Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
26.4 mi
43 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
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
Spring Ridge, MD
Styves Exantus
Gaithersburg, MD to Spring Ridge, MD is 26.4 miles and takes about 36 minutes via I-270, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Northeast region, primarily within Maryland. Expect a highway-focused drive that’s efficient for getting from point A to point B. With a duration under an hour, this route is ideal for a quick commute or a short hop between areas without needing an overnight stay. It’s a straightforward journey with minimal fuss.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 270 | 20.2 mi | 25m |
| I 70 | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Old National Pike | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| North Frederick Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Ridgefield Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Quince Orchard Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Fieldcrest Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Cool Spring Terrace South | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Gaithersburg, MD and Spring Ridge, 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 right at fork
Merge onto I 70; US 40
Take the exit
Turn left onto MD 144
Turn left onto Ridgefield Drive
Turn left onto Shadybrook Drive
Turn right onto Fieldcrest Drive
Turn right onto Spring Valley Drive
Turn right onto Cool Spring Terrace South
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 26.3 — 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 right at fork toward I 70 East, US 40 East: Baltimore
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward MD 144: East Patrick Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Cool Spring Terrace South
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$4.38 one way
$8.75 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.79 | $9.59 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.12 | $10.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.83 | $11.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 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 | 7.9 | 0 | $2.77 | $1.27 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.31 | $1.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.70 | $1.69 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Gaithersburg on Sunday
Local time
3:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Spring Ridge on Sunday
Local time
3:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
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 is a highway-focused drive, with 84% of the journey utilizing major interstates. You'll spend most of your time on I-270, experiencing a longest uninterrupted stretch of 20.2 miles on this freeway. The route incorporates I-70 and Old National Pike, offering a mix of high-speed travel and slightly varied road conditions as you approach your destination. The character is predominantly that of efficient, direct travel on well-maintained roadways designed for speed.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 270 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.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 26.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.
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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Gaithersburg, MD to Spring Ridge, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Baltimore along the way.
Baltimore
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 26.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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