Gaithersburg, MD to Huntingtown Town Center, MD is 59.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 26 minutes via Capital Beltway and Southern Maryland Boulevard, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maryland, making it a straightforward drive for locals or those visiting the Northeast region. Expect a mix of highway travel and surface roads, with the majority of your time spent on non-highway routes. It’s a manageable distance, perfect for a single day trip without feeling rushed, and the estimated fuel cost is quite reasonable.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Capital Beltway
21.9 mi
28m
Southern Maryland Boulevard
10.2 mi
14m
I 270
9.4 mi
12m
Ritchie Marlboro Road
5.9 mi
10m
Stephanie Roper Highway
4.9 mi
6m
North Solomons Island Road
2.5 mi
3m
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
1.4 mi
1m
Pennsylvania Avenue
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Capital Beltway
— 21.9 mi, about 28m
Traffic on I-495
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
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 Huntingtown Town Center, 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
1.3 mi·1 min·Pennsylvania Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on MD 4
4.9 mi·6 min·Stephanie Roper Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on MD 4
10 mi·14 min·Southern Maryland Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on MD 2; MD 4
2.5 mi·3 min·North Solomons Island Road
22
Take the exit
212 ft·5 sec
Use the right lane.
23
Continue on MD 524
0.3 mi·39 sec·Old Town Road
24
Turn right onto Dismondy Drive
0.2 mi·41 sec·Dismondy Drive
25
Arrive at destination
Dismondy Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 29.9 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 34.2 — 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
6
34.2 mi into trip|~47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward East Upper Marlboro, Ritchie - Marlboro Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward East Upper Marlboro, Ritchie - Marlboro...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.54 one way
$19.07 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg21 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$10.55
$21.10
premium
$4.81
$11.32
$22.64
diesel
$4.80
$11.29
$22.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
17.9
0
$6.28
$2.87
Efficient EV
15
0
$5.23
$2.39
EV Truck/SUV
23.9
0
$8.37
$3.83
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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 14, 2026
Origin
Gaithersburg, MD
Late night
in Gaithersburg on Sunday
Local time
1:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Clear
S 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 13 at 2:45PM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Extreme Heat Watch
Extreme Heat Watch issued July 13 at 2:45PM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Huntingtown Town Center, MD
Late night
in Huntingtown Town Center on Sunday
Local time
1:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 13 at 2:45PM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Extreme Heat Watch
Extreme Heat Watch issued July 13 at 2:45PM EDT until July 15 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
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 26m 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 route features a highway share of 16%, meaning most of your 59.8 miles will be on surface roads. You'll encounter the longest stretch of continuous highway, 21.9 miles, on the Capital Beltway. After leaving the Beltway, be prepared for a change in pace as you transition to surface streets. The route involves navigating through areas with frequent exits and intersections typical of suburban and town driving.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 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 59.8 miles you will encounter 16 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 ft89 ft
Total Climb
208 ft
Total Descent
541 ft
Highest Point
501 ft
Elevation Range
412 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 Huntingtown Town Center, MD, road signs point toward College Park and Upper Marlboro.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 59.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m 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 Huntingtown Town Center, 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 (4 total within detour distance). 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 Huntingtown Town Center, MD before heading back.
