Origin
Gaithersburg, MD
Late night in Gaithersburg on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gaithersburg, MD to Braddock Heights, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
27.6 mi
44 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gaithersburg, MD
Kristopher Hines
Braddock Heights, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Gaithersburg, MD to Braddock Heights, MD is 27.6 miles and takes about 37 minutes via I-270, I-70, and Old National Pike, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive within Maryland, primarily focused on highway travel. Given its short distance and duration, it's an ideal option for a quick trip or an add-on to another journey in the Northeast region. You'll likely find this route efficient for getting from point A to point B without significant detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 270 | 20.2 mi | 25m |
| I 70 | 3.5 mi | 3m |
| Old National Pike | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North Frederick Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Maryland Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Quince Orchard Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Schley Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 270
— 20.2 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gaithersburg, MD and Braddock Heights, MD.
1
Start on this road
85 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto MD 355
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Frederick Avenue
3
Turn left onto MD 124
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Quince Orchard Road
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 270 North
5
Merge onto I 270
20 mi
·
25 min
·
I 270
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 32
Toward I 70: Hagerstown, Baltimore
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 70 West: Hagerstown
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 70
3.5 mi
·
3 min
·
I 70
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 49
Toward US 40 Alternate: Braddock Heights, Middletown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn straight onto US 40 ALT
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Old National Pike
11
Turn left onto Maryland Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Maryland Avenue
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto Schley Avenue
221 ft
·
11 sec
·
Schley Avenue
13
Turn right
62 ft
·
6 sec
14
Turn right
165 ft
·
12 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 27.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 270
Merge onto I 270
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
21.5 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward I 70: Hagerstown, Baltimore
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 32
Toward I 70: Hagerstown, Baltimore
7
21.9 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 West: Hagerstown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 70 West: Hagerstown
8
25.7 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward US 40 Alternate: Braddock Heights, Middletown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 49
Toward US 40 Alternate: Braddock Heights, Middl...
6
27.2 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
Maryland Avenue
Turn left onto Maryland Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.58 one way
$9.15 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.01 | $10.02 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.35 | $10.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.09 | $12.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.90 | $1.32 |
| Efficient EV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.42 | $1.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11 | 0 | $3.86 | $1.77 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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.
Destination
Braddock Heights, MD
Late night in Braddock Heights on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
37m 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?
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 86% of the journey on interstates. You'll experience a 20.2-mile stretch primarily on I-270, offering a consistent pace. The route begins by utilizing major freeways, providing a smooth and direct path. As you approach your destination, the roads will transition, incorporating Old National Pike for the final leg into Braddock Heights. Expect a driving experience characterized by efficient travel on well-maintained highways.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.2 mi on I 270.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 270 and I 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near I 270.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 27.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (I 270): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.9 miles: 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Gaithersburg, MD and Braddock Heights, MD, road signs point toward Baltimore and Middletown.
Baltimore
21.5 mi in
|
~27m
Middletown
25.7 mi in
|
~32m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 27.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.2 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 Braddock Heights, 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 1.3 miles (I 270): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Monocacy National Battlefield, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Antietam National Battlefield (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 Braddock Heights, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Braddock Heights, MD
More trips to Braddock Heights, MD
Explore more options from Gaithersburg, MD or browse trips ending in Braddock Heights, MD.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips.