Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
22m
Distance
14.8 mi
24 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Good
6 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gaithersburg, MD
Kristopher Hines
South Kensington, MD
RDNE Stock project
Gaithersburg, MD to South Kensington, MD is 14.8 miles and takes about 22m via I 270 and the Capital Beltway, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Maryland, moving from the Northeast region towards the same region. It's primarily a highway commute, making it a straightforward option for connecting these two areas without much fuss. Given its brevity, it's ideal for a quick errand or a simple transfer between locations without requiring extensive planning.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 270 | 9.4 mi | 12m |
| Capital Beltway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Eisenhower Memorial Highway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Connecticut Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Diamond Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Chestnut Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Franklin Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Frederick Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Gaithersburg, MD and South Kensington, MD.
Start on this road
Turn left onto MD 355
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
Turn right onto MD 117
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 270
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn straight onto MD 185
Continue on MD 185
Turn slight left
Turn left onto Franklin Street
Turn right
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 13.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 270 toward I 270 South: Silver Spring, College Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward MD 185: Chevy Chase, Kensington
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 MD 185 North: Connecticut Avenue North, Kensington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$2.47 one way
$4.95 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $2.72 | $5.44 |
| premium | $5.01 | $2.92 | $5.84 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $3.26 | $6.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.55 | $0.71 |
| Efficient EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.30 | $0.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.07 | $0.95 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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 Friday
Local time
1:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in South Kensington on Friday
Local time
1:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then 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 mostly highway, with 63% of the 14.8 miles spent on major roads like I 270 and the Capital Beltway. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 9.4 miles on I 270 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect to navigate urban merging patterns as you approach your destination, which is typical for routes around the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 270 and Capital Beltway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Chestnut Street.
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 12 decision points packed into just 14.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 22m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Chestnut Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles (I 270): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
210 ft
Total Descent
426 ft
Highest Point
501 ft
Elevation Range
274 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Gaithersburg, MD and South Kensington, MD, road signs point toward College Park and Kensington.
College Park
Kensington
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 22m. Total distance: 14.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). 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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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