Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 19m
Distance
162.8 mi
262 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
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
Oakland, MD
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Gaithersburg, MD to Oakland, MD covers 162.8 miles and takes about 3h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 40, I 70, I 270 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61.2 miles on US 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.20 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
81.4 miles from Gaithersburg, MD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 40 | 61.2 mi | 1h 8m |
| I 70 | 52.1 mi | 55m |
| I 270 | 20.2 mi | 25m |
| Bittinger Road | 13.6 mi | 23m |
| Garrett Highway | 7.2 mi | 10m |
| Glendale Road | 5.4 mi | 8m |
| North Frederick Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North 3rd Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~6,085 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~400 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 96 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Gaithersburg, MD and Oakland, MD.
Start on this road
Turn left onto MD 355
Turn left onto MD 124
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 270
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 70
Keep slight left at fork onto US 40
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto MD 495
Turn right onto Glendale Road
Turn left onto US 219
Continue on US 219
Turn left onto East Alder Street
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 36 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.4 miles or 1h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oakland, MD than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Gaithersburg, MD so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gaithersburg, MD
This is one driving day of about 162.8 miles and 3h 19m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
81 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 81.4 miles from Gaithersburg, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 74.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Merge onto I 270
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 70: Hagerstown, Baltimore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 West: Hagerstown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 70
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 40 toward US 40, I 68: Cumberland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$27.20 one way
$54.40 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $29.94 | $59.88 |
| premium | $5.01 | $32.12 | $64.25 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $35.89 | $71.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.8 | 0 | $17.09 | $7.81 |
| Efficient EV | 40.7 | 0 | $14.25 | $6.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.1 | 0 | $22.79 | $10.42 |
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Gaithersburg on Friday
Local time
7:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Morning in Oakland on Friday
Local time
7:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
79°F
Centerville, PA
81 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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162.8 mi in 3h 19m, mostly highway — 61.2 mi of that is on US 40.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 40 and I 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near I 270.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 162.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (I 270): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
Total Climb
3,091 ft
Total Descent
1,187 ft
Highest Point
2,625 ft
~151.2 mi in
Elevation Range
2,242 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Gaithersburg, MD and Oakland, MD, road signs point toward Baltimore and Swanton.
Baltimore
Swanton
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
Founded 1862
Oakland is a small town in Garrett County, and one of the westernmost towns of Maryland. With a historic district, Oakland is one of the prettier towns in the area for a stroll.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 19m. Total distance: 162.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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