Afternoon in Chestertown on Thursday

Local time

4:52 PM

EDT

Current temp

50°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 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 43m 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 Chestertown, MD covers 71.5 miles and takes about 1h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Blue Star Memorial Highway, John Hanson Highway, Church Hill Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.7 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 $11.85 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 71.5 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 3.5 miles (Riverdale Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (Veterans Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from College Park, MD to Chestertown, MD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park.

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