Gaithersburg to Charles Village is 45.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 5 minutes via I 95 and Intercounty Connector, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maryland, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. The profile is mixed highway and surface roads, suggesting a blend of faster travel and local driving. With no recommended stops and a short duration, this is a straightforward, single-day trip.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
17.9 mi
21m
Intercounty Connector
15.9 mi
20m
South Frederick Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
North Calvert Street
1.3 mi
3m
Shady Grove Road
1.1 mi
2m
Russell Street
1 mi
2m
South Paca Street
0.9 mi
2m
Frederick Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 17.9 mi, about 21m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~5,885 veh/hr typical
· worst 8,088
Quietest
2 AM
~664 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 100 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 Charles Village, 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
18 mi·21 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 52Toward Russell Street NorthUse the slight right lane.
15
Continue on MD 295
1.0 mi·2 min·Russell Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on MD 295
0.9 mi·2 min·South Paca Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto North Paca Street
254 ft·11 sec·North Paca Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right onto West Madison Street
106 ft·11 sec·West Madison Street
19
Turn left onto North Eutaw Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·North Eutaw Street
20
Turn right onto North Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
176 ft·8 sec·North Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
21
Turn slight right onto West Read Street
260 ft·10 sec·West Read Street
22
Continue on West Chase Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·West Chase Street
Use the slight left lane.
23
Turn slight left onto North Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
415 ft·17 sec·North Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
24
Turn right onto West Biddle Street
0.3 mi·54 sec·West Biddle Street
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn left onto MD 2
1.3 mi·3 min·North Calvert Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
26
Turn right onto East 28th Street
386 ft·18 sec·East 28th Street
27
Turn left onto Guilford Avenue
396 ft·13 sec·Guilford Avenue
28
Arrive at destination
Guilford Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 22.7 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 40.6 — 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
6
20.5 mi into trip|~28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 198: Laurel, Burtonsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MD 198: 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
7
40.6 mi into trip|~52m in
Take the exit toward Russell Street North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 52
Toward Russell Street North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.93 one way
$15.86 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg16 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$8.68
$17.36
premium
$5.20
$9.29
$18.57
diesel
$6.18
$11.04
$22.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 69% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
13.6
0
$4.77
$2.18
Efficient EV
11.4
0
$3.97
$1.82
EV Truck/SUV
18.2
0
$6.36
$2.91
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Gaithersburg, MD
Late night
in Gaithersburg on Wednesday
Local time
12:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
35°F
Areas Of Frost
N 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 19 at 5:03AM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 19 at 4:09AM EDT until October 21 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Charles Village, MD
Late night
in Charles Village on Wednesday
Local time
12:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
N 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 19 at 5:03AM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 19 at 4:09AM EDT until October 21 at 10:00PM 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
10 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 5m 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?
About 39% of this drive is on highways, with the longest continuous stretch being 17.9 miles on I 95. You'll transition from faster highway speeds to surface roads, likely noticing a change in traffic patterns and speed limits as you move between the two. The route involves a mix of Interstate travel and local roads.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.9 mi on I 95.
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 45.4 miles you will encounter 19 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 20.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
501 ft30 ft
Total Climb
351 ft
Total Descent
645 ft
Highest Point
501 ft
Elevation Range
471 ft
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 Charles Village, MD, road signs point toward Burtonsville and Russell Street North.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 45.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). 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 17.9 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 Charles Village, 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 20.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Charles Village, MD before heading back.
