Origin
Gaithersburg, MD
Morning in Gaithersburg on Tuesday
Local time
7:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gaithersburg, MD to North Laurel, MD
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
35m
Distance
25.8 mi
41 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gaithersburg, MD
Kristopher Hines
North Laurel, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Gaithersburg, MD to North Laurel, MD is 25.8 miles and takes about 35m via Intercounty Connector and I-95, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Maryland, traveling from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a relatively short drive that mostly uses surface roads, making it a convenient option for a quick trip. You'll find the drive straightforward, with minimal time commitment and an affordable fuel cost.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Intercounty Connector | 15.9 mi | 20m |
| I 95 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| South Frederick Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Shady Grove Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| MD 216 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Frederick Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Frederick Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Intercounty Connector
— 15.9 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gaithersburg, MD and North Laurel, 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 East
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto MD 200 Toll
16 mi
·
20 min
·
Intercounty Connector
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 19C
Toward I 95: Laurel, Burtonsville
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
Toward MD 198: Konterra Drive
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward MD 198: Laurel, Burtonsville
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
Toward MD 198 West: Burtonsville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
50 sec
13
Merge onto I 95
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 35B
Toward MD 216 West: Scaggsville
Use the right lane.
15
Turn straight onto MD 216
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
MD 216
16
Arrive at destination
MD 216
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 24.6 — 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
19.5 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward I 95: Laurel, Burtonsville
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 19C
Toward I 95: Laurel, Burtonsville
6
20.5 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 198: Laurel, Burtonsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MD 198: Laurel, Burtonsville
7
21.5 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward MD 198 West: Burtonsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward MD 198 West: Burtonsville
7
24.6 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward MD 216 West: Scaggsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 35B
Toward MD 216 West: Scaggsville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.28 one way
$8.55 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.68 | $9.37 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.00 | $10.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.70 | $11.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.71 | $1.24 |
| Efficient EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.26 | $1.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.61 | $1.65 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Destination
North Laurel, MD
Morning in North Laurel on Tuesday
Local time
7:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
35m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly on surface roads, with only about 10% on highways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 15.9 miles on the Intercounty Connector before transitioning to other roads. Expect a typical surface road driving experience with frequent intersections and traffic signals, rather than extended highway cruising. The shift from highway to local roads will be noticeable as you approach your destination.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.9 mi on Intercounty Connector.
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 Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 25.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 35m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 19.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Gaithersburg, MD to North Laurel, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Burtonsville along the way.
Burtonsville
19.5 mi in
|
~27m
About the Cities
Starting in Gaithersburg, MD
Full guide →Gaithersburg is a city of 70,000 people (2020) in Montgomery County, Maryland. It is a suburb of Washington, D.C.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 35m. Total distance: 25.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.9 miles on Intercounty Connector. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 North Laurel, 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 19.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at North Laurel, MD before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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