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Trip from Saint Charles, MD to Takoma Park, MD

Drive Time

59m

Distance

33.9 mi

55 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 55m ★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Saint Charles, MD, MD

Saint Charles, MD

RDNE Stock project

city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, suburb of Washington, DC

Takoma Park, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Saint Charles, MD to Takoma Park, MD covers 33.9 miles and takes about 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Branch Avenue, Crain Highway, Kenilworth Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 12.7 miles on Branch Avenue. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.61 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

16.9 miles from Saint Charles, MD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 59m drive with frequent turns across 33.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Branch Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 12.7 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 8.4 miles in near MD 5 / Branch Avenue.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 33.9 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 8.4 miles (MD 5 / Branch Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.1 miles (MD 5 / Branch Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.9 miles (Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
8.4 mi into trip | ~13m in | MD 5 / Branch Avenue

Keep slight left at fork onto MD 5 / Branch Avenue toward MD 5 North: Washington

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward MD 5 North: Washington
6
20.1 mi into trip | ~29m in | MD 5 / Branch Avenue

Keep slight right at fork onto MD 5 / Branch Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
21.9 mi into trip | ~34m in | Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast

Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
24.3 mi into trip | ~38m in | Minnesota Avenue Northeast

Turn right onto Minnesota Avenue Northeast

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
8
26.6 mi into trip | ~43m in | MD 201 / Kenilworth Avenue

Keep slight right at fork onto MD 201 / Kenilworth Avenue toward MD 201 North, US 50 West: Kenilworth Avenue, New York Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward MD 201 North, US 50 West: Kenilworth Ave...

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Branch Avenue 12.7 mi 18m
Crain Highway 8.4 mi 13m
Kenilworth Avenue 1.5 mi 2m
Ager Road 1.2 mi 2m
Fort Davis Drive Southeast 1.2 mi 2m
Kenilworth Avenue Freeway 1.1 mi 1m
Minnesota Avenue Northeast 1 mi 2m
East-West Highway 1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Branch Avenue — 12.7 mi, about 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saint Charles, MD and Takoma Park, MD.

1

Start on US 301

0.3 mi · 29 sec · Crain Highway
2

Continue on US 301

8.0 mi · 13 min · Crain Highway
Use the straight lane.
3

Keep slight left at fork onto MD 5

12 mi · 16 min · Branch Avenue
Toward MD 5 North: Washington Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Keep slight right at fork onto MD 5

0.9 mi · 2 min · Branch Avenue
Use the right lane.
5

Turn right onto Southern Avenue Southeast

0.9 mi · 2 min · Southern Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
6

Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast

0.4 mi · 1 min · Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast
Use the left lane.
7

Turn right onto Fort Davis Drive Southeast

1.2 mi · 2 min · Fort Davis Drive Southeast
8

Turn left onto Ridge Road Southeast

0.7 mi · 1 min · Ridge Road Southeast
9

Turn right onto Minnesota Avenue Northeast

1.0 mi · 2 min · Minnesota Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
10

Turn left onto Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue Northeast

363 ft · 21 sec · Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue Northeast
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
11

Turn right onto Kenilworth Avenue Northeast

0.2 mi · 18 sec · Kenilworth Avenue Northeast
12

Merge onto DC 295

1.1 mi · 1 min · Kenilworth Avenue Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto MD 201

1.5 mi · 2 min · Kenilworth Avenue
Toward MD 201 North, US 50 West: Kenilworth Avenue, New York Avenue Use the slight right lane.
14

Turn slight right

440 ft · 16 sec
15

Keep slight left at fork onto 48th Street

0.1 mi · 22 sec · 48th Street
16

Turn left onto MD 450

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Annapolis Road
17

Turn slight right

421 ft · 15 sec
18

Turn straight onto US 1 ALT

0.4 mi · 32 sec · Baltimore Avenue
19

Turn slight left

53 ft · 5 sec
Use the left lane.
20

Turn left onto Charles Armentrout Drive

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Charles Armentrout Drive
21

Turn right onto US 1

0.2 mi · 37 sec · Rhode Island Avenue
22

Turn left onto Crittenden Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Crittenden Street
23

Continue on 40th Place

0.3 mi · 47 sec · 40th Place
24

Continue on Gallatin Street

468 ft · 15 sec · Gallatin Street
25

Continue on Hamilton Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · Hamilton Street
26

Turn right onto Ager Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · Ager Road
27

Turn straight onto MD 410

1.0 mi · 2 min · East-West Highway
28

Continue on MD 410

0.7 mi · 2 min · Ethan Allen Avenue
29

Continue on MD 195; MD 410

362 ft · 15 sec · Carroll Avenue
30

Turn right onto MD 410

50 ft · 1 sec · Philadelphia Avenue
Use the right lane.
31

Arrive at destination

MD 410

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 16.9 miles from Saint Charles, MD, or about 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.7 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 33.9 miles or 59m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 16.9 miles or 25m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 47m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Takoma Park, MD than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Saint Charles, 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 Saint Charles, MD

This is one driving day of about 33.9 miles and 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Saint Charles, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Branch Avenue for about 12.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 16.9 mi from Saint Charles, MD · 25m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

17 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

Washington, DC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 16.9 miles from Saint Charles, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Takoma Park, MD

The final approach into Takoma Park, 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 Takoma Park, MD.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

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...

13 mi from route ~33 min detour $20 near mile 33.9
Caution: DC Water Sewer Overflow
Caution: Hiking in Gold Mine Tract
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.61 one way

$11.22 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $6.14 $12.28
premium $4.92 $6.57 $13.14
diesel $5.64 $7.53 $15.06

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 11.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 10.2 0 $3.56 $1.63
Efficient EV 8.5 0 $2.97 $1.36
EV Truck/SUV 13.6 0 $4.75 $2.17

Gas CO2

12 kg

EV CO2

4 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 data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Saint Charles, MD

Afternoon in Saint Charles on Monday

Local time

1:25 PM

EDT

Current temp

88°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Takoma Park, MD

Afternoon in Takoma Park on Monday

Local time

1:25 PM

EDT

Current temp

88°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

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 Saint Charles, MD to Takoma Park, MD covers 33.9 miles and takes about 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Branch Avenue, Crain Highway, Kenilworth Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16.9 miles from Saint Charles, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.61 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 is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 33.9 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 8.4 miles (MD 5 / Branch Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.1 miles (MD 5 / Branch Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.9 miles (Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Saint Charles, MD to Takoma Park, MD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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