Origin
College Park, MD
Evening in College Park on Sunday
Local time
6:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from College Park, MD to Crofton, MD
Drive Time
34m
Distance
19.2 mi
31 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
College Park, MD
Styves Exantus
Crofton, MD
RDNE Stock project
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick commute between College Park and Crofton, this 19.2-mile trip is a straightforward transit within Maryland’s Northeast region. You can easily complete the drive in about 34 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. With a modest fuel budget of just $3, the route is highly economical for those traveling between these two hubs. Because the distance is so short, there is no need to plan for overnight stays or complex logistics. You will primarily navigate via John Hanson Highway, North East Crain Highway, and Veterans Parkway. It is a practical, no-nonsense connection that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
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
9.6 miles from College Park, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. While you spend about 11 miles on highways, the character of the journey shifts as you transition between local roads and more open stretches. Your longest uninterrupted segment is the 8.2-mile stretch on the John Hanson Highway, which provides the most consistent speed of the trip. Outside of that, the road requires frequent adjustments as you navigate the turn-heavy sections. The experience is less about scenic cruising and more about maintaining a steady pace through a mix of highway and local infrastructure.
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.
John Hanson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 8.2 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
196 ft
41 ft
Total Climb
347 ft
Total Descent
319 ft
Highest Point
196 ft
~4.8 mi in
Elevation Range
155 ft
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 around 3.5 miles in near Riverdale Road.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 19.2 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: at 3.5 miles (Riverdale Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (Veterans Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese 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 / none lanes.
6
3.6 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
Veterans Parkway
Turn left onto Veterans Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
13.9 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward US 301, MD 3: Richmond, Crofton
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 13A-B-C
Toward US 301, MD 3: Richmond, Crofton
8
14.1 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 3 North: Crofton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 13B-C
Toward MD 3 North: Crofton
8
14.5 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 3 North: Crofton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 13B
Toward MD 3 North: Crofton
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John Hanson Highway | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| North East Crain Highway | 2 mi | 2m |
| 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 |
| Robert Crain Highway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Crofton Parkway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John Hanson Highway
— 8.2 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between College Park, MD and Crofton, 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
Use the none lane.
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 none lane.
5
Turn right
388 ft
·
34 sec
6
Turn left onto Riverdale Road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Riverdale Road
Use the left / none lanes.
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
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
John Hanson Highway
Use the none lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 13A-B-C
Toward US 301, MD 3: Richmond, Crofton
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 13B-C
Toward MD 3 North: Crofton
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 13B
Toward MD 3 North: Crofton
Use the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto MD 3
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North East Crain Highway
14
Continue on MD 3; MD 450
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Robert Crain Highway
15
Take the exit onto Clubhouse Gate Road
0.1 mi
·
42 sec
·
Clubhouse Gate Road
16
Turn right onto Crofton Parkway
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
Crofton Parkway
17
Turn left onto Spring Green Avenue
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
Spring Green Avenue
18
Turn right onto Stratton Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Stratton Road
19
Arrive at destination
Stratton Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 34-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You will not need to plan for any scheduled stops, as the entire journey is easily manageable in one go. Keep in mind that the route relies on a combination of highways and local turns, so staying alert during the transition points is essential. Given the $3 fuel cost, you can rest assured that your transit expenses will remain very low. My best advice for this specific route is to double-check your turn-by-turn navigation before leaving, as the mix of Veterans Parkway and North East Crain Highway can be tricky if you are not familiar with the local layout.
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 9.6 miles from College Park, MD, or about 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.2 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 19.2 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9.6 miles or 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Crofton, 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.
+
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 College Park, MD
This is one driving day of about 19.2 miles and 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from College Park, 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 John Hanson Highway for about 8.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9.6 mi from College Park, MD · 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
10 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 19.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 9.6 miles from College Park, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Crofton, MD
The final approach into Crofton, 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 Crofton, 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
$3.18 one way
$6.35 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $3.48 | $6.95 |
| premium | $4.92 | $3.72 | $7.44 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.27 | $8.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.02 | $0.92 |
| Efficient EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.68 | $0.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.69 | $1.23 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Crofton, MD
Evening in Crofton on Sunday
Local time
6:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°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
34m 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 Crofton, MD covers 19.2 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are John Hanson Highway, North East Crain Highway, Veterans Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.6 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 $3.18 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 15 significant decision points across 19.2 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: at 3.5 miles (Riverdale Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.6 miles (Veterans Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from College Park, MD to Crofton, MD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 41 ft to 196 ft elevation with about 347 ft of total climbing.
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