Gaithersburg, MD to Lutherville, MD is 51.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 12 minutes via Columbia Pike, Intercounty Connector, and Baltimore Beltway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Maryland, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a fairly turn-heavy local drive, so it's not a high-speed cruise but rather a steady progression through local areas. With only 1 recommended day and no designated stops, this trip is best suited for a straightforward journey rather than an extended exploration.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Columbia Pike
16.5 mi
21m
Intercounty Connector
12.8 mi
16m
Baltimore Beltway
11.3 mi
15m
I 70
3.8 mi
4m
South Frederick Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
Shady Grove Road
1.1 mi
2m
Frederick Road
0.4 mi
<1m
North Frederick Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Columbia Pike
— 16.5 mi, about 21m
Traffic on I-695
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 10 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,712 veh/hr typical
· worst 6,793
Quietest
2 AM
~332 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Lutherville, MD.
1
Start on this road
85 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto MD 355
0.2 mi·16 sec·North Frederick Avenue
3
Continue on MD 355
1.4 mi·2 min·South Frederick Avenue
4
Continue on MD 355
0.4 mi·42 sec·Frederick Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Turn left onto Shady Grove Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Shady Grove Road
6
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward MD 200 Toll EastUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto MD 200 Toll
13 mi·16 min·Intercounty Connector
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 16A-BToward US 29: Silver Spring, ColumbiaUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·59 sec
Exit 16BToward US 29 North: Columbia
10
Merge onto US 29
17 mi·21 min·Columbia Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 25AToward I 70 East: BaltimoreUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 70
3.8 mi·4 min·I 70
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·16 sec
Exit 91B-AToward I 695 North, I 695 South: New York, Towson, Baltimore, Glen BurnieUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 91BToward I 695 North: New York, TowsonUse the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto I 695
11 mi·15 min·Baltimore Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·55 sec
Exit 25Toward MD 139: Charles StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto MD 139
0.1 mi·33 sec·Charles Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn right onto Clark Avenue
0.2 mi·39 sec·Clark Avenue
19
Turn right onto Lincoln Avenue
138 ft·10 sec·Lincoln Avenue
20
Turn left onto Francke Avenue
0.1 mi·34 sec·Francke Avenue
21
Turn right onto MD 131
54 ft·1 sec·West Seminary Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
MD 131
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 25.6 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 38.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.1 mi into trip|~6m in
Turn left toward MD 200 Toll East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward MD 200 Toll East
8
16.4 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward US 29: Silver Spring, Columbia
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 16A-B
Toward US 29: Silver Spring, Columbia
7
33.6 mi into trip|~46m in
Take the exit toward I 70 East: Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 25A
Toward I 70 East: Baltimore
8
38.1 mi into trip|~52m in
Take the exit toward I 695 North, I 695 South: New York, Towson, Baltimore, Glen Burnie
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 91B-A
Toward I 695 North, I 695 South: New York, Tows...
9
38.3 mi into trip|~52m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 695 North: New York, Towson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 91B
Toward I 695 North: New York, Towson
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.18 one way
$16.36 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg18 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$9.05
$18.10
premium
$4.81
$9.71
$19.42
diesel
$4.80
$9.69
$19.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
15.4
0
$5.39
$2.46
Efficient EV
12.8
0
$4.49
$2.05
EV Truck/SUV
20.5
0
$7.18
$3.28
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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 6, 2026
Origin
Gaithersburg, MD
Late night
in Gaithersburg on Sunday
Local time
2:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
E 6 mph48% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 6 at 2:23PM EDT until July 7 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 6 at 2:23PM EDT until July 7 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Destination
Lutherville, MD
Late night
in Lutherville on Sunday
Local time
2:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NE 6 mph70% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 6 at 2:23PM EDT until July 7 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 6 at 2:23PM EDT until July 7 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
83°F
Riverside, MD
26 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 12m 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 offers a mix of driving experiences, with a highway share of 7%. You'll begin on Columbia Pike, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch at 16.5 miles, suggesting a more local feel initially. The journey then incorporates the Intercounty Connector and Baltimore Beltway, likely providing faster segments before returning to more local roads as you approach Lutherville. The 'turn-heavy local drive' profile indicates you'll be navigating numerous intersections and changes in direction throughout the 1-hour and 12-minute trip.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.5 mi on Columbia Pike.
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 3.1 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.3 miles you will encounter 17 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 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
501 ft338 ft
Total Climb
235 ft
Total Descent
322 ft
Highest Point
501 ft
Elevation Range
163 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 Lutherville, MD, road signs point toward Columbia, Towson, Baltimore and Glen Burnie.
Columbia
16.4 mi in|~23m
Towson
38.1 mi in|~52m
Baltimore
38.1 mi in|~52m
Glen Burnie
38.1 mi in|~52m
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 12m. Total distance: 51.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m 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 16.5 miles on Columbia Pike. 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 Lutherville, 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 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Lutherville, MD before heading back.
