The drive from Fort Washington, MD to Chestertown, MD covers 87.6 miles and takes about 2h 5m 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 $14.52 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.
Midpoint
43.8 miles from Fort Washington, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 87.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 5m drive with frequent turns across 87.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 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 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Fort Washington Road.
Driving Effort6/10
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 87.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.3 miles (Fort Washington Road): Navigation decision point; at 14.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.3 miles (I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|Fort Washington Road
At end of road, turn right onto Fort Washington Road
Navigation decision point
5
14.1 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, College Park
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Coll...
5
14.3 mi into trip|~24m in|I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway
Merge onto I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
22.7 mi into trip|~35m in
Take the exit toward US 50 East: Annapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 19A
Toward US 50 East: Annapolis
5
23.3 mi into trip|~37m 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Fort Washington, MD to Chestertown, MD, road signs begin pointing toward College Park along the way.
College Park
14.1 mi in|~23m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway
27.3 mi
38m
John Hanson Highway
18.6 mi
21m
Church Hill Road
14.9 mi
22m
Capital Beltway
8.4 mi
11m
Allentown Road
5.6 mi
9m
Indian Head Highway
3.7 mi
5m
Centreville Road
2 mi
3m
Old Fort Road
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 27.3 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Washington, MD and Chestertown, MD.
1
Start on Warburton Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Warburton Drive
2
At end of road, turn right onto Fort Washington Road
0.3 mi·54 sec·Fort Washington Road
3
Turn right onto Old Fort Road
1.6 mi·2 min·Old Fort Road
4
Turn left onto MD 210
3.7 mi·5 min·Indian Head Highway
5
Turn right onto Palmer Road
1.4 mi·2 min·Palmer Road
6
Continue on Tucker Road
1.3 mi·1 min·Tucker Road
7
Continue on Allentown Road
5.6 mi·9 min·Allentown Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, College Park
9
Merge onto I 95; I 495
8.4 mi·11 min·Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 19AToward US 50 East: AnnapolisUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto US 50
19 mi·21 min·John Hanson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 50; US 301; MD 2
22 mi·30 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 301
5.7 mi·8 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
Toward US 301 North
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Toward MD 213 North
15
Turn straight onto MD 213
2.0 mi·3 min·Centreville Road
16
Continue on MD 213
0.6 mi·1 min·South Commerce Street
17
Continue on MD 213
15 mi·22 min·Church Hill Road
18
Continue on MD 213
0.1 mi·13 sec·Chestertown Church Hill Road
19
Continue on MD 213
0.2 mi·27 sec·Maple Avenue
20
Turn left onto MD 289
0.1 mi·22 sec·North Cross Street
21
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 43.8 miles from Fort Washington, MD, or about 1h 1m 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 19 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.8 miles or 1h 1m 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 45m
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 Fort Washington, 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 Fort Washington, MD
This is one driving day of about 87.6 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Fort Washington, 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 43.8 mi from Fort Washington, MD
· 1h 1m into the drive
The midpoint is around 43.8 miles from Fort Washington, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Chestertown, MD.
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
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.52 one way
$29.05 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$15.91
$31.81
premium
$4.93
$16.99
$33.98
diesel
$5.61
$19.34
$38.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.3
0
$9.20
$4.20
Efficient EV
21.9
0
$7.66
$3.50
EV Truck/SUV
35
0
$12.26
$5.61
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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 17, 2026
Origin
Fort Washington, MD
Afternoon
in Fort Washington on Friday
Local time
2:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chestertown, MD
Afternoon
in Chestertown on Friday
Local time
2:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°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
4 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
2h 5m 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 Fort Washington, MD to Chestertown, MD covers 87.6 miles and takes about 2h 5m 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 43.8 miles from Fort Washington, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.52 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.3 miles (Fort Washington Road): Navigation decision point; at 14.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.3 miles (I 95; I 495 / Capital Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Fort Washington, MD to Chestertown, MD, road signs begin pointing toward College Park along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
