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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 9Toward I 370Use 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; 8BToward MD 97 South, MD 97 North: Wheaton, OlneyUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 8AToward MD 97 South: Georgia Avenue, WheatonUse 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.
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
$5.52 one way
$11.03 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg12 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$6.11
$12.21
premium
$4.81
$6.55
$13.10
diesel
$4.80
$6.53
$13.07
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, 2026-07-13.
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 Jul 1, 2026
Origin
Frederick, MD
Morning
in Frederick on Sunday
Local time
10:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
99°F
Mostly Sunny
W 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 1 at 1:58PM EDT until July 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 1 at 1:32PM EDT until July 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Destination
Rossmoor, MD
Morning
in Rossmoor on Sunday
Local time
10:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
96°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 6 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 1 at 1:58PM EDT until July 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 1 at 1:32PM EDT until July 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
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
3 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.
More Details
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 Effort9/10
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 ft282 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.
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
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.
