The drive from Hagerstown, MD to West Laurel, MD covers 74.3 miles and takes about 1h 32m 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, Sykesville Road, Patuxent Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 43.8 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.32 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
37.1 miles from Hagerstown, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 44m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 74.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 32m drive with frequent turns across 74.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 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 43.8 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 51.8 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 51.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 67.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
51.8 mi into trip|~59m in
Take the exit toward MD 32: Sykesville, Clarksville
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 80
Toward MD 32: Sykesville, Clarksville
7
67.7 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 13B
Toward I 95 South: Washington
8
72.7 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward MD 198 East, MD 198 West: Laurel, Burtonsville
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 33A; 33B
Toward MD 198 East, MD 198 West: Laurel, Burton...
8
72.9 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 198 West: Burtonsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 33B
Toward MD 198 West: Burtonsville
7
73.7 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|Sweitzer Lane
Turn right onto Sweitzer Lane
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
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 Hagerstown, MD to West Laurel, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Clarksville along the way.
Clarksville
51.8 mi in|~59m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
43.8 mi
47m
Sykesville Road
8.1 mi
11m
Patuxent Freeway
7.2 mi
9m
I 95
4.4 mi
5m
I 70
4 mi
4m
Dual Highway
3.3 mi
6m
East Washington Street
0.4 mi
1m
Sandy Spring Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
— 43.8 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hagerstown, MD and West Laurel, 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
44 mi·47 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 70; US 40
4.0 mi·4 min·I 70; US 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Exit 80Toward MD 32: Sykesville, ClarksvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·25 sec
8
Merge onto MD 32
8.1 mi·11 min·Sykesville Road
9
Continue on MD 32
7.2 mi·9 min·Patuxent Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 13BToward I 95 South: WashingtonUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 95
4.4 mi·5 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·17 sec
Exit 33A; 33BToward MD 198 East, MD 198 West: Laurel, BurtonsvilleUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·32 sec
Exit 33BToward MD 198 West: BurtonsvilleUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto MD 198
0.3 mi·32 sec·Sandy Spring Road
15
Turn right onto Sweitzer Lane
0.2 mi·58 sec·Sweitzer Lane
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto Bounds Avenue
215 ft·13 sec·Bounds Avenue
17
Turn left onto Orly Lane
422 ft·20 sec·Orly Lane
18
Turn right onto Malaya Place
336 ft·19 sec·Malaya Place
19
Turn left onto Park Hall Drive West
0.1 mi·33 sec·Park Hall Drive West
20
At end of road, turn left onto Sandy Street
196 ft·8 sec·Sandy Street
21
Arrive at destination
Sandy 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 37.1 miles from Hagerstown, MD, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.8 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 16 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.1 miles or 44m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Laurel, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hagerstown, MD
This is one driving day of about 74.3 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Hagerstown, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for about 43.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 37.1 mi from Hagerstown, MD
· 44m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
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...
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 15.4
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!
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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
$20
near mile 74.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.32 one way
$24.64 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$13.49
$26.98
premium
$4.93
$14.41
$28.82
diesel
$5.61
$16.40
$32.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.3
0
$7.80
$3.57
Efficient EV
18.6
0
$6.50
$2.97
EV Truck/SUV
29.7
0
$10.40
$4.76
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Hagerstown, MD
Late night
in Hagerstown on Saturday
Local time
12:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Laurel, MD
Late night
in West Laurel on Saturday
Local time
12:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Mount Airy, MD
37 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
1 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 32m 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 West Laurel, MD covers 74.3 miles and takes about 1h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, Sykesville Road, Patuxent Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37.1 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 $12.32 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 74.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 51.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 67.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Hagerstown, MD to West Laurel, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Clarksville along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Monocacy National Battlefield, Antietam National Battlefield and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. There are 5 parks within detour distance of this route.
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.
