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Trip from Colesville, MD to Frederick, MD

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

51m

Distance

38 mi

61 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 47m ★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 49m

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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census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States

Colesville, MD

Wikimedia Commons

city in Frederick County, Maryland, United States

Frederick, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 38-mile drive from Colesville, MD to Frederick, MD is a straightforward, one-day trip that should take about 51 minutes. Primarily using I-270, the Intercounty Connector, and I-370, this route is heavily focused on highway travel, with 61% of the journey on these major roads. The estimated fuel cost is around $6, making it an economical option. Given its short duration, you won't need to worry about overnight stays, and you'll have plenty of flexibility to depart at your convenience. This trip stays within the Northeast region of Maryland, offering a direct connection between these two points.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 270 21.3 mi 26m
Intercounty Connector 10.4 mi 13m
I 370 1.7 mi 2m
Buckeystown Pike 1.6 mi 3m
New Hampshire Avenue 0.9 mi 1m
East Street 0.5 mi <1m
South Carroll Street 0.2 mi <1m
East Patrick Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 270 — 21.3 mi, about 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Colesville, MD and Frederick, MD.

1

Start on East Randolph Road

15 ft · 5 sec · East Randolph Road
2

Turn left onto MD 650

0.9 mi · 1 min · New Hampshire Avenue
3

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 45 sec
4

Merge onto MD 200 Toll

4.2 mi · 5 min · Intercounty Connector
5

Continue on MD 200 Toll

6.2 mi · 7 min · Intercounty Connector
Exit 8A
6

Continue on I 370

1.7 mi · 2 min · I 370
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 56 sec
Toward I 270 North: Frederick
8

Merge onto I 270

21 mi · 26 min · I 270
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 48 sec
Exit 31 Toward MD 85: Frederick, Buckeystown Use the slight right lane.
10

Turn right onto MD 85

1.3 mi · 2 min · Buckeystown Pike
Use the straight lane.
11

Continue on MD 85

0.3 mi · 30 sec · Buckeystown Pike
12

Continue on East Street

0.1 mi · 15 sec · East Street
13

Enter roundabout onto East Street

119 ft · 2 sec · East Street
14

Continue on East Street

0.3 mi · 33 sec · East Street
15

Turn left onto MD 144

0.1 mi · 24 sec · East South Street
16

Turn right onto South Carroll Street

0.2 mi · 45 sec · South Carroll Street
17

Turn left onto MD 144

0.2 mi · 25 sec · East Patrick Street
18

Arrive at destination

MD 144

Where to Stop

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

census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Germantown, MD

19 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.

Popular next leg

Germantown, MD to Frederick, MD

21.2 mi · 31m

Pacing Suggestions

Ballenger Creek, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Germantown, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 19 miles from Colesville, 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 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 13.8 and 37.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
13.8 mi into trip | ~18m in | I 270

Merge onto I 270

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
35.1 mi into trip | ~45m in

Take the exit toward MD 85: Frederick, Buckeystown

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 31 Toward MD 85: Frederick, Buckeystown
5
35.4 mi into trip | ~45m in | MD 85 / Buckeystown Pike

Turn right onto MD 85 / Buckeystown Pike

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
37.2 mi into trip | ~49m in | East Street

Enter roundabout onto East Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
37.9 mi into trip | ~51m in | MD 144 / East Patrick Street

Turn left onto MD 144 / East Patrick Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.30 one way

$12.60 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $6.90 $13.80
premium $4.93 $7.37 $14.74
diesel $5.61 $8.39 $16.78

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.4 0 $3.99 $1.82
Efficient EV 9.5 0 $3.32 $1.52
EV Truck/SUV 15.2 0 $5.32 $2.43

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 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

Colesville, MD

Late night in Colesville on Sunday

Local time

1:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Frederick, MD

Late night in Frederick on Sunday

Local time

1:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

71°F

Germantown, MD

19 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

6 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

51m 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 highway-focused experience for most of this 38-mile journey, with 61% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-270. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 21.3 miles on I-270, providing a consistent pace. While not a winding scenic byway, this drive offers a practical and efficient way to travel between Colesville and Frederick. You'll primarily be navigating well-maintained highways, which can make for a smooth and predictable drive.

61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.3 mi on I 270.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 270 and Intercounty Connector. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 13.8 miles in near I 270.

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 38 miles you will encounter 10 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 13.8 miles (I 270): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.4 miles (MD 85 / Buckeystown Pike): 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.

On the drive from Colesville, MD to Frederick, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Buckeystown along the way.

Buckeystown

35.1 mi in | ~45m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 38 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

51m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 21.3 miles on I 270. 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 Frederick, 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 13.8 miles (I 270): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.4 miles (MD 85 / Buckeystown Pike): Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Monocacy National Battlefield, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (5 total within detour distance). 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 Frederick, 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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