Origin
Hanover, MD
Late night in Hanover on Sunday
Local time
3:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hanover, MD to Gaithersburg, MD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
34.1 mi
55 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hanover, MD
Wikimedia Commons
Gaithersburg, MD
Kristopher Hines
Trip Overview
This 34.1-mile drive from Hanover, MD to Gaithersburg, MD is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 46 minutes, making it ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll navigate a mix of major roadways, including the Intercounty Connector and I-95, with a significant portion on the Intercounty Connector. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $6, which is quite manageable for a short trip. Since both locations are within the Northeast region of Maryland, you won't be crossing any major regional boundaries. This route offers a practical and efficient way to travel between these two points without requiring an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Intercounty Connector | 15.7 mi | 19m |
| I 95 | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| South Frederick Avenue | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Coca Cola Drive | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| I 370 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Hi Tech Drive | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Frederick Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Intercounty Connector
— 15.7 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hanover, MD and Gaithersburg, MD.
1
Start on this road
68 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn sharp left onto Hanover Road
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Hanover Road
3
Turn right onto Hi Tech Drive
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Hi Tech Drive
4
Continue on Coca Cola Drive
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Coca Cola Drive
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward MD 100 West: Ellicott City
6
Merge onto MD 100
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 5A-B
Toward I 95: Baltimore, Washington
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 5B
Toward I 95 South: Washington
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 95
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 31B
Toward MD 200 Toll West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto MD 200 Toll
9.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Intercounty Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on MD 200 Toll
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Intercounty Connector
Exit 8A
13
Continue on I 370
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 370
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 2
Toward MD 355: Rockville, Gaithersburg
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn right onto MD 355
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Frederick Road
16
Continue on MD 355
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Frederick Avenue
17
Turn left
85 ft
·
6 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.1 miles from Hanover, MD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 32 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Hanover Road
Turn sharp left onto Hanover Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
8
3.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 95: Baltimore, Washington
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 5A-B
Toward I 95: Baltimore, Washington
8
3.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South: Washington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 5B
Toward I 95 South: Washington
7
14.9 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward MD 200 Toll West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31B
Toward MD 200 Toll West
8
32 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward MD 355: Rockville, Gaithersburg
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 2
Toward MD 355: Rockville, Gaithersburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.65 one way
$11.31 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.19 | $12.38 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.61 | $13.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.53 | $15.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.58 | $1.64 |
| Efficient EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.98 | $1.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.77 | $2.18 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Gaithersburg, MD
Late night in Gaithersburg on Sunday
Local time
3:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°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
46m 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?
Expect a mixed driving experience on this route, with 33% of the journey taking place on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 15.7 miles on the Intercounty Connector, offering a period of steady travel. While parts of the drive will be on faster, more direct roads like I-95, you'll also transition to other main roads like South Frederick Avenue. This blend means you'll experience both high-speed segments and potentially more varied traffic conditions as you approach your destination. The overall feel is one of efficient transit rather than a leisurely cruise.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.7 mi on Intercounty Connector.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Hanover Road.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 12 decision points packed into just 34.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Hanover Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 3.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Hanover, MD to Gaithersburg, MD, road signs begin pointing toward Washington along the way.
Washington
3.2 mi in
|
~6m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 34.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (33%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.7 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 Gaithersburg, 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: near the start (Hanover Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 3.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and Monocacy National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gaithersburg, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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