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Trip from Cottage City, 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

1h 11m

Distance

46.9 mi

76 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 5m ★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m

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 Cottage City, MD, MD

Cottage City, MD

Efrem Efre

city in Frederick County, Maryland, United States

Frederick, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning to travel from Cottage City to Frederick, expect a straightforward 54.3-mile trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 5 minutes. This journey stays entirely within Maryland, moving you from the Northeast region toward the inland parts of the state. Because the duration is quite manageable, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can anticipate a fuel cost of approximately $9 for the one-way trip. Since there are no required stops, you have the flexibility to make this a quick transit or a leisurely drive depending on your schedule.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 270 30.9 mi 39m
Capital Beltway 6 mi 7m
University Boulevard East 2.7 mi 6m
Buckeystown Pike 1.6 mi 3m
Ager Road 1.2 mi 2m
38th Street 1.2 mi 3m
Riggs Road 0.8 mi 1m
Hamilton Street 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 270 — 30.9 mi, about 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Parkwood Street

0.2 mi · 54 sec · Parkwood Street
2

Turn right onto MD 208

362 ft · 7 sec · 38th Avenue
3

Continue on MD 208

1.2 mi · 3 min · 38th Street
4

Turn left onto MD 208

0.7 mi · 1 min · Hamilton Street
5

Turn right onto Ager Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · Ager Road
6

Turn straight onto MD 410

0.1 mi · 15 sec · East-West Highway
7

Turn right onto MD 212

0.8 mi · 1 min · Riggs Road
8

Turn left onto MD 193

2.7 mi · 6 min · University Boulevard East
Use the left lane.
9

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Toward I 495 West: Northern Virginia Use the straight / right lanes.
10

Merge onto I 495

6.0 mi · 7 min · Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

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.
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 270

27 mi · 34 min · I 270
Toward I 270 North Use the slight right lane.
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 48 sec
Exit 31 Toward MD 85: Frederick, Buckeystown Use the slight right lane.
14

Turn right onto MD 85

1.3 mi · 2 min · Buckeystown Pike
Use the straight lane.
15

Continue on MD 85

0.3 mi · 30 sec · Buckeystown Pike
16

Continue on East Street

0.1 mi · 15 sec · East Street
17

Enter roundabout onto East Street

119 ft · 2 sec · East Street
18

Continue on East Street

0.3 mi · 33 sec · East Street
19

Turn left onto MD 144

0.1 mi · 24 sec · East South Street
20

Turn right onto South Carroll Street

0.2 mi · 45 sec · South Carroll Street
21

Turn left onto MD 144

0.2 mi · 25 sec · East Patrick Street
22

Arrive at destination

MD 144

Where to Stop

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

Downtown North Bethesda, MD, MD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

North Bethesda, MD

23 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

Chevy Chase, MD

Fuel and coffee

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

Gaithersburg, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 23.5 miles from Cottage City, 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 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 7 and 44 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
7 mi into trip | ~16m in

Take the ramp toward I 495 West: Northern Virginia

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward I 495 West: Northern Virginia
5
7.2 mi into trip | ~17m in | I 495 / Capital Beltway

Merge onto I 495 / Capital Beltway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
13.2 mi into trip | ~25m 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
16.7 mi into trip | ~29m 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
8
44 mi into trip | ~1h 4m 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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.78 one way

$15.55 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $8.52 $17.03
premium $4.93 $9.10 $18.19
diesel $5.61 $10.35 $20.71

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.4 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 14.1 0 $4.92 $2.25
Efficient EV 11.7 0 $4.10 $1.88
EV Truck/SUV 18.8 0 $6.57 $3.00

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

Cottage City, MD

Morning in Cottage City on Sunday

Local time

10:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Frederick, MD

Morning in Frederick on Sunday

Local time

10:36 AM

EDT

Current temp

67°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

11 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

1h 11m 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?

Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that avoids major highways entirely, as this route maintains a 0% highway share. You will navigate through local thoroughfares like 38th Avenue, 38th Street, and Windom Road, which define the personality of this journey. Because the path relies on local roads rather than high-speed interstates, the pace remains consistent and requires your full attention at intersections and turns. Expect a driving experience that feels more grounded and neighborhood-focused rather than a fast-paced highway sprint. Since there is no single long-distance uninterrupted stretch, the drive keeps you engaged with frequent shifts in direction.

66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.9 mi on I 270.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 270 and Capital Beltway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.9 miles you will encounter 15 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 7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.2 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.2 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.

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

Buckeystown

44 mi in | ~1h 4m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 46.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 30.9 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 7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.2 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.2 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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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