The drive from Gwynn Oak, MD to La Plata, MD covers 67.9 miles and takes about 1h 42m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Crain Highway, MD 3, I 97 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27.1 miles on Crain Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.26 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
34 miles from Gwynn Oak, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Crain Highway
27.1 mi
40m
MD 3
18.2 mi
26m
I 97
8.9 mi
10m
Baltimore Beltway
7.6 mi
10m
Ingleside Avenue
1.6 mi
3m
West Forest Park Avenue
1.4 mi
3m
Hillsdale Road
0.9 mi
2m
Baltimore National Pike
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Crain Highway
— 27.1 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gwynn Oak, MD and La Plata, MD.
1
Start on this road
60 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Haddon Avenue
178 ft·11 sec·Haddon Avenue
3
Turn left onto Hillsdale Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Hillsdale Road
4
Turn slight right onto West Forest Park Avenue
1.4 mi·3 min·West Forest Park Avenue
5
Continue on Ingleside Avenue
1.6 mi·3 min·Ingleside Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Turn right onto US 40
0.5 mi·55 sec·Baltimore National Pike
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward I 695 South: Glen BurnieUse the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 695
7.6 mi·10 min·Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 4Toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay BridgeUse the slight left lane.
10
Continue on I 97
8.9 mi·10 min·I 97
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 3
18 mi·26 min·MD 3
Toward MD 32 West, MD 3 South: Bowie, CroftonUse the left lane.
12
Continue on US 301
27 mi·40 min·Crain Highway
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto MD 6
0.4 mi·1 min·Charles Street
14
Turn left onto Kent Avenue
55 ft·3 sec·Kent Avenue
15
Turn right
9 ft·0 sec
16
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 34 miles from Gwynn Oak, MD, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.1 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 15 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34 miles or 50m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Plata, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gwynn Oak, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gwynn Oak, MD
This is one driving day of about 67.9 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Gwynn Oak, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Crain Highway for about 27.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 22.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Haddon Avenue
Turn right onto Haddon Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
4 mi into trip|~9m in|US 40 / Baltimore National Pike
Turn right onto US 40 / Baltimore National Pike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
4.5 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the ramp toward I 695 South: Glen Burnie
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 695 South: Glen Burnie
8
12.4 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the exit toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 4
Toward I 97 South: Annapolis, Bay Bridge
8
22.1 mi into trip|~33m in|MD 3
Keep slight right at fork onto MD 3 toward MD 32 West, MD 3 South: Bowie, Crofton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward MD 32 West, MD 3 South: Bowie, Crofton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.26 one way
$22.51 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$12.33
$24.66
premium
$4.93
$13.17
$26.34
diesel
$5.61
$14.99
$29.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.4
0
$7.13
$3.26
Efficient EV
17
0
$5.94
$2.72
EV Truck/SUV
27.2
0
$9.51
$4.35
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Gwynn Oak, MD
Afternoon
in Gwynn Oak on Saturday
Local time
2:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
La Plata, MD
Afternoon
in La Plata on Saturday
Local time
2:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°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 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 42m 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.
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...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
$20
near mile 30.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The drive from Gwynn Oak, MD to La Plata, MD covers 67.9 miles and takes about 1h 42m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Crain Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 27.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Haddon Avenue.
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 67.9 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: near the start (Haddon Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (US 40 / Baltimore National Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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 Gwynn Oak, MD to La Plata, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Crofton along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 67.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Gwynn Oak, MD to La Plata, MD covers 67.9 miles and takes about 1h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Crain Highway, MD 3, I 97. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 34 miles from Gwynn Oak, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.26 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 67.9 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: near the start (Haddon Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (US 40 / Baltimore National Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Gwynn Oak, MD to La Plata, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Crofton along the way.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
