Origin
Crofton, MD
Evening in Crofton on Sunday
Local time
6:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Crofton, MD to College Park, MD
Drive Time
31m
Distance
18.2 mi
29 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 29m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 37m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 34m
5 PM
0h 37m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Crofton, MD
RDNE Stock project
College Park, MD
Styves Exantus
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick commute between Crofton and College Park, this 18.2-mile journey is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 31 minutes. Navigating through Maryland’s Northeast region, you will find this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. You can expect to spend roughly $3 on fuel for the entire drive, making it a very budget-friendly option. Because there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you have the freedom to complete the transit in one efficient push. It is a practical, no-nonsense connection between these two Maryland locations that prioritizes speed and convenience over leisurely sightseeing.
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
9.1 miles from Crofton, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you make your way from Crofton to your destination. With only 10% of the journey spent on highways, your experience will largely consist of navigating local roads rather than long stretches of open pavement. You will spend your longest uninterrupted segment covering 8.3 miles on the John Hanson Highway, which serves as the primary artery for the trip. Outside of that stretch, you will be relying on North West Crain Highway and Veterans Parkway to guide you through the local landscape. The route demands your full attention behind the wheel due to the frequent transitions between road types.
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.
John Hanson Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 8.3 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 around 0.3 miles in near Spring Green Avenue.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 18.2 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 0.3 miles (Spring Green Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Crofton Parkway): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Spring Green Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Spring Green Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Crofton Parkway
At end of road, turn left onto Crofton Parkway
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
3.8 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward US 50 West: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 50 West: Washington
7
12.9 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward MD 410
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward MD 410
6
18.1 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
Knox Road
Turn right onto Knox Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John Hanson Highway | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| North West Crain Highway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Veterans Parkway | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| East-West Highway | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Baltimore Avenue | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| Riverdale Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| Urby Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Defense Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John Hanson Highway
— 8.3 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Crofton, MD and College Park, MD.
1
Start on Stratton Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Stratton Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto Spring Green Avenue
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Spring Green Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto Crofton Parkway
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Crofton Parkway
4
Turn right onto Urby Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Urby Drive
5
Turn left onto Good Hope Drive
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Good Hope Drive
6
Turn right onto MD 450
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Defense Highway
7
Merge onto MD 3; MD 450
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Robert Crain Highway
8
Continue on MD 3; MD 450
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North West Crain Highway
Use the none / straight / right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 50 West: Washington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto US 50
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
John Hanson Highway
Use the none lane.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Exit 5
Toward MD 410
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto MD 410
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Veterans Parkway
13
Continue on MD 410
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Riverdale Road
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on MD 410
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East-West Highway
Use the none lane.
15
Turn right onto US 1
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Baltimore Avenue
Use the none lane.
16
Turn right onto Knox Road
272 ft
·
12 sec
·
Knox Road
Use the none lane.
17
Arrive at destination
Knox Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 31-minute transit, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. However, given the turn-heavy nature of the local roads, staying alert is essential throughout the entire 18.2-mile distance. You won't need to worry about complex refueling logistics with a $3 cost, but it is always wise to ensure your tank is ready before you start your engine. Because there are zero planned stops, you should handle any personal errands before you leave Crofton to maintain a smooth flow to College Park. Keep a close eye on the transitions between the John Hanson Highway and the local parkways, as these intersections are where you will do most of your steering.
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 9.1 miles from Crofton, MD, or about 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.3 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 18.2 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9.1 miles or 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near College Park, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Crofton, 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 Crofton, MD
This is one driving day of about 18.2 miles and 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Crofton, 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 8.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9.1 mi from Crofton, MD · 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
9 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 18.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 9.1 miles from Crofton, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in College Park, MD
The final approach into College Park, 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 College Park, 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
$3.01 one way
$6.02 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $3.30 | $6.59 |
| premium | $4.92 | $3.53 | $7.05 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.04 | $8.09 |
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: 6.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.91 | $0.87 |
| Efficient EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.59 | $0.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.55 | $1.16 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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
College Park, MD
Evening in College Park on Sunday
Local time
6:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
88°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
31m 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 Crofton, MD to College Park, MD covers 18.2 miles and takes about 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are John Hanson Highway, North West Crain Highway, Veterans Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.1 miles from Crofton, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.01 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 12 significant decision points across 18.2 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 0.3 miles (Spring Green Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Crofton Parkway): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 3.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Crofton, MD to College Park, MD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From College Park, MD
More trips to College Park, MD
Explore more options from Crofton, MD or browse trips ending in College Park, MD.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips.
Explore maps for Crofton, MD or College Park, MD on MapSof.net.