Origin
Laurel, MD
Afternoon in Laurel on Friday
Local time
4:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Laurel, MD to Friendly, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
30 mi
48 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Laurel, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Friendly, MD
Iqbal farooz
Trip Overview
The drive from Laurel, MD to Friendly, MD covers 30 miles and takes about 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Capital Beltway, MD 337, Baltimore-Washington Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 12.4 miles on Capital Beltway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.97 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 30 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (35%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Laurel, MD to Friendly, MD covers 30 miles and takes about 47m, 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 15 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 12.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 30 miles you will encounter 6 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 3.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.7 miles (Baltimore-Washington Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
3.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward Baltimore-Washington Parkway, Washington
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Baltimore-Washington Parkway, Washington
5
3.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Merge onto Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
8.8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South, I 495 South: Richmond, Andrews Air Force Base
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 95 South, I 495 South: Richmond, Andre...
8
21.5 mi into trip
|
~31m 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...
6
21.7 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
MD 337 / Forestville Road
Turn right onto MD 337 / Forestville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Laurel, MD and Friendly, MD, road signs point toward Washington, Andrews Air Force Base and Morningside.
Washington
3.3 mi in
|
~5m
Andrews Air Force Base
8.8 mi in
|
~13m
Morningside
21.5 mi in
|
~31m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 12.4 mi | 16m |
| MD 337 | 5.6 mi | 10m |
| Baltimore-Washington Parkway | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| Laurel Bowie Road | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Allentown Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Fort Meade Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Gorman Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Forestville Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 12.4 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laurel, MD and Friendly, MD.
1
Start on this road
123 ft
·
3 sec
·
this road
2
Turn slight left onto US 1
291 ft
·
7 sec
·
Washington Boulevard
3
Turn slight left
243 ft
·
9 sec
4
Turn straight onto MD 198
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Gorman Avenue
5
Continue on MD 198
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Fort Meade Road
6
Turn right onto MD 197
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Laurel Bowie Road
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward Baltimore-Washington Parkway, Washington
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto Baltimore-Washington Parkway
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 95 South, I 495 South: Richmond, Andrews Air Force Base
Use the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 95; I 495
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
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.
12
Turn right onto MD 337
426 ft
·
12 sec
·
Forestville Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
13
Turn slight right onto MD 337
5.6 mi
·
10 min
·
MD 337
Toward MD 337 South
14
Continue on Allentown Road
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Allentown Road
15
Arrive at destination
Allentown Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15 mi from Laurel, MD · 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15 miles from Laurel, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Friendly, MD
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Friendly, MD if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.97 one way
$9.95 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.45 | $10.89 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.82 | $11.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.62 | $13.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9 | 0 | $3.15 | $1.44 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12 | 0 | $4.20 | $1.92 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (60% 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
Friendly, MD
Afternoon in Friendly on Friday
Local time
4:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
47m 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 Laurel, MD to Friendly, MD covers 30 miles and takes about 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Capital Beltway, MD 337, Baltimore-Washington Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15 miles from Laurel, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.97 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 30 miles you will encounter 6 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 3.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.7 miles (Baltimore-Washington Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Laurel, MD and Friendly, MD, road signs point toward Washington, Andrews Air Force Base and Morningside.
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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