Gaithersburg, MD to Brooklyn Park, MD is 43.5 miles and takes about 1 hour via Intercounty Connector, I 95, and Baltimore Beltway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maryland, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a mixed drive that's mostly on well-traveled highways, making it a straightforward journey for a single day. It's a practical option if you're looking for a relatively quick transit between these two Maryland locations without venturing too far off the beaten path.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Intercounty Connector
15.9 mi
20m
I 95
14.5 mi
16m
Baltimore Beltway
2.9 mi
3m
Belle Grove Road
1.7 mi
4m
South Frederick Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
Shady Grove Road
1.1 mi
2m
North Camp Meade Road
0.4 mi
1m
Frederick Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Intercounty Connector
— 15.9 mi, about 20m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~5,983 veh/hr typical
· worst 8,079
Quietest
2 AM
~695 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Gaithersburg, MD and Brooklyn Park, MD.
1
Start on this road
85 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto MD 355
0.2 mi·16 sec·North Frederick Avenue
3
Continue on MD 355
1.4 mi·2 min·South Frederick Avenue
4
Continue on MD 355
0.4 mi·42 sec·Frederick Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Turn left onto Shady Grove Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Shady Grove Road
6
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward MD 200 Toll EastUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto MD 200 Toll
16 mi·20 min·Intercounty Connector
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 19CToward I 95: Laurel, BurtonsvilleUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·39 sec
Toward MD 198: Konterra Drive
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward MD 198: Laurel, Burtonsville
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·39 sec
Toward MD 198 West: BurtonsvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·50 sec
13
Merge onto I 95
15 mi·16 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 49AToward I 695 East: Glen Burnie, Key BridgeUse the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto I 695
2.9 mi·3 min·Baltimore Beltway
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
Exit 6AToward MD 170 North: North LinthicumUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn straight onto MD 170
0.4 mi·1 min·North Camp Meade Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on MD 170
1.7 mi·4 min·Belle Grove Road
19
Turn right onto 6th Avenue
0.2 mi·44 sec·6th Avenue
20
Turn right onto Marshall Road
48 ft·1 sec·Marshall Road
21
Arrive at destination
Marshall Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 21.8 miles from Gaithersburg, 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 40.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.1 mi into trip|~6m in
Turn left toward MD 200 Toll East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward MD 200 Toll East
8
19.5 mi into trip|~27m in
Take the exit toward I 95: Laurel, Burtonsville
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 19C
Toward I 95: Laurel, Burtonsville
7
21.5 mi into trip|~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 198 West: Burtonsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward MD 198 West: Burtonsville
8
37.2 mi into trip|~48m in
Take the exit toward I 695 East: Glen Burnie, Key Bridge
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 49A
Toward I 695 East: Glen Burnie, Key Bridge
7
40.7 mi into trip|~53m in
Take the exit toward MD 170 North: North Linthicum
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 6A
Toward MD 170 North: North Linthicum
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.94 one way
$13.87 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg15 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$7.68
$15.35
premium
$4.81
$8.23
$16.47
diesel
$4.80
$8.21
$16.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
13.1
0
$4.57
$2.09
Efficient EV
10.9
0
$3.81
$1.74
EV Truck/SUV
17.4
0
$6.09
$2.78
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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 18, 2026
Origin
Gaithersburg, MD
Late night
in Gaithersburg on Sunday
Local time
2:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Patchy Smoke
SW 9 mph77% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:43PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 12:08PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Destination
Brooklyn Park, MD
Late night
in Brooklyn Park on Sunday
Local time
2:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
95°F
Patchy Smoke
SW 8 to 12 mph76% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:43PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 12:08PM 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
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
1h 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 drive offers a mixed experience, with 33% of it on highways. You'll encounter stretches like the 15.9-mile segment on the Intercounty Connector, which provides a more uninterrupted flow. As you transition to I-95 and then the Baltimore Beltway, expect the character to shift towards busier, multi-lane traffic common in urban and suburban corridors. While not a scenic byway, it's designed for efficient travel, meaning you'll likely experience a mix of moderate speeds and periods of stop-and-go depending on the time of day and specific segment.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.9 mi on Intercounty Connector.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.5 miles you will encounter 15 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 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 19.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
501 ft111 ft
Total Climb
93 ft
Total Descent
484 ft
Highest Point
501 ft
Elevation Range
390 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Gaithersburg, MD to Brooklyn Park, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Burtonsville along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 43.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (33%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.9 miles on Intercounty Connector. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas 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 Brooklyn Park, 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 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 19.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Brooklyn Park, MD before heading back.
