Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
20m
Distance
8.9 mi
14 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
Olney Square, MD
Kelly
Gaithersburg, MD to Olney Square, MD is 8.9 miles and takes about 20m via Bowie Mill Road and Muncaster Mill Road, with a fuel budget near $1 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Northeast region of Maryland, offering a straightforward local drive. It's a quick hop, perfect for a quick errand or a short scenic detour without requiring an overnight stay. Consider this route if you're looking for a simple, direct connection between these two points in Montgomery County.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bowie Mill Road | 3 mi | 7m |
| Muncaster Mill Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Midcounty Highway | 1 mi | 1m |
| Washington Grove Lane | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| East Diamond Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Shady Grove Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Frederick Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Frederick Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Gaithersburg, MD and Olney Square, MD.
Start on this road
Turn right onto MD 355
Continue on MD 355
Turn left onto Fulkes Corner Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Olde Towne Avenue
Turn left onto South Summit Avenue
Turn right onto East Diamond Avenue
Turn left onto Washington Grove Lane
Turn right onto Midcounty Highway
At end of road, turn left onto Shady Grove Road
Turn right onto MD 115
Turn left onto Bowie Mill Road
Turn right onto Gelding Lane
Turn left onto Wachs Terrace
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 2.3 — 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 onto Fulkes Corner Avenue
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto Olde Towne Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto South Summit Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Midcounty Highway
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$1.57 one way
$3.15 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.92 | $1.72 | $3.45 |
| premium | $5.24 | $1.84 | $3.67 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $1.87 | $3.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.7 | 0 | $0.93 | $0.43 |
| Efficient EV | 2.2 | 0 | $0.78 | $0.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.25 | $0.57 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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
Afternoon in Gaithersburg on Wednesday
Local time
3:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Olney Square on Wednesday
Local time
3:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Cloudy
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.
This drive is characterized by frequent turns, making it a more engaged local experience rather than a high-speed highway cruise, with 0% highway share. You'll navigate primarily on local roads, with the longest uninterrupted stretch being about 3 miles along Bowie Mill Road. Expect a winding path that requires your attention as you transition between Bowie Mill Road, Muncaster Mill Road, and Midcounty Highway. This route is best described as a turn-heavy local drive.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MD 355 / North Frederick Avenue.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 20m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MD 355 / North Frederick Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Fulkes Corner Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Olde Towne Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
178 ft
Total Descent
232 ft
Highest Point
513 ft
~1.3 mi in
Elevation Range
155 ft
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 20m. Total distance: 8.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Gaithersburg, MD or browse trips ending in Olney Square, MD.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MD road trips.
