Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
38 mi
61 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gaithersburg, MD
Kristopher Hines
Crofton, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Gaithersburg to Crofton is 38 miles and takes about 59 minutes via Intercounty Connector, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maryland, traversing the Northeast region. The route is mostly on surface roads, making it a straightforward drive. It's a good option for a quick trip when you don't have a full day to dedicate to driving.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Intercounty Connector | 17.2 mi | 21m |
| Laurel Bowie Road | 9.7 mi | 14m |
| Annapolis Road | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| South Frederick Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Contee Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Shady Grove Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Robert Crain Highway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Baltimore Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Gaithersburg, MD and Crofton, MD.
Start on this road
Turn right onto MD 355
Continue on MD 355
Continue on MD 355
Turn left onto Shady Grove Road
Turn left
Merge onto MD 200 Toll
Keep slight left at fork onto MD 200 Toll
Turn straight onto US 1
Turn right onto Contee Road
Turn right onto MD 197
Turn left onto MD 450
Turn left onto MD 3; MD 450
Continue on MD 3; MD 450
Take the exit onto Clubhouse Gate Road
Turn right onto Crofton Parkway
Turn left onto Spring Green Avenue
Turn right onto Stratton Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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.
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 19 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 32.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto MD 355 / North Frederick Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn left toward MD 200 Toll East
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto MD 200 Toll toward US 1 North: Laurel
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Contee Road
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto MD 450 / Annapolis Road
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$6.35 one way
$12.70 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $6.99 | $13.98 |
| premium | $5.01 | $7.50 | $15.00 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $8.38 | $16.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.33 | $1.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.32 | $2.43 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Gaithersburg on Friday
Local time
5:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Late night in Crofton on Friday
Local time
5:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This drive is primarily on surface roads, with only a limited highway component. You'll spend most of your time on local streets, with the longest continuous stretch on the Intercounty Connector measuring 17.2 miles. Expect frequent intersections and traffic signals as you navigate through developed areas.
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 MD 355 / North Frederick Avenue.
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 38 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MD 355 / North Frederick Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 20.8 miles (MD 200 Toll): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
22 ft
Total Descent
422 ft
Highest Point
507 ft
~2.7 mi in
Elevation Range
407 ft
Founded 1802
Gaithersburg is a city of 70,000 people (2020) in Montgomery County, Maryland. It is a suburb of Washington, D.C.
Top landmarks
Founded 1964
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 38 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. 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 options from Gaithersburg, MD or browse trips ending in Crofton, MD.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips.
