Origin
Hagerstown, MD
Evening in Hagerstown on Wednesday
Local time
5:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hagerstown, MD to California, MD
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
2h 59m
Distance
132.5 mi
213 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 48m
★
6 AM
3h 0m
8 AM
3h 22m
10 AM
3h 7m
12 PM
3h 5m
3 PM
3h 9m
5 PM
3h 21m
8 PM
2h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hagerstown, MD
Wikimedia Commons
California, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Hagerstown, MD to California, MD covers 132.5 miles and takes about 2h 59m 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, Three Notch Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 25.7 miles on Capital Beltway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.97 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
66.3 miles from Hagerstown, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 59m drive with frequent turns across 132.5 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.
Capital Beltway is the longest continuous segment at about 25.7 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 25.1 miles in near I 70 Exit 53.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 132.5 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 25.1 miles (I 70 Exit 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.4 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 55 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
25.1 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
I 70 Exit 53
Take the exit onto I 70 Exit 53 toward I 270 South: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 53
Toward I 270 South: Washington
6
48.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 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
55 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m 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
83.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
Take the exit toward MD 337: Andrews Air Force Base Main Gate, Morningside
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 9
Toward MD 337: Andrews Air Force Base Main Gate...
7
96.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 6m in
|
MD 5
Take the exit onto MD 5 toward Lexington Park, Leonardtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Lexington Park, Leonardtown
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hagerstown, MD and California, MD, road signs point toward College Park, Morningside, Lexington Park and Leonardtown.
College Park
55 mi in
|
~1h 9m
|
via I 270
Morningside
83.5 mi in
|
~1h 47m
Lexington Park
96.5 mi in
|
~2h 6m
|
via MD 5
Leonardtown
96.5 mi in
|
~2h 6m
|
via MD 5
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 25.7 mi | 33m |
| Eisenhower Memorial Highway | 22.9 mi | 29m |
| Three Notch Road | 21.7 mi | 31m |
| Dwight D Eisenhower Highway | 21.1 mi | 22m |
| Leonardtown Road | 10.7 mi | 15m |
| I 270 | 9.4 mi | 12m |
| Branch Avenue | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| Dual Highway | 3.3 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 25.7 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hagerstown, MD and California, MD.
1
Start on US 40
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Washington Street
2
Continue on US 40
3.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Dual Highway
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 70 East: Frederick
4
Merge onto I 70
21 mi
·
22 min
·
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
5
Take the exit onto I 70 Exit 53
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
I 70 Exit 53
Exit 53
Toward I 270 South: Washington
Use the slight right lane.
6
Continue on I 270
23 mi
·
29 min
·
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
6.6 mi
·
9 min
·
I 270
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
Merge onto I 495
26 mi
·
33 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 9
Toward MD 337: Andrews Air Force Base Main Gate, Morningside
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto MD 337
426 ft
·
12 sec
·
Forestville Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
12
Turn slight right onto MD 337
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
MD 337
Toward MD 337 South
13
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
Toward MD 5 South: Waldorf
14
Merge onto MD 5
8.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Branch Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto US 301; MD 5
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Crain Highway
16
Take the exit onto MD 5
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
MD 5
Toward Lexington Park, Leonardtown
Use the slight left lane.
17
Merge onto MD 5
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Mattawoman Beantown Road
Use the left lane.
18
Turn left onto MD 5
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Leonardtown Road
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on MD 5
22 mi
·
31 min
·
Three Notch Road
Use the left lane.
20
Turn left onto Shady Mile Drive
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
Shady Mile Drive
21
Arrive at destination
Shady Mile Drive
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.3 miles from Hagerstown, MD, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.7 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 80 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.3 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near California, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hagerstown, 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 Hagerstown, MD
This is one driving day of about 132.5 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Hagerstown, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Capital Beltway for about 25.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 66.3 mi from Hagerstown, MD · 1h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 66.3 miles from Hagerstown, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in California, MD
The final approach into California, 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 California, 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
$21.97 one way
$43.93 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $24.06 | $48.12 |
| premium | $4.93 | $25.70 | $51.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.25 | $58.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.8 | 0 | $13.91 | $6.36 |
| Efficient EV | 33.1 | 0 | $11.59 | $5.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53 | 0 | $18.55 | $8.48 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (65% 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
California, MD
Evening in California on Wednesday
Local time
5:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
15 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 59m 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 Hagerstown, MD to California, MD covers 132.5 miles and takes about 2h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Capital Beltway, Eisenhower Memorial Highway, Three Notch Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 66.3 miles from Hagerstown, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.97 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 132.5 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 25.1 miles (I 70 Exit 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.4 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 55 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Hagerstown, MD and California, MD, road signs point toward College Park, Morningside, Lexington Park and Leonardtown.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From California, MD
More trips to California, MD
Explore more options from Hagerstown, MD or browse trips ending in California, MD.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips.
Explore maps for Hagerstown, MD or California, MD on MapSof.net.