The drive from Solomons, MD to Gwynn Oak, MD covers 84.7 miles and takes about 2h 8m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Solomons Island Road, South East Crain Highway, Southern Maryland Boulevard for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.3 miles on South Solomons Island Road.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.04 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
42.4 miles from Solomons, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 84.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 8m drive with frequent turns across 84.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Solomons Island Road is the longest continuous segment at about 19.3 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 early in the drive near Williams Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 84.7 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: near the start (Williams Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Charles Street): Navigation decision point; at 42.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Williams Street
Turn right onto Williams Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Charles Street
Turn left onto Charles Street
Navigation decision point
6
42.9 mi into trip|~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward US 301 North: Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 301 North: Baltimore
8
71.5 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|I 97
Take the exit onto I 97 toward I 695 West: Baltimore, Towson
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 17A
Toward I 695 West: Baltimore, Towson
7
80.2 mi into trip|~1h 57m in
Take the exit toward US 40 East: Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15A
Toward US 40 East: Baltimore
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 Solomons, MD to Gwynn Oak, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Towson along the way.
Towson
71.5 mi in|~1h 45m|via I 97
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Solomons Island Road
19.3 mi
29m
South East Crain Highway
10.8 mi
15m
Southern Maryland Boulevard
10.2 mi
14m
I 97
10 mi
11m
North Solomons Island Road
9 mi
13m
Baltimore Beltway
7.7 mi
10m
Robert Crain Highway
7.1 mi
11m
Stephanie Roper Highway
4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
South Solomons Island Road
— 19.3 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Solomons, MD and Gwynn Oak, MD.
1
Start on this road
67 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Williams Street
487 ft·47 sec·Williams Street
3
Turn left onto Charles Street
0.2 mi·1 min·Charles Street
4
Continue on South Solomons Island Road
0.9 mi·3 min·South Solomons Island Road
5
Continue on MD 2
0.1 mi·17 sec·H.G. Trueman Road
6
Take the ramp onto MD 2
193 ft·5 sec·MD 2
7
Merge onto MD 4
18 mi·25 min·South Solomons Island Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on MD 2; MD 4
9.0 mi·13 min·North Solomons Island Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Continue on MD 4
10 mi·14 min·Southern Maryland Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on MD 4
4.0 mi·5 min·Stephanie Roper Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·1 min
Toward US 301 North: BaltimoreUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto US 301
1.3 mi·1 min·Crain Highway
13
Continue on US 301
11 mi·15 min·South East Crain Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on MD 3; MD 450
7.1 mi·11 min·Robert Crain Highway
15
Merge onto I 97
8.9 mi·10 min·I 97
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit onto I 97
1.1 mi·1 min·I 97
Exit 17AToward I 695 West: Baltimore, TowsonUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 695
7.7 mi·10 min·Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 15AToward US 40 East: BaltimoreUse the slight right lane.
19
Turn straight onto US 40
0.2 mi·22 sec·Baltimore National Pike
20
Turn left onto Ingleside Avenue
1.6 mi·3 min·Ingleside Avenue
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on North Forest Park Avenue
1.4 mi·3 min·North Forest Park Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
22
Turn slight left onto Hillsdale Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Hillsdale Road
23
Turn right onto Haddon Avenue
178 ft·11 sec·Haddon Avenue
24
Turn left
60 ft·4 sec
25
Arrive at destination
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 42.4 miles from Solomons, MD, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.3 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 19 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.4 miles or 1h 4m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gwynn Oak, MD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Solomons, 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 Solomons, MD
This is one driving day of about 84.7 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Solomons, MD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South Solomons Island Road for about 19.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.4 mi from Solomons, MD
· 1h 4m into the drive
The midpoint is around 43.2 miles from Solomons, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Gwynn Oak, MD
The final approach into Gwynn Oak, 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 Gwynn Oak, 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.
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Harriet Tubman was a deeply spiritual woman who lived her ideals and dedicated her life to freedom. She is the Underground Railroad’s best known conductor and before the Civil War repeatedly risked he...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 5.8
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...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
$20
near mile 52.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.04 one way
$28.08 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$15.38
$30.76
premium
$4.93
$16.43
$32.85
diesel
$5.61
$18.70
$37.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.4
0
$8.89
$4.07
Efficient EV
21.2
0
$7.41
$3.39
EV Truck/SUV
33.9
0
$11.86
$5.42
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Solomons, MD
Morning
in Solomons on Friday
Local time
8:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Gwynn Oak, MD
Morning
in Gwynn Oak on Friday
Local time
8:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
1 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 8m 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 Solomons, MD to Gwynn Oak, MD covers 84.7 miles and takes about 2h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Solomons Island Road, South East Crain Highway, Southern Maryland Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.4 miles from Solomons, MD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.04 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 13 significant decision points across 84.7 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: near the start (Williams Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Charles Street): Navigation decision point; at 42.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Solomons, MD to Gwynn Oak, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Towson along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
