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Trip from Dunkirk Town Center, 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 14m

Distance

51.2 mi

82 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 18 min
4 AM
1h 8m ★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 11m

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 Dunkirk Town Center, MD, MD

Dunkirk Town Center, MD

Irina Iriser

Downtown Gaithersburg, MD, MD

Gaithersburg, MD

Kristopher Hines

Trip Overview

This 51.2-mile drive from Dunkirk Town Center to Gaithersburg, MD, is a manageable one-day trip taking approximately 1 hour and 14 minutes. You'll primarily be on the Capital Beltway and I-270, with a portion on Largo Road, making it a straightforward journey within Maryland's Northeast region. With a fuel cost estimated at $8, this route is budget-friendly for a quick excursion. It's a practical option for a day trip, allowing for flexibility without the need for an overnight stay. The overall feel is that of a typical commute, connecting two points within the state.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Capital Beltway 18.5 mi 24m
I 270 10.9 mi 14m
Largo Road 7.6 mi 11m
Southern Maryland Boulevard 5 mi 7m
Stephanie Roper Highway 4.6 mi 6m
Landover Road 1.7 mi 2m
West Diamond Avenue 0.5 mi <1m
Main Street 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Capital Beltway — 18.5 mi, about 24m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dunkirk Town Center, MD and Gaithersburg, MD.

1

Start on this road

467 ft · 39 sec · this road
2

Turn left

115 ft · 11 sec
3

Turn right

238 ft · 17 sec
4

Merge onto MD 4

5.0 mi · 7 min · Southern Maryland Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
5

Continue on MD 4

4.6 mi · 6 min · Stephanie Roper Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 52 sec
Toward MD 717: Upper Marlboro Use the slight right lane.
7

Turn right onto MD 717

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Water Street
8

Turn right onto MD 725

0.5 mi · 58 sec · Main Street
9

Turn left onto MD 202

7.6 mi · 11 min · Largo Road
10

Continue on MD 202

1.7 mi · 2 min · Landover Road
11

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 95 North, I 495 North: College Park, Baltimore
12

Merge onto I 95; I 495

9.0 mi · 11 min · Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

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.
14

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.
15

Keep slight right at fork onto I 270

7.3 mi · 9 min · I 270
Toward I 270 North Use the slight right lane.
16

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward MD 117, MD 124 South: Clopper Road, West Diamond Avenue, Quince Orchard Road
17

Turn left onto MD 117

0.5 mi · 50 sec · West Diamond Avenue
18

Turn left onto Meem Avenue

0.1 mi · 29 sec · Meem Avenue
19

Turn right onto Chestnut Street

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Chestnut Street
20

Turn right onto MD 355

251 ft · 6 sec · North Frederick Avenue
21

Turn right

85 ft · 6 sec
22

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

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

city in Prince George’s County, Maryland, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

New Carrollton, MD

26 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

Bowie, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

New Carrollton, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 25.6 miles from Dunkirk Town Center, 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 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 42.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

6
9.8 mi into trip | ~14m in

Take the exit toward MD 717: Upper Marlboro

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward MD 717: Upper Marlboro
8
29.6 mi into trip | ~44m 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
39.2 mi into trip | ~56m 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
42.7 mi into trip | ~1h 1m 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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.49 one way

$16.98 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 18 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $9.30 $18.59
premium $4.93 $9.93 $19.86
diesel $5.61 $11.30 $22.61

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 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 15.4 0 $5.38 $2.46
Efficient EV 12.8 0 $4.48 $2.05
EV Truck/SUV 20.5 0 $7.17 $3.28

Gas CO2

18 kg

EV CO2

6 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

Dunkirk Town Center, MD

Afternoon in Dunkirk Town Center on Sunday

Local time

4:22 PM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Gaithersburg, MD

Afternoon in Gaithersburg on Sunday

Local time

4:22 PM

EDT

Current temp

73°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

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

1h 14m 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' for much of this 51.2-mile route, though it does incorporate some highway time. Approximately 21% of the drive is on highways, with the longest uninterrupted stretch being 18.5 miles on the Capital Beltway. This means you'll experience a mix of faster-paced driving and more intricate local road navigation. The character of the drive shifts as you transition between these different road types, requiring attention to local traffic patterns and potential turns.

Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.5 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 0.1 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 51.2 miles you will encounter 18 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 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 9.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.6 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Dunkirk Town Center, MD and Gaithersburg, MD, road signs point toward Baltimore and Silver Spring.

Baltimore

20.1 mi in | ~31m

Silver Spring

29.6 mi in | ~44m | via I 495

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 51.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 14m 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 18.5 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 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 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 9.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.6 miles (I 495 / Capital Beltway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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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