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.
Main Roads
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
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 21.9 mi, about 28m
Traffic on I-495
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 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
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 33 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 Croom, MD.
1
Start on this road
85 ft·12 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto MD 355
251 ft·12 sec·North Frederick Avenue
3
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Chestnut Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto MD 117
0.5 mi·1 min·West Diamond Avenue
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 270 South: Washington
6
Merge onto I 270
1.4 mi·1 min·Eisenhower Memorial Highway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
6.6 mi·9 min·I 270
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
2.8 mi·3 min·I 270
Toward I 270 South: Silver Spring, College ParkUse the slight left / straight lanes.
9
Merge onto I 495
22 mi·28 min·Capital Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 13Toward MD 221A: Capitol Heights, Upper MarlboroUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward East Upper Marlboro, Ritchie - Marlboro Road
12
Enter roundabout onto Ritchie Marlboro Road
286 ft·4 sec·Ritchie Marlboro Road
13
Continue on Ritchie Marlboro Road
0.3 mi·26 sec·Ritchie Marlboro Road
14
Enter roundabout onto Ritchie Marlboro Road
140 ft·2 sec·Ritchie Marlboro Road
15
Continue on Ritchie Marlboro Road
0.4 mi·41 sec·Ritchie Marlboro Road
16
Continue on Ritchie Marlboro Road
5.2 mi·9 min·Ritchie Marlboro Road
17
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward MD 4 South: Prince Frederick
18
Merge onto MD 4
0.1 mi·11 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Old Crain HighwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn right onto Old Crain Highway
0.2 mi·31 sec·Old Crain Highway
21
Turn left onto Croom Station Road
2.5 mi·5 min·Croom Station Road
22
At end of road, turn left onto MD 382
2.2 mi·4 min·Croom Road
23
Turn right
60 ft·2 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
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.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Chestnut Street
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
2.5 mi into trip|~4m in|I 270
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
9.1 mi into trip|~13m in|I 270
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
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 270 South: Silver Spring, College Park
8
33.8 mi into trip|~46m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 13
Toward MD 221A: Capitol Heights, Upper Marlboro
7
40.5 mi into trip|~58m in
Take the exit toward Old Crain Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Old Crain Highway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.98 one way
$15.96 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg16 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$8.74
$17.48
premium
$5.20
$9.35
$18.70
diesel
$6.18
$11.12
$22.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
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.
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
12:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
35°F
Areas Of Frost
N 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 18 at 9:56PM EDT until October 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 18 at 9:56PM EDT until October 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Croom, MD
Late night
in Croom on Wednesday
Local time
12:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Clear
N 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 18 at 9:56PM EDT until October 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 18 at 9:56PM EDT until October 21 at 9:00AM 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
4 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 9m 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?
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.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.9 mi on Capital Beltway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.7 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
501 ft104 ft
Total Climb
272 ft
Total Descent
535 ft
Highest Point
501 ft
Elevation Range
396 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 Croom, MD, road signs point toward College Park, Upper Marlboro and Old Crain Highway.
College Park
9.1 mi in|~13m|via I 270
Upper Marlboro
33.8 mi in|~46m
Old Crain Highway
40.5 mi in|~58m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.9 miles on Capital Beltway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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 Croom, 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 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.
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 Croom, MD before heading back.
