Origin
La Plata, MD
Morning in La Plata on Saturday
Local time
9:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Plata, MD to Annapolis, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
48.9 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Plata, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Annapolis, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from La Plata, MD to Annapolis, MD covers 48.9 miles and takes about 1h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Crain Highway, John Hanson Highway, South East Crain Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27 miles on Crain Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.11 one way before food or hotel costs.
About the Cities
Starting in La Plata, MD
Full guide →La Plata is a city in Southern Maryland. It is the county seat of Charles County.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 48.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 11m drive with frequent turns across 48.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 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 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 35.4 miles in near US 301.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.9 miles you will encounter 13 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 35.4 miles (US 301): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.5 miles (US 301): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
35.4 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
US 301
Take the exit onto US 301 toward US 50, US 301: Annapolis, Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 50, US 301: Annapolis, Washington
6
35.5 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
US 301
Keep slight right at fork onto US 301 toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis
8
46.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward MD 70: Rowe Boulevard, Bestgate Road, Annapolis, Maryland Fire-Rescue Memorial, Historic Annapolis State Capital
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 24
Toward MD 70: Rowe Boulevard, Bestgate Road, An...
7
47.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 70 : Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MD 70 : Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis South
6
48.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
School Street
Enter roundabout onto School Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
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 La Plata, MD to Annapolis, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Washington along the way.
Washington
35.4 mi in
|
~53m
|
via US 301
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Crain Highway | 27 mi | 40m |
| John Hanson Highway | 10.8 mi | 12m |
| South East Crain Highway | 8 mi | 11m |
| Roscoe Rowe Boulevard | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| US 301 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Charles Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Northwest Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| School Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Crain Highway
— 27 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Plata, MD and Annapolis, MD.
1
Start on this road
9 ft
·
4 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Kent Avenue
55 ft
·
3 sec
·
Kent Avenue
3
Turn right onto MD 6
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Charles Street
4
Turn right onto US 301
14 mi
·
22 min
·
Crain Highway
Use the right lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 301
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Crain Highway
6
Continue on US 301
8.0 mi
·
11 min
·
South East Crain Highway
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit onto US 301
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
US 301
Toward US 50, US 301: Annapolis, Washington
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 301
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 301
Toward US 50 East, US 301 North: Annapolis
9
Merge onto US 50; US 301
11 mi
·
12 min
·
John Hanson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 24
Toward MD 70: Rowe Boulevard, Bestgate Road, Annapolis, Maryland Fire-Rescue Memorial, Historic Annapolis State Capital
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward MD 70 : Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis South
12
Turn straight onto MD 70
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Roscoe Rowe Boulevard
13
Keep slight right at fork onto Roscoe Rowe Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Roscoe Rowe Boulevard
14
Turn left onto Northwest Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Northwest Street
15
Enter roundabout onto School Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
School Street
16
Continue on School Street
137 ft
·
5 sec
·
School Street
17
Arrive at destination
School Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.5 mi from La Plata, MD · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.5 miles from La Plata, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Annapolis, MD
The final approach into Annapolis, MD usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.11 one way
$16.21 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.88 | $17.76 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.48 | $18.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.80 | $21.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.13 | $2.35 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.28 | $1.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.85 | $3.13 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Annapolis, MD
Morning in Annapolis on Saturday
Local time
9:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 11m 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 La Plata, MD to Annapolis, MD covers 48.9 miles and takes about 1h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Crain Highway, John Hanson Highway, South East Crain Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.5 miles from La Plata, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.11 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 48.9 miles you will encounter 13 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 35.4 miles (US 301): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.5 miles (US 301): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from La Plata, MD to Annapolis, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Washington along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
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.
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