Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34m
Distance
23.9 mi
38 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Frederick, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Gaithersburg, MD
Kristopher Hines
Frederick, MD to Gaithersburg, MD is 23.9 miles and takes about 34 minutes via Eisenhower Memorial Highway and Buckeystown Pike, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Northeast region, connecting two points in Maryland. Expect a local driving experience with frequent turns rather than a straightforward highway cruise. Given its brevity, it's an ideal route for a quick errand or a seamless connection between these two communities, requiring minimal planning. You'll find it a straightforward drive with no overnight stays needed.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Eisenhower Memorial Highway | 18.6 mi | 23m |
| Buckeystown Pike | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| North Frederick Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North East Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Quince Orchard Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Church Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Market Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Frederick, MD and Gaithersburg, MD.
Start on MD 144
Turn right onto North Market Street
Turn right onto East Church Street
Turn right onto North East Street
Enter roundabout onto East Street
Continue on East Street
Continue on MD 85
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 270
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto MD 124
Turn right onto MD 355
Turn right
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 22.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto North Market Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto North East Street
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 270 / Eisenhower Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward MD 124: Montgomery Village Avenue, Quince Orchard Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 124 North: Montgomery Village Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$3.96 one way
$7.92 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.34 | $8.68 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.64 | $9.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.28 | $10.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.51 | $1.15 |
| Efficient EV | 6 | 0 | $2.09 | $0.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.35 | $1.53 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Frederick on Sunday
Local time
11:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Gaithersburg on Sunday
Local time
11:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This is a turn-heavy local drive, meaning you'll navigate several intersections and changes in direction. With 0% highway share, you'll be on surface streets for the entire 23.9 miles. The longest stretch without a significant turn or stop is 18.6 miles along the Eisenhower Memorial Highway. As you travel, the route transitions from roads like North Frederick Avenue to Buckeystown Pike, offering a consistent local feel throughout. Be prepared for typical suburban traffic patterns.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Market Street.
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 23.9 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (North Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (North East Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles (I 270 / Eisenhower Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 34m. Total distance: 23.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m 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.
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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