Trip from Frederick, MD to Saint James, MD

Data updated 3 hours ago

Drive Time

39m

Distance

29.3 mi

47 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min

4 AM

0h 36m ★

6 AM

0h 40m

8 AM

0h 46m

10 AM

0h 42m

12 PM

0h 41m

3 PM

0h 42m

5 PM

0h 46m

8 PM

0h 38m

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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Trip Overview

The drive from Frederick, MD to Saint James, MD covers 29.3 miles and takes about 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, Sharpsburg Pike, West Patrick Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.2 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.86 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.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

14.6 miles from Frederick, MD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 39m drive with frequent turns across 29.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Dwight D Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 19.2 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 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near MD 144 / West Patrick Street.

Route Complexity 6/10

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

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 29.3 miles you will encounter 7 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 0.6 miles (MD 144 / West Patrick Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles (I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6

0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in | MD 144 / West Patrick Street

Keep slight right at fork onto MD 144 / West Patrick Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

4

4 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the ramp toward I 70 West: Hagerstown, Hancock

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 70 West: Hagerstown, Hancock

5

4.7 mi into trip | ~9m in | I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

Merge onto I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

8

23.8 mi into trip | ~29m in

Take the exit toward MD 65: Sharpsburg, Hagerstown

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 29 Toward MD 65: Sharpsburg, Hagerstown

9

24 mi into trip | ~30m in

Keep slight left at fork toward MD 65 South: Sharpsburg, National Parks, Maryland Correctional Facilities

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward MD 65 South: Sharpsburg, National Parks,...

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 Saint James, MD, road signs point toward Hancock, Hagerstown, National Parks and Maryland Correctional Facilities.

Hancock

4 mi in | ~8m

Hagerstown

23.8 mi in | ~29m

National Parks

24 mi in | ~30m

Maryland Correctional Facilities

24 mi in | ~30m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway	19.2 mi	20m
Sharpsburg Pike	3.8 mi	6m
West Patrick Street	2.7 mi	5m
Lappans Road	1.3 mi	2m
Baltimore National Pike	0.7 mi	1m
East Patrick Street	0.6 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Dwight D Eisenhower Highway — 19.2 mi, about 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Frederick, MD and Saint James, MD.

1

Start on MD 144

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Patrick Street

2

Keep slight right at fork onto MD 144

2.7 mi · 5 min · West Patrick Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

3

Continue on US 40

0.7 mi · 1 min · Baltimore National Pike

4

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 56 sec

Toward I 70 West: Hagerstown, Hancock

5

Merge onto I 70

19 mi · 20 min · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Exit 29 Toward MD 65: Sharpsburg, Hagerstown Use the slight right lane.

7

Keep slight left at fork

141 ft · 5 sec

Toward MD 65 South: Sharpsburg, National Parks, Maryland Correctional Facilities Use the left lane.

8

Turn left onto MD 65

3.8 mi · 6 min · Sharpsburg Pike

9

Turn right onto MD 68

1.3 mi · 2 min · Lappans Road

10

Turn left

0.1 mi · 49 sec

11

Arrive at destination

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 14.6 miles from Frederick, MD, or about 19m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.2 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 29.3 miles or 39m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 14.6 miles or 19m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 31m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint James, 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.

+

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 Frederick, MD

This is one driving day of about 29.3 miles and 39m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Frederick, 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 Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for about 19.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 14.6 mi from Frederick, MD · 19m into the drive

capital city of the United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Washington, DC

15 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

Washington, DC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 29.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Washington, DC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 14.6 miles from Frederick, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Saint James, MD

The final approach into Saint James, 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 Saint James, 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.

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...

4 mi from route ~9 min detour Free

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...

6 mi from route ~16 min detour $20 near mile 28.3

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...

15 mi from route ~38 min detour $20 near mile 10.1

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!

19 mi from route ~47 min detour Free near mile 1

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...

30 mi from route ~75 min detour $20

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.86 one way

$9.72 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 10 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.61	$5.32	$10.64
premium	$4.93	$5.68	$11.36
diesel	$5.61	$6.47	$12.94

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$5

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$30–$55

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 10.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	8.8	$3.08	$1.41
Efficient EV	7.3	$2.56	$1.17
EV Truck/SUV	11.7	$4.10	$1.88

Gas CO2

10 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (70% 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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Frederick, MD

Night in Frederick on Tuesday

Local time

11:16 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Saint James, MD

Night in Saint James on Tuesday

Local time

11:16 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

68°F

Washington, DC

15 mi in

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

3 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

39m 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 Frederick, MD to Saint James, MD covers 29.3 miles and takes about 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, Sharpsburg Pike, West Patrick Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 14.6 miles from Frederick, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.86 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 29.3 miles you will encounter 7 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 0.6 miles (MD 144 / West Patrick Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles (I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Between Frederick, MD and Saint James, MD, road signs point toward Hancock, Hagerstown, National Parks and Maryland Correctional Facilities.

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