Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
21m
Distance
12.7 mi
20 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gaithersburg, MD
Kristopher Hines
Layhill Village, MD
Stepan Vrany
This 12.7-mile drive from Gaithersburg to Layhill Village in Maryland is a quick, local trip that can easily be completed in about 21 minutes. With no highway driving, it's a straightforward, turn-heavy experience. Budget around $2 for fuel for this short journey. Since it's such a short distance, it's perfect as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. The route stays within the Northeast region of Maryland, offering a glimpse of local Maryland communities without a lengthy commitment.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Intercounty Connector | 7.4 mi | 9m |
| South Frederick Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Shady Grove Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Layhill Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Frederick Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Gate Drive | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North Frederick Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Gate Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Gaithersburg, MD and Layhill Village, 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
Take the exit
Turn right onto MD 182
Turn right onto East Gate Drive
At end of road, turn left onto North Gate Drive
Turn left onto North Gate Terrace
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 12.6 — 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
Take the exit toward MD 182: Norwood, Glenmont
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto MD 182 / Layhill Road
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto North Gate Drive
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$2.25 one way
$4.49 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $2.46 | $4.92 |
| premium | $5.24 | $2.62 | $5.24 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $2.68 | $5.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.33 | $0.61 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.11 | $0.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.81 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Evening in Gaithersburg on Wednesday
Local time
5:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Sunny
Destination
Evening in Layhill Village on Wednesday
Local time
5:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
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 the entirety of this 12.7-mile trip. You'll navigate through Gaithersburg and into Layhill Village, primarily using roads like South Frederick Avenue and Shady Grove Road, with a significant portion on the Intercounty Connector. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 7.4 miles on the Intercounty Connector. With 0% highway share, this route is characterized by frequent turns and local road conditions rather than high-speed travel.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MD 355 / North Frederick Avenue.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 12.7 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (MD 355 / North Frederick Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
197 ft
Total Descent
345 ft
Highest Point
506 ft
~2.7 mi in
Elevation Range
153 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Gaithersburg, MD to Layhill Village, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Glenmont along the way.
Glenmont
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 21m. Total distance: 12.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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