Origin
Arlington, MD
Morning in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
7:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arlington, MD to Gaithersburg, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
43.3 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, MD
RDNE Stock project
Gaithersburg, MD
Kristopher Hines
Trip Overview
Arlington, MD to Gaithersburg, MD is 43.3 miles and takes about 1h 4m via Columbia Pike and I-70 Extension, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Maryland, traversing the Northeast region. Expect a route with frequent turns and a local feel, rather than a straightforward highway cruise. It's a manageable distance, making it a good option for a single-day trip when you need to get from point A to point B without a major time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia Pike | 16.4 mi | 21m |
| Intercounty Connector | 13 mi | 16m |
| I 70 Extension | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| South Frederick Avenue | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| West Forest Park Avenue | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Hillsdale Road | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| Eldorado Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| I 370 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Columbia Pike
— 16.4 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, MD and Gaithersburg, MD.
1
Start on Cuthbert Avenue
419 ft
·
16 sec
·
Cuthbert Avenue
2
Turn right onto Hayward Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Hayward Avenue
3
Turn sharp left onto Eldorado Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Eldorado Avenue
4
Turn right onto Oakford Avenue
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Oakford Avenue
5
Continue on Hillsdale Road
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Hillsdale Road
6
Turn slight right onto West Forest Park Avenue
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West Forest Park Avenue
7
Continue on Ingleside Avenue
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Ingleside Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 70 West
9
Merge onto I 70 Extension
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
I 70 Extension
10
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 87A
Toward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington, Ellicott City
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto US 29
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Columbia Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward MD 200 Toll
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward MD 200 Toll West
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto MD 200 Toll
6.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Intercounty Connector
15
Continue on MD 200 Toll
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Intercounty Connector
Exit 8A
16
Continue on I 370
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 370
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 2
Toward MD 355: Rockville, Gaithersburg
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn right onto MD 355
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Frederick Road
19
Continue on MD 355
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Frederick Avenue
20
Turn left
85 ft
·
6 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.7 miles from Arlington, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 41.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Eldorado Avenue
Turn sharp left onto Eldorado Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
8
9.7 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington, Ellicott City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 87A
Toward US 29 South: Columbia, Washington, Ellic...
6
27 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward MD 200 Toll
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MD 200 Toll
7
27.1 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MD 200 Toll West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward MD 200 Toll West
8
41.2 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward MD 355: Rockville, Gaithersburg
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 2
Toward MD 355: Rockville, Gaithersburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.18 one way
$14.36 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.86 | $15.72 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.40 | $16.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.56 | $19.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.55 | $2.08 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.79 | $1.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.06 | $2.77 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Gaithersburg, MD
Morning in Gaithersburg on Sunday
Local time
7:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 13 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
75°F
Columbia, MD
22 mi in
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
21 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 4m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a turn-heavy local drive, with only 14% of the journey on highways. You'll navigate through various local roads, including a significant 16.4-mile stretch on Columbia Pike. The route isn't a high-speed interstate cruise; instead, anticipate a more involved driving experience with numerous intersections and changes in speed limits. The road character shifts as you progress, moving from more localized arteries to sections that incorporate limited-access highways like the Intercounty Connector and I-70 Extension.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.4 mi on Columbia Pike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.6 miles in near Eldorado Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.6 miles (Eldorado Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Arlington, MD and Gaithersburg, MD, road signs point toward Washington and Ellicott City.
Washington
9.7 mi in
|
~19m
Ellicott City
9.7 mi in
|
~19m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 43.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.4 miles on Columbia Pike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Gaithersburg, MD before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Eldorado Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Monocacy National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gaithersburg, MD before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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