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Trip from Frederick, MD to Rossmoor, MD

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

50m

Distance

34.6 mi

56 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good 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 46m ★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m

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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city in Frederick County, Maryland, United States

Frederick, MD

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Rossmoor, MD, MD

Rossmoor, MD

Mark Stebnicki

Trip Overview

Frederick, MD to Rossmoor, MD is 34.6 miles and takes about 50 minutes via Eisenhower Memorial Highway and Intercounty Connector, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive is a single-day trip originating and ending in the Northeast region, specifically within Maryland. Expect a route with a high number of turns, characteristic of a local drive rather than an open highway journey. The majority of the drive utilizes major roadways, but it's not a constant interstate experience. This is a practical option for a short trip where you can easily fit it into a single day's schedule.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Eisenhower Memorial Highway 21 mi 26m
Intercounty Connector 5.4 mi 6m
Buckeystown Pike 1.7 mi 3m
I 370 1.5 mi 2m
Georgia Avenue 1 mi 1m
North East Street 0.6 mi 1m
East Church Street 0.3 mi <1m
North Leisure World Boulevard 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Eisenhower Memorial Highway — 21 mi, about 26m

Traffic on I-270

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

5 PM

~6,103 veh/hr typical

Quietest

2 AM

~397 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

15.4×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on MD 144

122 ft · 7 sec · East Patrick Street
2

Turn right onto North Market Street

435 ft · 18 sec · North Market Street
3

Turn right onto East Church Street

0.3 mi · 47 sec · East Church Street
4

Turn right onto North East Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · North East Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5

Enter roundabout onto East Street

101 ft · 1 sec · East Street
6

Continue on East Street

0.1 mi · 14 sec · East Street
7

Continue on MD 85

1.7 mi · 3 min · Buckeystown Pike
8

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 34 sec
Toward I 270 South
9

Merge onto I 270

21 mi · 26 min · Eisenhower Memorial Highway
Use the right lane.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Exit 9 Toward I 370 Use the slight right lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward I 370 East
12

Merge onto I 370

1.5 mi · 2 min · I 370
13

Continue on MD 200 Toll

5.4 mi · 6 min · Intercounty Connector
Toward MD 200 Toll East
14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Exit 8A; 8B Toward MD 97 South, MD 97 North: Wheaton, Olney Use the slight right lane.
15

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Exit 8A Toward MD 97 South: Georgia Avenue, Wheaton Use the slight right lane.
16

Turn straight onto MD 97

1.0 mi · 1 min · Georgia Avenue
Use the left lane.
17

Turn left onto Rossmoor Boulevard

372 ft · 11 sec · Rossmoor Boulevard
18

Turn right onto Pennfield Circle

0.2 mi · 42 sec · Pennfield Circle
19

At end of road, turn left onto Pennfield Circle

288 ft · 12 sec · Pennfield Circle
20

At end of road, turn left onto South Leisure World Boulevard

0.1 mi · 26 sec · South Leisure World Boulevard
21

Continue on North Leisure World Boulevard

0.2 mi · 36 sec · North Leisure World Boulevard
22

Turn right onto Vantage Hill Road

377 ft · 16 sec · Vantage Hill Road
23

Arrive at destination

Vantage Hill Road

Where to Stop

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

unincorporated community in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Montgomery Village, MD

17 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 34.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kingsley, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 17.3 miles from Frederick, 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 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 32.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | North Market Street

Turn right onto North Market Street

Navigation decision point

6
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | North East Street

Turn right onto North East Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
7
24.2 mi into trip | ~33m in

Take the exit toward I 370

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 9 Toward I 370
8
32.3 mi into trip | ~44m in

Take the exit toward MD 97 South, MD 97 North: Wheaton, Olney

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 8A; 8B Toward MD 97 South, MD 97 North: Wheaton, Olney
9
32.5 mi into trip | ~45m in

Keep slight right at fork toward MD 97 South: Georgia Avenue, Wheaton

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 8A Toward MD 97 South: Georgia Avenue, Wheaton

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.12 one way

$12.24 round trip

$4.49/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.92 $6.70 $13.40
premium $5.24 $7.14 $14.29
diesel $5.35 $7.29 $14.58

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 10.4 0 $3.63 $1.66
Efficient EV 8.7 0 $3.03 $1.38
EV Truck/SUV 13.8 0 $4.84 $2.21

Gas CO2

12 kg

EV CO2

4 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 May 24, 2026

Origin

Frederick, MD

Evening in Frederick on Wednesday

Local time

5:34 PM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Cloudy

NE 3 mph 5% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued May 24 at 4:03AM EDT until May 24 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA

Destination

Rossmoor, MD

Evening in Rossmoor on Wednesday

Local time

5:34 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Cloudy

E 5 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued May 24 at 4:03AM EDT until May 24 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA

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

50m on the road

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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is best described as a turn-heavy local drive, with about 40% of the journey on highways. While the Eisenhower Memorial Highway offers a significant uninterrupted stretch of 21 miles, the overall experience involves navigating a variety of road types. You'll transition between faster-paced highway sections like the Intercounty Connector and more local arterial roads such as Buckeystown Pike. Be prepared for frequent changes in direction and speed limits as you make your way through different communities.

Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21 mi on Eisenhower Memorial Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

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 early in the drive near North Market Street.

Driving Effort 9/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 34.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.

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

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

636 ft 282 ft

Total Climb

588 ft

Total Descent

428 ft

Highest Point

636 ft

~14.8 mi in

Elevation Range

355 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Frederick, MD and Rossmoor, MD, road signs point toward Olney and Wheaton.

Olney

32.3 mi in | ~44m

Wheaton

32.5 mi in | ~45m

Detours Along the Way

Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.

Crabapples Delicatessen

Cafe

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Hours: Mo-Fr 07:30-16:00; Sa 08:30-15:30

Cafe Moka Cafe

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

50min in 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

club house

Cafe

Early in the drive, right off the route

11min in 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the end, short detour

50min in 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Olney, MD

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Java Nation

Cafe

Later in the drive, short detour

33min in 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour

Gaithersburg, MD

Cuisine: coffee_shop

club house

Cafe

Early in the drive, short detour

17min in 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour

Truth & Beauty

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Frederick, MD

Cuisine: american

Hours: Mo off; Tu-Th 11:30-22:00; Fr 11:30-24:0...

Visit website

The Wine Kitchen

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

MD

Hours: Tu-Th 12:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-22:00; Su...

Visit website

Feasty Crab

Restaurant

Later in the drive, right off the route

39min in 0.2 mi from route

Derwood, MD

Cuisine: seafood

Visit website

Senor Tequila's

Restaurant

Around the midpoint, right off the route

28min in 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Hours: Mo-We 11:30-22:00; Th, Fr 11:30-00:00; S...

Visit website

Nancy's Kitchen

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

50min in 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Silver Spring, MD

Cuisine: american

Visit website

Plaza Mexico Restaurant

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Frederick, MD

Cuisine: mexican

Carver Park

Park

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Walder Park

Park

Later in the drive, right off the route

33min in 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

High Point Farm

Park

Around the midpoint, right off the route

22min in 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Germantown Park

Park

Around the midpoint, right off the route

28min in 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

The Great Frederick Fair

Attraction

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Husky Park

Park

Near the start, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Fire Museum

Museum

Later in the drive, right off the route

33min in 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Hours: Sa 10:00-14:00

Visit website

Gaithersburg Latitude Observatory

Monument

Later in the drive, right off the route

33min in 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Jug Monument

Monument

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Children's Museum of Rose Hill Manor Park

Museum

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour

MD

Buckeystown Historic District

District

Near the start, short detour

5min in 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Comfort Inn

Hotel

Later in the drive, right off the route

39min in 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Gaithersburg, MD

Visit website

Best Western Premier Rockville Hotel & Suites

Hotel

Later in the drive, short detour

39min in 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Rockville, MD

Visit website

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

About the Cities

Starting in Frederick, MD

Full guide →

Founded 1745

Frederick is a charming city of approximately 80,000 people (2020) in Maryland. It is a major antique center with many shops, eateries, galleries and antique dealers.

Top landmarks

  • • Frederick Armory — drill hall in Frederick, United States of America
  • • Frederick Historic District — historic district in Maryland, United States
  • • Hessian Barracks — historic barracks building in Frederick, Maryland, United States

Arriving in Rossmoor, MD

Full guide →

Founded 1964

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 34.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

50m 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 21 miles on Eisenhower Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

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 Rossmoor, 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: near the start (North Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (North East Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Rossmoor, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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