Origin
Frederick, MD
Afternoon in Frederick on Saturday
Local time
4:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Frederick, MD to Chesapeake Beach, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 55m
Distance
80.2 mi
129 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 47m
★
6 AM
1h 56m
8 AM
2h 12m
10 AM
2h 1m
12 PM
2h 0m
3 PM
2h 2m
5 PM
2h 12m
8 PM
1h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Frederick, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Chesapeake Beach, MD
Carly Dernetz
Trip Overview
The drive from Frederick, MD to Chesapeake Beach, MD covers 80.2 miles and takes about 1h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Capital Beltway, Eisenhower Memorial Highway, I 270 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.9 miles on Capital Beltway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.30 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
40.1 miles from Frederick, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 21.9 mi | 28m |
| Eisenhower Memorial Highway | 21.6 mi | 27m |
| I 270 | 9.4 mi | 12m |
| MD 260 | 9 mi | 15m |
| Ritchie Marlboro Road | 5.9 mi | 10m |
| Stephanie Roper Highway | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| Buckeystown Pike | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Southern Maryland Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 21.9 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Frederick, MD and Chesapeake Beach, MD.
1
Start on MD 144
122 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Patrick Street
2
Turn right onto North Market Street
435 ft
·
18 sec
·
North Market Street
3
Turn right onto East Church Street
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
East Church Street
4
Turn right onto North East Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North East Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Enter roundabout onto East Street
101 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Street
6
Continue on East Street
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
East Street
7
Continue on MD 85
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Buckeystown Pike
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 270 South
9
Merge onto I 270
22 mi
·
27 min
·
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
Use the right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
6.6 mi
·
9 min
·
I 270
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
I 270
Toward I 270 South: Silver Spring, College Park
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
12
Merge onto I 495
22 mi
·
28 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 13
Toward MD 221A: Capitol Heights, Upper Marlboro
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward East Upper Marlboro, Ritchie - Marlboro Road
15
Enter roundabout onto Ritchie Marlboro Road
286 ft
·
4 sec
·
Ritchie Marlboro Road
16
Continue on Ritchie Marlboro Road
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Ritchie Marlboro Road
17
Enter roundabout onto Ritchie Marlboro Road
140 ft
·
2 sec
·
Ritchie Marlboro Road
18
Continue on Ritchie Marlboro Road
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Ritchie Marlboro Road
19
Continue on Ritchie Marlboro Road
5.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Ritchie Marlboro Road
20
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward MD 4 South: Prince Frederick
21
Merge onto MD 4
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on MD 4
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Stephanie Roper Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on MD 4
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Southern Maryland Boulevard
24
Take the exit onto MD 260
9.0 mi
·
15 min
·
MD 260
Toward Maryland 260, Chesapeake Beach, North Beach, Recreation Areas
Use the straight lane.
25
At end of road, turn right onto MD 261
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bayside Road
Use the right lane.
26
Turn left onto 17th Street
480 ft
·
31 sec
·
17th Street
27
Turn right onto C Street
56 ft
·
3 sec
·
C Street
28
Arrive at destination
C Street
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 40.1 miles from Frederick, MD, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21.9 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 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.1 miles or 54m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chesapeake Beach, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Frederick, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Frederick, MD
This is one driving day of about 80.2 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Frederick, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Capital Beltway for about 21.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.1 miles from Frederick, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 70.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North East Street
Turn right onto North East Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
24.7 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
I 270
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
31.3 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
I 270
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 South: Silver Spring, College Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 270 South: Silver Spring, College Park
8
56 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward MD 221A: Capitol Heights, Upper Marlboro
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 13
Toward MD 221A: Capitol Heights, Upper Marlboro
7
70.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
|
MD 260
Take the exit onto MD 260 toward Maryland 260, Chesapeake Beach, North Beach, Recreation Areas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward Maryland 260, Chesapeake Beach, North Be...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.30 one way
$26.59 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $14.56 | $29.12 |
| premium | $4.93 | $15.55 | $31.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.71 | $35.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.1 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 | 24.1 | 0 | $8.42 | $3.85 |
| Efficient EV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.02 | $3.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.1 | 0 | $11.23 | $5.13 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Destination
Chesapeake Beach, MD
Afternoon in Chesapeake Beach on Saturday
Local time
4:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
7 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 55m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Monocacy National Battlefield
National Battlefield
During the summer of 1864, the Confederacy carried out a bold plan to turn the tide of the Civil War in their favor. They planned to capture Washington, DC and influence the election of 1864. On July...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 5.5
View on nps.gov
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
$20
near mile 30.4
View on nps.gov
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Potomac River corridor is rich in both history and recreation, offering a chance to both explore your heritage and choose your adventure along the way. Start your journey here!
14 mi from route
~34 min detour
Free
near mile 13.8
View on nps.gov
Antietam National Battlefield
National Battlefield
23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of savage combat on September 17, 1862. The Battle of Antietam ended the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia's first invasion into...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
$20
View on nps.gov
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
National Historical Park
At the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, on the ancestral home of the Tuscarora and Shawnee people, lies Harpers Ferry. Here you can explore John Brown's Raid against slavery. Find your...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
$20
near mile 2.8
View on nps.gov
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Harriet Tubman was a deeply spiritual woman who lived her ideals and dedicated her life to freedom. She is the Underground Railroad’s best known conductor and before the Civil War repeatedly risked he...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 80.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
80.2 mi in 1h 55m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.9 mi on Capital Beltway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.4 miles in near North East Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 80.2 miles you will encounter 19 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 0.4 miles (North East Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.7 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.3 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Frederick, MD and Chesapeake Beach, MD, road signs point toward College Park, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 260, Beach and Recreation Areas.
College Park
31.3 mi in
|
~43m
|
via I 270
Upper Marlboro
56 mi in
|
~1h 15m
Maryland 260
70.4 mi in
|
~1h 38m
|
via MD 260
Beach
70.4 mi in
|
~1h 38m
|
via MD 260
Recreation Areas
70.4 mi in
|
~1h 38m
|
via MD 260
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 80.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.9 miles on Capital Beltway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Chesapeake Beach, MD before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (North East Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.7 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.3 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Monocacy National Battlefield, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Chesapeake Beach, MD before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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.
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