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Trip from Brandywine, MD to Rockville, 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 2m

Distance

44.9 mi

72 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 57m ★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m

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 Brandywine, MD, MD

Brandywine, MD

Jonathan Borba

Downtown Rockville, MD, MD

Rockville, MD

Jonathan Borba

Trip Overview

This 44.9-mile drive from Brandywine, MD to Rockville, MD takes approximately 1 hour and 2 minutes. It's a straightforward, single-day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. You'll primarily use the Capital Beltway and I-270, with a portion on Branch Avenue. The estimated fuel cost is around $7, making it an economical option. This route stays within the Northeast region, connecting two points in Maryland. Its turn-heavy local drive profile suggests a need for attention as you navigate.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Capital Beltway 27.9 mi 36m
Branch Avenue 7.9 mi 10m
I 270 5.4 mi 7m
Brandywine Road 1.9 mi 3m
Great Falls Road 0.7 mi 1m
West Montgomery Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Falls Road <0.1 mi <1m
South Washington Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Capital Beltway — 27.9 mi, about 36m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Brandywine, MD and Rockville, MD.

1

Start on MD 381

1.9 mi · 3 min · Brandywine Road
2

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 35 sec
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
3

Merge onto MD 5

7.9 mi · 10 min · Branch Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, College Park Use the slight right lane.
5

Merge onto I 95; I 495

18 mi · 24 min · Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 495

9.5 mi · 12 min · Capital Beltway
Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 270

3.6 mi · 4 min · I 270
Exit 35 Toward I 270 North: Frederick Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 270

1.8 mi · 2 min · I 270
Toward I 270 North Use the slight right lane.
9

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 18 sec
Exit 5 Toward MD 189: Falls Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 13 sec
Toward MD 189 North: Falls Road, Rockville, Town Center Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11

Turn straight onto MD 189

432 ft · 20 sec · Falls Road
12

Turn left onto Great Falls Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Great Falls Road
13

Continue on West Montgomery Avenue

0.2 mi · 37 sec · West Montgomery Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
14

Turn right onto South Washington Street

63 ft · 1 sec · South Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Arrive at destination

South Washington Street

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Seat Pleasant, MD, MD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Seat Pleasant, MD

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

Forestville, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

New Carrollton, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 22.5 miles from Brandywine, 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 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 10.1 and 43.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
10.1 mi into trip | ~14m in

Take the exit toward I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, College Park

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 I 95 North, I 495 North: Baltimore, Coll...
8
28.8 mi into trip | ~39m in | I 495 / Capital Beltway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 495 / Capital Beltway toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 495 West: Beltway, Silver Spring
8
38.3 mi into trip | ~51m in | I 270

Keep slight right at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 North: Frederick

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 35 Toward I 270 North: Frederick
7
41.9 mi into trip | ~56m in | I 270

Keep slight right at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 270 North
9
43.8 mi into trip | ~59m in

Keep slight right at fork toward MD 189 North: Falls Road, Rockville, Town Center

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

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward MD 189 North: Falls Road, Rockville, Tow...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.44 one way

$14.89 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $8.15 $16.31
premium $4.93 $8.71 $17.42
diesel $5.61 $9.91 $19.83

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 13.5 0 $4.71 $2.16
Efficient EV 11.2 0 $3.93 $1.80
EV Truck/SUV 18 0 $6.29 $2.87

Gas CO2

16 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (69% 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

Brandywine, MD

Late night in Brandywine on Sunday

Local time

12:17 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Rockville, MD

Late night in Rockville on Sunday

Local time

12:17 AM

EDT

Current temp

77°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

3 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 2m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' on this 44.9-mile journey. While 12% of the route is highway, the majority involves more frequent turns and local road navigation. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 27.9 miles on the Capital Beltway, offering a chance for more consistent speed before you transition to more complex local roads. This drive is characterized by its mix of highway and more involved local segments, requiring you to stay engaged with navigation.

Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.9 mi on Capital Beltway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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 10.1 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 44.9 miles you will encounter 11 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 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.8 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.3 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.

Between Brandywine, MD and Rockville, MD, road signs point toward College Park and Silver Spring.

College Park

10.1 mi in | ~14m

Silver Spring

28.8 mi in | ~39m | via I 495

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 44.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 27.9 miles on Capital Beltway. 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 Rockville, 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 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.8 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.3 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rockville, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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