Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
45.7 mi
74 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
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
Croom, MD
Jonathan Borba
This 45.7-mile drive from Gaithersburg to Croom, Maryland, is a manageable one-day trip, taking about 1 hour and 9 minutes to complete. You'll navigate primarily via the Capital Beltway and I-270, with Ritchie Marlboro Road playing a key role in the latter half of your journey. With only 21% of the drive on highways, expect a more local feel. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $8. This route is perfect for a straightforward day out, with no need for an overnight stay, making it a convenient option for those looking for a short excursion within the Northeast region.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Beltway | 21.9 mi | 28m |
| I 270 | 9.4 mi | 12m |
| Ritchie Marlboro Road | 5.9 mi | 10m |
| Croom Station Road | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| Croom Road | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Eisenhower Memorial Highway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| West Diamond Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Chestnut Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~6,323 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~550 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 33 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Gaithersburg, MD and Croom, MD.
Start on this road
Turn left onto MD 355
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
Turn right onto MD 117
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 270
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Enter roundabout onto Ritchie Marlboro Road
Continue on Ritchie Marlboro Road
Enter roundabout onto Ritchie Marlboro Road
Continue on Ritchie Marlboro Road
Continue on Ritchie Marlboro Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto MD 4
Take the exit
Turn right onto Old Crain Highway
Turn left onto Croom Station Road
At end of road, turn left onto MD 382
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 22.8 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 40.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 South: Silver Spring, College Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward MD 221A: Capitol Heights, Upper Marlboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Old Crain Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$8.08 one way
$16.16 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $8.85 | $17.70 |
| premium | $5.24 | $9.44 | $18.87 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $9.63 | $19.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.80 | $2.19 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $4.00 | $1.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.40 | $2.92 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Gaithersburg on Wednesday
Local time
3:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Croom on Wednesday
Local time
3:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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.
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 45.7-mile trip. While about 21% of your journey will be on highways like the Capital Beltway and I-270, the character shifts significantly as you progress. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 21.9 miles on the Capital Beltway, offering a brief period of faster travel. Following this, the route transitions to more local roads, demanding more frequent adjustments and attention. This blend means you won't be on monotonous interstate for the entire duration, but rather experiencing a dynamic change in driving conditions.
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 around 0.1 miles in near Chestnut Street.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.7 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 0.1 miles (Chestnut Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
272 ft
Total Descent
535 ft
Highest Point
501 ft
Elevation Range
396 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Gaithersburg, MD and Croom, MD, road signs point toward College Park, Upper Marlboro and Old Crain Highway.
College Park
Upper Marlboro
Old Crain Highway
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 45.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m 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.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. 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 Croom, MD.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips.
